Green Star Schools
Schoolyards Checklist
Introduction
Efforts to green existing schoolyards can enhance the outdoor learning environment, to
transform school grounds into ecological landscapes. Since students spend on average
25% of their school day in the schoolyard,1 schools across the country are beginning to
transform conventional landscaping and sterile playgrounds into vibrant learning
landscapes. The resulting schoolyards can feature edible food gardens, native plants,
solar features, rain water catchment, bioswales to filter stormwater run-off, shade and
natural play structures while incorporating integrated pest management (IPM) and
sustainable gardening and farming practices. These features provide many teaching
and learning opportunities.
Schoolyard Facts:

Composting plant debris onsite can help reduce the 2.7 million tons of plant
debris landfilled each year in California.2

In a developed landscape, as much as 70% of all rain and irrigation water moves
through a site without being filtrated through the soil, collecting toxic compounds
such as pesticides, gasoline and oil from parking lots which are then discharged
into local creeks and eventually the SF Bay and/or the Pacific Ocean.3

Ecological landscapes can offer overall maintenance cost savings of 80 – 90%
over a 10-year period.4

During a 1-inch rain, 625 gallons of water can be collected from a 1,000 square
feet roof and stored for irrigation use.5
According to Lieberman and Hoody, (1998) students engaged in using the school’s
surroundings or Environment as an Integrating Context for learning (EIC), can increase
student performance on standardized-testing; and reduce disciplinary problems by
increasing student engagement and enthusiasm. Schoolyard greening projects can
provide tremendous opportunities for students, teachers, staff and community members
1
Greening School Grounds: Creating Habitats for Learning, Tim Grant and Gail Littlejohn. 2001sds
California Integrated Waste Management Board, 2003
The Relationship between Soil and Water (http://water.washington.edu/Research/Reports/soilsforsalmon.pdf)
4
Evergreen, 2001
5
Bay-Friendly Landscaping Guidelines, 2008 pg. 35
2
3
to reduce a school’s ecological footprint, maintenance costs and contribute to building
sustainable communities by decreasing natural resource consumption, mitigating the
impact of stormwater run-off, reducing the heat-island effect on school grounds,
conserving water, building wildlife habitat and increasing biodiversity.
This section includes:
1.
A Schoolyard Checklist
This checklist can be used to identify the measures your school is
currently taking in addition to providing ideas for initiatives your school
may want to pursue in the future.
2.
A Schoolyard Audit
This audit worksheet will help your school capture essential information as
you walk through your schoolyard.
3.
A Resource Guide
To receive recognition as a Green Star School, each participating school must meet the
minimum requirement in each section of the Schoolyard Checklist.
1 Star
2 Stars
3 Stars
Meet all "mandatory"
requirements and 1 "Reach for
the Stars" requirements under all
sections for 2-3 pathways
Meet all "mandatory"
requirements and 2 "Reach for
the Stars" requirements under all
sections for 4-5 pathways
Meet all "mandatory"
requirements and 3 "Reach for
the Stars" requirements under all
sections for 6-7 pathways
Directions

Fill in the school name and other information at the top of the form.

For each action that your school completed, place a check mark in the
appropriate box.

Email the completed form to: SJGreenSchools@sanjoseca.gov
Date:
School Name:
Circle One: Public
School Address:
Charter
Private
Person Completing Checklist:
Title:
Phone:
Teacher
Principal
Custodian
Email:
Student
Parent
Other
I. Institutional Commitment:
Mandatory
 Green Team - Form a Green Team (Green Team members should include
members from the whole school community: teachers, students,
administrator(s), custodian(s) and parents/guardians).
 Policy - Adopt a school-wide policy for a green schoolyard that includes all of
the following:

A school-wide Integrated Pest Management policy. 6
o Check here if this is a District decision

A Vegetation Policy and Maintenance Plan for schoolyard
landscaping and gardens to ensure coordination between buildings
and grounds, students, teachers, parents and community
volunteers.
o Check here if this is a District decision

For newly remodeled or constructed buildings, plan and develop to
keep surface water away from the building (Grading & Paving).7

For newly remodeled or constructed buildings, develop a water
budget for landscape irrigation use.8

For newly remodeled or constructed buildings, employ moisture
control measures (Weather Resistance and Moisture Control). 9
Reach for the Stars
Supplemental Actions – For a higher rating, choose from the actions below:
* = choose 1 action
** = choose 2 actions
*** = choose 3 actions
 Instructional school garden(s).10
 Opportunities for teachers and students to teach, play and learn in natural
settings integrating the schoolyard into curriculum and other opportunities
for the intellectual, social and emotional development of students.
 Sun-smart policy to protect students and teachers from over-exposure in
the schoolyard outlining shade and sun protection strategies.
Education Code:Healthy Schools Act of 2000 17608-17613
Comply with Section 5.106.10 – Grading & Paving (mandatory under Site Development) on the CA Green Building Standards Code – for newly
remodeled or constructed buildings on a school campus: The site shall be planned and developed to keep surface water away from the building.
8
Comply with Section 5.304.1– Water Budget (mandatory under Outdoor Water Use) on the CA Green Building Standards Code for newly
remodeled or constructed buildings on a school campus: Develop a water budget for landscape irrigation use.
9
Comply with Section5.407.2– Moisture Control (mandatory under Weather Resistance and Moisture Control) on the CA Green Building
Standards Code for newly remodeled or constructed buildings on a school campus: Employ moisture control measures by preventing irrigation
spray on structures and preventing water intrusion into building through exterior entries and openings.
10
Education Code: School Gardens
9000-9004
6
7
 Inclusion of nature play features and opportunities for students during
recess.
 For newly remodeled or constructed buildings, conserve existing habitat
and restore other natural areas with native plants.11
 Encourage the district to adopt a district-wide policy for schoolyard
greening.
A5.304.6 (voluntary action) or A5.104.7 (voluntary action) – CA Green Building Standards Code. A5.104.7 – Restore all areas disturbed during
construction by planting with local native and/or noninvasive vegetation. A5.104.7 – On previously developed or graded sites, restore or protect
at least 50% of this site area with native and/or noninvasive vegetation.
11
II. Education:
1. Introduce Topic and Principles
Mandatory
 Develop and implement a Scope and Sequence plan that ensures all
students, during the course of their education at the school, have been
introduced to topics related to Green Schoolyards such as climate
change, natural resource and water conservation, the 4Rs (Reduce,
Reuse, Recycle, Rot), wildlife habitat, etc. through lessons or classroom
activities. Share the plan with the Green Star Schools Program.
Reach for the Stars
Supplemental Actions – For a higher rating, choose from the actions below:
* = choose 1 action
** = choose 2 actions
*** = choose 3 actions
 List activity accomplished to introduce green schoolyard topics and
principles to the school community: _____________
 List activity accomplished to introduce green schoolyard topics and
principles to the school community: _____________
 List activity accomplished to introduce green schoolyard topics and
principles to the school community: _____________
2. Conduct a Schoolyard Audit
Mandatory
 Conduct a yearly school-wide schoolyard audit.
Use the attached Schoolyard Audit worksheet to investigate a variety of existing
features in the schoolyard, identify current management practices and learn about
how the schoolyard is utilized for teaching, learning and play. A class or group of
students, with the guidance of an adult, should perform the audit. Schoolyard
resource use and conservation measures will also be calculated. Through the audit,
students will be able to determine where opportunities exist to conserve resource
use in the schoolyard as well as ways to enhance schoolyard features.
 Conduct on-going monitoring.
Create a monitoring team to regularly assess the schoolyard greening efforts at least
twice a year and make recommendations on how to improve the current practices
and infrastructure. This team can be part of the school’s Green Team or school
garden club.12
3. Take Action:
a) Students Take Action:
Mandatory
 Students, with the guidance of a teacher or advisor, prepare a schoolwide schoolyard greening plan based on the Schoolyard Audit results.
The plan will target specific areas for greening.
 Students present the results of the school-wide Schoolyard Audit and plan
to the school community including the administration.
Reach for the Stars
Supplemental Actions – For a higher rating, choose from the actions below:
* = choose 1 action
** = choose 2 actions
*** = choose 3 actions
Audits and Home Surveys
 Students and their families conduct a home audit to investigate a variety
of features in their yards.
 Students develop a database to record information, draw graphs and
analyze the data from the Schoolyard Audit.
Clubs and Partnerships
 Students partner with community groups, non-profits, or businesses on
greening the schoolyard or Bay Friendly Gardening related projects.
Composting
 Students maintain compost bin(s) in the schoolyard or school garden.
 Purchase or solicit donations of compost and/or mulch from local organic
materials such as plant or wood waste.
Soil
12 *Wash.
 Students compare and contrast the different types of soil found in the
schoolyard such as density, air spaces, presence of living organisms,
texture, feel, etc.
 Students take samples of soil from various sites throughout the
schoolyard and test the soil to assess moisture holding capacity, nutrient
content and soil structure.
 Students determine the PH level of soil by using litmus paper and
investigate how different plants respond to soils with different PH levels.
Teaching Gardens
 Students start a rain garden, organic edible garden, wildlife habitat garden
or drought tolerant demonstration area including signage and teaching
opportunities.
 Students observe the life cycle of plants in the classroom or school
garden by growing plants from seed.
 Students study the conditions required for plants to grow and create an
experiment that investigates variables that effect plant growth such as
light, water, air, space and nutrients.
Flora and Fauna
 Students build animal shelters (birdhouses, etc.,) out of salvaged or
recycled materials to provide shelter for wildlife.
 Students conduct a wildlife habitat scavenger hunt on campus to identify
and learn about native animals that live in the schoolyard and ways to
increase habitat in the schoolyard.
Ecological Schoolyard Design & Features
 Students create signage identifying the environment features of the green
schoolyard.
 Students participate in a schoolyard mapping activity collecting an
inventory and site map of existing structures, conditions and uses of the
schoolyard.
 Students interview their peers about how they use the schoolyard and
features they would like to have in order to make the schoolyard a better
place to socialize, play, learn and interact with the natural environment.
 Students participate in all stages of planning, designing and implementing
a schoolyard greening project.
 Students create a schoolyard weather station and record daily
measurements and the effects on plants and animals in the schoolyard.
 Create a schoolyard plant nursery to propagate plants for your schoolyard
landscape.
Watershed, Waterflows and Erosion
 Students research their local watershed and identify ways to reduce storm
water runoff on from school roof, parking lot and grounds.
 Other. List an activity(s) accomplished by students to integrate green
schoolyards into the school community: _____________
b) Teachers and Staff Take Action (students learn through modeling):
Mandatory
 Recycle organic material (food scraps, school garden waste) if a
commercial organics collection program is available or by using onsite
composting systems for just garden/green waste.
Reach for the Stars
Supplemental Actions – For a higher rating, choose from the actions below:
* = choose 1 action
** = choose 2 actions
*** = choose 3 actions
 Provide opportunities for outdoor educational experience.
 If schools decide to have an organics collection service (if available)
compost food scraps, set up a food scraps collection containers in
cafeterias and other eating areas.
 Staff members conduct an audit to investigate a variety of existing
features in their yards, identify current management practices.
 Set up and maintain one classroom worm composting bin in the
classroom or school garden. C (Washington)
 Advise an Environmental Club, Schoolyard Greening Club or
Conservation Club that focuses on schoolyard greening projects in your
school and community.
 Organize a fieldtrip to visit another school site or park for inspiration and
ideas.
 Other. What are some other actions staff and teachers do to help green
the schoolyard? ________________
4. Outreach:
Mandatory
 Encourage and publicize the schoolyard greening action steps and results
at school and at home through signs, daily announcements, newsletters,
websites, bulletin boards or assemblies, etc., every year.
 Provide students, parents/ guardians, faculty, and custodians information
about the school’s schoolyard greening procedures and program at the
beginning of every school year.A (sfusd)
Reach for the Stars
Supplemental Actions – For a higher rating, choose from the actions below:
* = choose 1 action
** = choose 2 actions
*** = choose 3 actions
 Students design displays for common spaces to educate students and
staff about the school's green schoolyard program and list actions that
they can take at school and at home.
 Students develop and send surveys out to parents regarding green
schoolyard and Sustainable Gardening and Landscaping practices at
school and at home.
 Students create pamphlets for parents informing them about the
environmental benefits of Sustainable Gardening and Landscaping.
 Students teach other students activities or lessons related to greening the
schoolyard.
 Students perform a skit, puppet show, or other type of educational
entertainment related to greening the schoolyard to other students,
community members, or another school.
 Students create a GS Schoolyard newsletter written and published by
students to inform the school community about schoolyard projects.
 Students create field guides that teach other students, parents and
community members about the plants and animals found on school
grounds.
 Issue a press release(s) to local media outlets about the schoolyard
greening efforts and results of the program.
 Establish a relationship with a sister school internationally or research
three local or international schools to learn what they are doing to green
their schoolyard and how they are measuring and evaluating their results.
Present your findings to the school community or other appropriate
audience.
 Organize a class or school project to protect the local watershed (e.g.
stenciling storm drains, restoring a stream, writing pamphlets or brochures
about point source and non-point source pollution) to distribute to school
neighbors.
 Organize Community Build days inviting parents and community members
to work on schoolyard projects.
 Provide community garden plots on campus for families that do not have
access to garden at home.
 Create a guide to Integrated Pest Management for the home and share
with parents and community members.
 Other. List an Outreach action that has been accomplished by the school
community to integrate green schoolyards into the school community:
_____________
5. Reflection and Celebration
Mandatory
 Students facilitate a school-wide celebration to honor new schoolyard
greening initiatives and environmental benefits achieved, and to recognize
the school community for on-going support.
 At least twice a year, update all students, parents/ guardians, staff,
buildings and grounds and maintenance staff, and custodians about the
school’s green schoolyard efforts. A
 Recognize at least once per year the class(es), club(s), and/or
custodian(s)/ building and grounds and maintenance staff that have led
the school’s green schoolyard program through rallies, awards, etc. A
Reach for the Stars
Supplemental Actions – For a higher rating, choose from the actions below:
* = choose 1 action
** = choose 2 actions
*** = choose 3 actions
 Other. List Reflection and Celebration actions accomplished by the
school community to integrate green schoolyards into the school
community: ___________________
6. Professional Development
Mandatory
 Based on the your school’s Scope and Sequencing plan, have appropriate
teaching staff participate in or facilitate workshops that include how to
integrate topics related to Green Schoolyards such as climate change,
natural resource and water conservation, the 4Rs (Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle, Rot), wildlife habitats, etc. into classroom lessons or activities.
 Provide Green Schoolyard training for staff, parents and volunteers
working on schoolyard greening projects.
 Introduce school staff to the school's green schoolyard program at the
beginning of every school year through staff in-service trainings. B (king)
Reach for the Stars
Supplemental Actions – For a higher rating, choose from the actions below:
* = choose 1 action
** = choose 2 actions
*** = choose 3 actions
 Prepare a case study of your school’s green schoolyard accomplishments
and share it with the Green Star Schools program.
 Work with other teachers at your school to coordinate activities access
Green Star Schools pathways and grade levels.
 Request a training from the district on IPM for building, grounds and
maintenance staff in addition to school garden coordinators or staff
working in the school garden or landscape.
 Other. List Professional Development activity(s) accomplished by staff to
integrate green schoolyards into the school community:
______________________________
III. Facilities/Maintenance
Is your school currently a CHPS or LEED, Green Business certified school?

Yes__________ Year certified__________

No __________
If Yes, then you may have met some of the mandatory facility requirements
below.
Mandatory
 Protect all bare soil in the schoolyard by applying mulch.
o Check here if this is a District decision
 Eliminate and prevent planting invasive species. 13
o Check here if this is a District decision
 Use Integrated Pest Management design to prevent pest problems such as
sheet mulching to control weeds and organic pest management.
o Check here if this is a District decision
 For newly remodeled or constructed buildings, implement on-site stormwater
management and pollution prevention plan. 14
o Check here if this is a District decision
 For newly remodeled or constructed buildings, divert stormwater run-off
onsite through the use of conservation landscapes, retention ponds, or grassy
swales, etc.15
Reach for the Stars
Supplemental Actions – For a higher rating, choose from the actions below:
* = choose 1 action
** = choose 2 actions
*** = choose 3 actions
Energy
 Install a solar powered fountain where students can learn about sources of
alternative energy.
Composting
Refer to California Invasive Plant Council’s list of invasive plant species www.cal-ipc.org
Comply with Section 5.106.1 – SWPP (mandatory under Site Development) on the CA Green Building Standards Code – for newly remodeled or
constructed buildings on a school campus: For projects one acre or less develop a Storm Water Pollution Plan (SWPP).
15
A5.106.3 (voluntary action) – CA Green Building Standards Code
13
14
 Keep plant debris onsite by producing mulch and compost from plant debris
and food scraps.
 Grasscycle when possible by keeping grass clippings on any lawn areas after
mowing.
 Collect and recycle plant debris that cannot be used onsite for mulch or
compost.
 Compost yard waste from school ground on campus or at another site in the
district or collect it in a yard waste/organics bin(s) that is serviced by the
hauler. C
Soil
 Protect soil from compaction and control soil erosion.
 Aerate compacted soil.
 Feed soil naturally with quality compost and avoid synthetic fertilizers.
Teaching Gardens
 Assist and create a schoolyard plant nursery to propagate plants for your
schoolyard landscape.
Flora and Fauna
 Plant drought tolerant CA native, Mediterranean or climate adapted plants
that require little or no summer watering.
 Select appropriate plants: choose and locate plants to grow to natural size
and avoid shearing.
 Minimize lawn or use lawn alternatives.
 Reduce the heat island effect with cool site techniques such as planting trees
to shade paved areas.
 Provide water and/or shelter for wildlife such as birdhouses, birdbaths,
boulders, logs, woodpiles, large native shrubs or trees.
 Conserve or restore natural areas and wildlife habitat.
Ecological Schoolyard Design & Features
 Create spaces for students to sit, play and learn in natural settings.
 Provide logs, rocks and other natural features for students to climb on swing,
balance and jump over.
 Provide a variety of surfaces and materials in the schoolyard for students to
explore.
 Provide small and large seating areas throughout the schoolyard for pairs of
students and full classrooms to utilize.
 Use low energy light fixtures and solar powered features such as solar pumps
for water features.
 Provide community access to the schoolyard.
 Place green schoolyard signs identifying the environmental features of the
schoolyard.
 Use salvaged and recycled materials in the schoolyard.
Watershed, Waterflows and Erosion
 Design and install educational signage to encourage teaching and informal
learning.
 Design and install high efficiency irrigation systems that use weather-based
irrigation controllers with a moisture and/or rainwater sensor shutoff for new
irrigation systems.
 Design an onsite system to store and use rainwater, recycled and/or
greywater.
 Direct rainwater from downspouts to non-edible planters, swales or
landscaped areas.
 Capture and filter stormwater and runoff from parking lots into landscaped
beds, vegetative swales.
 Implement hydrozoning by grouping plants by water requirements and sun
exposure and select plant species appropriate for water use within each zone.
 Use drip or bubblers for non-turf irrigated areas.
 Use permeable paving, gravel, or other porous surfaces.
 Other:______________________________
The Schoolyard Schools Checklist has been created thanks
to the following sources:
A.
Sustainable SFUSD: Waste Criteria
http://portal.sfusd.edu/template/?page=sustainability
B.
King County green Schools Program: Level One – School Criteria
http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/greenschools/documents/Level_One_School
_Criteria.doc
C. Washington Green Schools: Recycling & Waste Reduction Assessment
http://www.wagreenschools.org/files/261.pdf
D. Bay-Friendly Landscaping Guidelines
http://www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=378
E. Bay-Friendly School Garden Registration Checklist, Stopwaste.Org
http://www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=971
F. Schoolyard Planning and Design in New Jersey - Enhancing Outdoor Play and
Learning , The Center for Architecture and Building Science Research New Jersey
Institute of Technology Newark, NJ
http://www.cabsr.org/edu-publications.htm
GREEN SCHOOLYARD RESOURCES
Sample Policies
1. Evergreen’s sample Shade for Kids: A Policy Primer for School Boards
http://www.evergreen.ca/en/resources/schools/research-policy.sn
2. Evergreen’s School Ground Greening: A policy and planning guidebook
http://www.evergreen.ca/en/resources/schools/research-policy.sn
3. National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology Policies and Plans Examples
http://www.nwf.org/Global-Warming/Campus-Solutions/Get-Involved/Design-aProject/Examples-by-Topic/Policies-and-Plans.aspx
Classroom Curriculum & Background Information
1. Regional/County curriculum resources
Alameda County
a. Bay-Friendly School Garden Registration,
http://www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=5
2. California School Garden Network website
http://www.csgn.org/page.php?id=22
3. The Learning Grounds Guide for Schools
http://www.evergreen.ca/en/resources/schools/index.sn)/County
4. All Hands in the Dirt
http://www.evergreen.ca/en/resources/schools/
5. National Wildlife Federation’s Schoolyard Habitats How-to-Guide
http://www.nwf.org/Get-Outside/Be-Out-There.aspx
6. Botany on Your Plate: Investigating the Plants We Eat
http://www.gardeningwithkids.org/11-3350.html
7. Environmental Education Initiative Curriculum
http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Education/EEI/Curriculum/Default.htm
8. Greening School Grounds- Creating Habitats for Learning
http://www.greenteacher.com/gsg.html
9. Outdoor Environments for Children, Landscaping Schoolyards, Gardens, and
Playgrounds.
http://www.ribabookshops.com/item/designing-outdoor-environments-for-childrenlandscaping-schoolyards-gardens-and-playgrounds/58570/
10. The Growing Classroom Garden and Nutrition Activity Guide http://www.lifelab.org
11. Healthy Food from Healthy Soils http://www.tilburyhouse.com/childrens/healthyfoods-from-healthy-soils.htm
12. Junior Master Gardeners (JMG) Kids Activities:; Teacher/ Leader Guide; Literature
in the Garden; Operation Thistle and Operation Water www.jmgkids.us
13. Project Food, Land & People resources for Learning, 2nd Edition
http://www.foodlandpeople.org
14. TWIGS Youth Development Program: Focus on Gardening and Nutrition
mjjohns@ucdavis.edu
http://cesandiego.ucdavis.edu/files/44473.pdf
15. California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom
http://www.cfaitc.org
16. California Master Gardeners
http://www.mastergardeners.org
17. A Child's Garden of Standards (Linking School Gardens to California Education
Standards)
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/he/documents/childsgarden.pdf
Resources for Schools:
1. Low Cost Backyard and Worm Composting Bins: (Also listed in Waste Reduction &
Recycling Section)
a. Alameda County:
http://www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=175
b. San Mateo County:
http://www.recycleworks.org/compost/basics.html
c. Santa Clara County:
http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/iwm/agencyarticle?path=%2Fv7%2FIntegrated
%20Waste%20Management%20%28DIV%29%2FHome%20Composting&conte
ntId=46cadc18dfb34010VgnVCMP230004adc4a92____
2. Material Exchanges: (Also listed in Waste Reduction & Recycling Section)
a. CalMax: http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/CalMAX/
b. Excess Access: http://www.excessaccess.com/
c. Freecycle: http://www.freecycle.org/
3. Recycled or Salvaged Materials
a. Green Schoolyard Resource Directory for the San Francisco Bay Area, written by
Sharon Danks and Tamar Cooper, on behalf of the San Francisco Green
Schoolyard Alliance and San Francisco Unified School District.
http://www.ecoschools.com/
b. Bay-Friendly Landscaping Guide to Recycled-Content and Salvaged Materials
http://www.stopwaste.org/docs/salvaged.pdf
Professional Development
1. Kids in Gardens, Watershed Project
http://www.thewatershedproject.org/education.html
2. Occidental Arts and Ecology Center’s School Garden Teacher Training
http://www.oaec.org/
3. Center for Ecoliteracy
http://www.ecoliteracy.org/
4. San Francisco Green Schoolyard Alliance
http://www.sfpt.org/OurPrograms/FiscalSponsorship/MeetourParkPartners/SFGreen
SchoolyardAlliance/tabid/182/Default.aspx
5. LifeLab, UC Santa Cruz
http://lifelab