Francis Scott Key Elementary is creating a culture of environmental stewardship. They have established recycling and composting programs that involve students across multiple grades. Students participate in habitat restoration projects like building oyster reefs and raising bluegill sunfish. Professional development is provided for teachers on topics like conducting water quality tests. Celebrations of environmental accomplishments include a weekly green tip, newsletter, and Earth Day events. Community partnerships support programs in gardening, nutrition, and outdoor education.

1. Francis Scott Key 2015
http://www.fperkinswatson.wix.com/the-green-team

2. Green Culture
Francis Scott Key Elementary is creating a culture that believes the Earth belongs to us
all. It is our responsibility to take care of it. You may think that working together to save
the Earth and its resources is ridiculous, but wouldn't you want your children to have a
usable planet?
Francis Scott Key teaches its students to be good stewards of our planet, so our children
and grandchildren will have a beautiful healthy place to live.
Always let your next question be: WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Our journey started with a fourth grade classroom recycle team that quickly spread
across our school community. Our environmental team spends everyday thinking of ways
to save just a little bit of our precious Earth.

3. Top Five Accomplishments
● Accomplishment 1 - Schoolwide Recycle Team
● Accomplishment 2 - Garden Club
● Accomplishment 3 - Healthy Lifestyles program
● Accomplishment 4 - Oyster Reef program
● Accomplishment 5 - Sunfish program

4. Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability
1.1 - Curriculum and Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
SUBJECT GRADE LEVEL ASSIGNMENT
Science
Art
Pre-K & K Students made oyster reefs
and learned about the habitat
of the Eastern Oyster.
Students also completed the
Art from Trash Project.
Science
Social Studies
1st grade Students completed activities
on animal tracking, pollinators
and soils at Camp Schmidt.
Science 2nd grade Students guided by 3rd and 4th
grade students created bird
feeders and learned why we
support feeding the birds in
inclement weather.

5. Pre-K and Oyster Reefs
Title of Lesson/Activity: Oyster Reefs
Date: March 2014
Subject Area: Science
Grade: Pre-K
Brief Description of Lesson/Activity:
The students learned about the Eastern Oyster
and how to build oyster reefs used to house baby
oysters in the Chesapeake Bay. Students were
given the task of oiling the reef mold to prepare
for cement pouring.

6. Pre-K Reusing Items
Title of Lesson/Activity: Creating Wall Art from Trash
Date: February 2015
Subject Area: Science
Grade: Pre-K
Brief Description of Lesson/Activity:
students bring in wrappers from some of their favorite things.
The wrappers are used to create wall art for the pre-k hall.
What a great way to reuse items!

7. Kindergarten and the Eastern Oyster
Title of Lesson/Activity: Habitat of the Eastern Oyster
Date: February 2014
Subject Area: Science
Grade: Kindergarten
Brief Description of Lesson/Activity:
Kindergarten students learn about the Eastern Oyster
and its importance to cleaning the Chesapeake Bay.
Students help create oyster reefs used to house baby oysters.

8. First Grade at Camp Schmidt
Title of Lesson/Activity: Environmental Studies
Date: October 2014
Subject Area: Science & Social Studies
Grade: First
Brief Description of Lesson/Activity:
First grade teachers led students through lesson activities on pollinators in the
first grade garden; identification of trees, leaves and seeds; and soil characteristics.

9. Second Grade Feeds the Birds
Title of Lesson/Activity: Feed the Birds
Date: March 2015
Subject Area: Science
Grade: Second
Brief Description of Lesson/Activity:
Students learned how weather can decrease the amount of
food animals have to survive. In response, students created
bird feeders made from recycled products to feed
schoolyard birds during inclement weather.

10. Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability
1.1 - Curriculum and Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
SUBJECT GRADE LEVEL ASSIGNMENT
Science 3rd grade Students created water
cycle models
Science 4th grade Students teach second
graders about bird feeders
Science 5th grade Students participated in
the Camp Schmidt
Residential Program
Science 6th grade Students participated in
the North Bay Residential
Program

11. Third Grade and the Water Cycle
Title of Lesson/Activity: Creating a water cycle in a bag
Date: January 2015
Subject Area: Science
Grade: Third
Brief Description of Lesson/Activity:
Students create, observe, record data explaining the water cycle in a bag and it’s relationship to the
water cycle that sustains life on Earth.

12. Fourth Graders Teaching Second Grade
Title of Lesson/Activity: Teaching about Bird Feeding during
the winter months.
Date: March 2015
Subject Area: Science
Grade: 4th/2nd
Brief Description of Lesson/Activity:
Fourth grade students read an article on Why we feed the
birds during the winter. Students used this information to
teach second grade the importance of helping the birds find
food in the winter by making bird feeders from recycled
products to hang from the schoolyard trees.

13. Fifth Grade at Camp Schmidt
Title of Lesson/Activity: Environmental Studies
Date: November 2014
Subject Area: Science
Grade: Fifth
Brief Description of Lesson/Activity:
Students participated in the residential program
activities at Camp Schmidt. The students experience
included stream ecology, nature trail, and
identification/classification of organisms.

14. Sixth Grade at North Bay Adventures
Title of Lesson/Activity: Environmental
Studies
Date: December 2014
Subject Area: Science
Grade: Six
Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: Sixth grade students participated in the week-long residential program at North Bay..
Students explored activities in character education and determined how human actions, good or bad, affect the environment.
Students return to school and share their experience
and give examples of student environmental stewardship with other
students through classroom visits. Francis Scott Key ES
students have participated in this program for several years.

15. Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability
1.2 - Professional Development
Four (4) first grade educators participated in the pilot training held at the
William Schmidt Center in August 2014.
One (1) fourth grade educator participated in Sunfish and Students pilot training
held at the William Schmidt Center training in August and November 2014.
Three (3) educators from third, fourth and fifth grades participated in Green
Schools training held at the William Schmidt Center in February 2015.
http://fperkinswatson.wix.com/the-green-team#!about1/c15pu

16. Professional Development Announcement
Who: Open to PGCPS 1st grade teachers
When: August 20th, 9:00 AM– 1:00 PM
Where: Schmidt Center
18715 Aquasco Rd. Brandywine MD 20613
What: The Schmidt Center is piloting a new first grade day program for
the 2014-2015 school year. We are offering an informational session for
those interested in bringing students on a field trip.

17. First Grade Schmidt Center Training
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
P
Ms.Batson,
Ms. Harvey,
Ms. Lacey,
Ms. Bunting
Pollinators- function of pollinators
in the first grade garden, insect life
cycle and insect hotel.
Soils- different types of soil,
testing, composition, and
importance.
Animal Track- how animals move,
use biofacts to determine native
animals presence and predator/prey
relationships.

18. 1.2 Professional Development
Sunfish and Students
A Fourth Grade Pilot Program of The William S. Schmidt Center
in collaboration with
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Agenda
Professional Development Session for 4th Grade Teachers
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
9:00 am – 1:30 pm
The Orme Building
9 – 9:15 am Welcome and Introductions James Roberson, Schmidt Center
9:15-9:40 Introduction to Bluegills Martha Shaum, MD DNR
9:40-10:10 Water Quality Testing Linda Armwood, Schmidt Center
10:10-11:40 Tank Set-up & Maintenance Martha Shaum
Teacher’s Manual/CD
11:40-12:10 Lunch
12:10-12:40 Formative Assessments Danielle Spisak, Cool Spring ES
12:40-12:50 Announcements Linda Armwood
12:50---- Information and Distribution of Fish Dave Seine, Cedarville Hatchery
Distribution of Equipment Schmidt Center Staff

19. 1.2 Professional Development
Sunfish and Students Training Session
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Mrs. Frances Watson, 4th grade teacher,
received training at William S. Schmidt
Center on water quality to prepare for
raising bluegill sunfish in her classroom.

20. 1.2 Professional Development
Green Schools Training Session
Wednesday, February 25, 2015

21. Green Schools Training 3rd-5th grades
Ms. Taylor, Ms. Willis & Ms. Watson made birdhouse feeders using
recycled juice cartons.
Training session held at William S. Schmidt Center on Wednesday, February 25, 2015.

22. Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability
1.3 - School-Wide Environmental Behavior Changes
There are light sensors in every room. Decorative light
covers were designed by students to encourage everyone
to turn the lights off when they leave the room.

23. Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability
1.3 School-Wide Environmental Behavior Changes
We communicate through electronic newsletters, Integrated pest management and
Google docs interactive meeting agenda.
Integrated Pest Management

24. Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability
1.4 - Celebration
Our celebrations include a Tuesday Morning Green Tip
during morning announcements, electronic biweekly
newsletters, Environmental Showcase,Earth Day-2014
and Earth Hour March 28, 2015.

25. Tuesday Morning Green Tip
The Tuesday Morning Green Tip announcements began February 2015. Here
are the tips that have been shared with the school community thus far:
February 10, 2015 “Don’t throw away writing paper until you have used both sides”-student
generated tip
February 24, 2015 - “Reduce the trash you have for lunch by using a washable sandwich
container, cup, spoon, and fork.”- student generated tip
March 3, 2015 “March 28,2015 -60+ Earth Hour- Let’s work on climate change!” - teacher-
generated tip

26. Environmental Newsletter
The Environmental Club newsletter
informs our school community about
current events, such as the gardening
club updates, recycle team schedule and
a green tip.

27. Environmental Showcase #1
Title of Lesson/Activity: Trash Timeline
Date: December 2014
Subject Area: Environmental Science
Grade/s: K-6
Brief Description of Lesson/Activity:
Students complete the Trash Timeline
activity posted in the environmental
showcase. This activity is graded by the
students’ grade-level science teacher.

28. Environmental Showcase #2
Vol_1_e
All students at Francis Scott Key
review the environmental
showcase. Students who can
prove that they know the topic of
the week and have researched
one fact about the topic in the
showcase receive a prize!!!
13 students have received prizes for
identifying ways spiders help the
environment.
Prize 1: Salt Water Spider Kit
All other prizes include one of the following:
candy, environmental theme bracelets,
erasers, and pencils.

29. FSK EARTH DAY 2014 on YouTube

30. Environmental Showcase #3
March 2015
Tuesday Morning Tip:
“Good Morning Francis Scott Key! My name is Amna
Ali Mohamed. Our Green initiative for this week is to
promote Earth Hour. Earth Hour is celebrated March
28, 2015. Over 100 countries are turning the lights
out for one hour ( 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm). The Earth
Hour Campaign objective this year focuses on the
globe’s most stubborn environmental challenge,
Climate Change. Promote renewable energy and
sustainable agriculture by supporting projects to
protect forests and ecosystems and encouraging
climate education.”

31. Objective 2: Student-driven
Sustainability Practices
2.3 - Solid Waste Reduction
● Recycle Teams~30 students across grades third thru sixth grade
● Recycling Reminders~25 third and fourth grade students art displayed.
● Reuse Earth’s Resources~School Wide practice~700+

32. Activity 1: Recycle Teams
The recycle team has approximately
30 students from grades 4-6 that pick
up recycled materials from each
class two days per week. The
building supervisor places the
materials in the outdoor recycle bin
for pick up.
Our school now has two pick-ups per
week because we have doubled the
amount of recycling we do!
Add caption

33. The Fourth Grade Recycle Team
Ten Fourth grade Recycle Team Members
preparing to hang their ‘Remember to
RECYCLE, REDUCE, and REUSE ‘
posters around the school. The posters
are made from recycled paper.
February 2015

34. The Fifth and Six Grade Recycle Group
Fifth and Sixth grade students are assigned to
collect paper from the main office, Principal,
Assistant Principals and guidance counselor
offices. Grade Five and Six pick up days are
Wednesday and Friday.

35. Activity 2: Recycling Reminders
This is our recycle center. Ink
cartridges and toners are collected at
this location and sent to the Schmidt
environmental center for recycling.

36. Activity 3: Reusing Earth’s Resources
Thirteen Fifth Grade students created
seating for our outdoor classroom from
recycled paint buckets and pillows from
goodwill.
Approximately 25 Third and Fourth grade
students decorated used trashcans to create
the recycling center
Fifth Grade student mailboxes made from
recycled materials

37. Objective 2: Student-driven
Sustainability Practices
2.4 - Habitat Restoration
● Sunfish and Students Program
● Oyster Reef Deployment
● Decomposer Box

38. Activity 1: Sunfish and Students
Francis Scott Key ES is participating in the
Sunfish and Students program sponsored by the
Schmidt Center and MD Department of Natural
Resources. Since November 2014 75 fourth
grade students have been raising and
maintaining bluegill sunfish in their classroom
aquarium, conducting aquarium water quality
tests, recording observations, making necessary
adjustments and participating in lessons related
to fish characteristics, habitat, and their
ecological importance. Thirty students will
release the bluegill sunfish at Patuxent River
Park in May 2015.
Add caption

39. Sunfish and Students
•
•
Examples of how we learn about or
classroom bluegill sunfish: making
visual observations of fish, drawing
and labeling identification posters,
and aquarium water quality testing.

40. Activity 2: Oyster Reef Deployment
https://vimeo.com/95752879
oyster reefs waiting to be
dropped in the Chesapeake
Bay.
approximately sixty students
participate in making oyster
reefs and two students are
selected to attend the
deployment trip.

41. Oyster Reef Deployment
Learning activities before deployment:
Short Social Studies Lesson about Fort
McHenry and the war of 1812. This
lesson leads into how the oysters in the
Bay have declined over the
years.Students checking the water quality
of the Chesapeake Bay and examine
aquatic organisms.

42. Activity 3: Decomposing Log
130 Students from 3-5th grades use
the outdoor learning center and
document the activity taking place in
the decomposer box
Students examining and making inferences
about the decomposing log in school courtyard.

43. Decomposing Log
Students made observations and
inferences about how the log began to
decompose, whether the log is a habitat
for organisms, if different weather
conditions would be beneficial or harmful
to the log and any resident organisms.

44. Objective 2: Student-driven
Sustainability Practices
2.5 - Structures for Environmental Learning
● Multipurpose Outdoor Learning Center~300 students
● Student maintained No Mow Area-March 2015
● Scholars Outdoors

45. Activity 1: Multipurpose Outdoor Center
Our outdoor learning center has a weather
station, a decomposition box and plenty of
space to enjoy reading.
2014-15 will produce a student driven garden in
partnership with the Maryland University
Extension/DNR Program. The gardening/healthy
lifestyles program started November 2014. We
have 20 students in this program.
Over five-hundred students explore the
Courtyard.
Finding a seat to write my poem
September 2014

46. Activity 3: FSK Scholars Outdoors
September 2014;Introduction to outdoor learning.
Students learn to write observations of what they
hear in the outdoor learning center. This part of
the courtyard is used for reflection, writing, and
drawing.

47. Objective 2: Student-driven
Sustainability Practices
2.7 - Healthy School Environment
● Gardening Club
● Healthy Lifestyle

48. Activity 1: Gardening Club
Growing Healthy Habits is a
gardening and nutrition education
program that inspires learners to
build an understanding of where food
comes from and tasting fresh
vegetables in recipes that they grow
and prepare.
75 students learn about Healthy
Habits; 20 of those students are in
the gardening club.
Gardening Club preparing to make
soil salad

49. Healthy Lifestyle Partners
Master Gardener and
Healthy lifestyles
coordinator show
students how they
work together to create
healthy meals.

50. Embracing Maryland Vegetables
Healthy lifestyles encourages students to eat
fresh vegetables everyday.
Journaling our food experiences for
the Gardening Club

51. Planning our garden_2015
Top-what to plant
Right-where to plant

52. 3.1 Community Partnerships
Francis Scott Key PTA-(will fill in Monday)
Camp Schmidt - The school partners with Camp Schmidt through the 4th
Grade Sunfish & Students pilot program. Camp Schmidt provides our school
with the supplies, fish and lessons. Students and teachers will release the fish
they have raised into the Patuxent River in June 2015.
Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission - Oyster Reef Restoration
Program; students in grades K-5 participate in building oyster reefs for the
Chesapeake Bay. Fourth grade students attend the oyster reef deployment trip.
Maryland University Extension program partnered with the DNR - Growing
Healthy Habits; a program to encourage students to grow and eat vegetables.
Fuel Up_Play 60- a partnership with the National Football League to encourage
students to exercise 60 minutes a day.

53. Objective 3: Community Partnerships, FSK PTA and
Park and Planning_water safety and saving water!

54. Oyster Reef Program
Oyster Reef Deployment Trip
https://vimeo.com/95752879

55. Maryland University Extension
Growing Healthy Habits_ Gardening Program

56. Community Partners
Fuel Up…Play 60
kkk
Partnership with the NFL to get Students
to exercise for one hour a day.