Objective 2.1 Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention
Rain Barrel Watering
Students use repurposed yogurt cup "rain makers" and water from rain barrels as they take care of our student-run raised beds. Water from our shed and chicken coop roofs is collected for use in our gardens. The rain barrels are frequently discussed with classes and are used a teaching tool around conservation education.
Classroom Aquaponics
Throughout the 2017-2018 school year, our 3 sixth grade classes took part in an immersive aquaponics focused lesson set during which they researched aquaponics through history, toured a commercial-scale aquaponics farm at the Johns-Hopkins Food System Lab at Cylburn Arboretum, and designed, built, and maintained multiple classroom aquaponic systems. The classroom systems are still in-use and provide the backdrop for annual lessons concerning farming and land and water conservation.
Classroom Hydroponics
During the 2017-2018 school year, sixth grade classes learned about hydroponic growing as part of the lesson set concerning aquaponics mentioned above. Students helped to build, plant, maintain, and harvest plants grown in our tower garden.
Objective 2.3 Solid Waste Reduction
Cafeteria Composting Program
During the 2017-2018 school year, Hamilton used Green, Healthy, Smart Challenge Grant funds to contract with The Compost Crew to collect 90 gallons worth of compost each week during the school year. 7th grade students learned about the benefits of composting through in-class lessons and then created their own teaching materials to share this information with students in grades Pre-K to 2nd. The 7th grade students also helped to collect compostable materials during the pre-K/K and 1st/2nd grade lunch shifts. Compost collection progress was posted on the compost counter each Friday after the 7th graders did a weigh-out of the bins. By the end of the school year, more than 2,000 pounds of waste was diverted from landfill/incinerator and was composted instead.
Schoolyard Anti-Littering Campaign
During the 2016-2017 school year, 7th grade students led a schoolyard litter reduction project after identifying the single greatest structural issue relating to schoolyard litter: there was only one exterior trashcan on the entire school property. After using Green, Healthy, Smart Challenge Grant funds to purchase 12 repurposed barrels and new lids, students designed and painted pro-recycling and anti-littering messages on the new schoolyard trash and recycle cans. As part of the trash and recycle can roll-out, students created a chant and signage to encourage proper use of the new trash receptacles. "Stop! Think! Recycle!" was chanted at every recess-gathering.
Student-led Classroom Recycling
Hamilton Green Team, which is made up of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders does a weekly classroom recycling collection. While this picture is from 2019, the Green Team has been in action for each of the last 9 years.
Objective 2.4 Habitat Restoration
Showcase Native Plant Garden
In 2019, 5th grade students researched and planted a native pollinator garden on both sides of the walkway to our front door. Students also created signage to promote native planting to our school families and the larger community.
In 2018, 4th grade students researched, and built bird houses for native species of birds. Once completed, the bird houses were added to our outdoor learning spaces and were met with great interest by the bird community.
Students were integral in originally designing our native pollinator gardens - and in planting them. These spring 2016 photos show a student helping to plant, and the finished product - both photos are of our little kids garden.
Objective 2.5 Structures for Environmental Learning
Outdoor Classroom Use:
Students regularly learn outside in one of our two outdoor classrooms on our campus.
Using Schoolyard Produce:
Students frequently use produce grown in our gardens to make salads, cold pizzas, smoothies, and more. In the photos above, students and parents work together to use schoolyard spinach in smoothies during the 2017 Family Fun Night event.
In the four photos below (clockwise from top left), 5th graders complete a read-aloud of "Up in the Garden, Down in the Dirt" with Kindergarten students; 4th graders model castle building in our tree-cookie natural play space; student-members of our Green Team work with Katie Roof of Irvine Nature Center as they learn about water conservation in one of our outdoor classrooms. (All activities took place in 2017-2018).
In the two photos above, 2017-2018 5th grade students design stepping stones for our garden path using a mixture of repurposed and new tiles. Student artwork is showcased throughout our green spaces.
In the four photos above, 2018-2019 Green Club students are seen installing their artwork which spells out various garden vocabulary words. In total, 13 words were added to our fence.
Clockwise from top left: students create chalk art at one center in the little kid's garden; student planted seeds and seedlings in the mini-greenhouse; 6th graders help to water in the little kid's garden; a monarch caterpillar catches the attention of 3rd graders; 2nd graders observe invertebrates found in the garden; 5th graders complete their work following a decomposer search in the garden.