Kindness
Elementary School - December 2010
Character Education
Newsletters
Broward County Air
Quality Program
Kindness is described as being helpful, thoughtful, caring, compassionate, and considerate.
December is the perfect month to show kindness to your fellow human beings, as well as all of
the animals, plants, and natural resources on our planet.
Take the Conservation & Climate Change (C3) Challenge!
Go Green
Climate Change
Broward County Kids
Corner
We are proud to announce the 2nd annual Conservation & Climate Change (C3) Challenge!
The C3 Challenge is an educational competition intended to engage students, teachers,
school administrators, staff, and parents in practical strategies to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions school-wide and at home. Become your school’s Climate Leader and register by
e-mailing us at airoutreach@broward.org and receive a free Back To School Eco-Friendly C3
Starter Kit. Each kit contains items such as rules, bookmarks, pencils & pens made from
recycled material, a reusable shopping bag, stickers, book covers, Energy Star climate
change materials, and a Broward County Teacher Resources CD. For more information visit
www.broward.org/pollutionprevention.
December:
C3 Challenge
Clean Air Poster Contest
The winning school will receive:
January:
Clean Air Poster Contest

Celebration Day hosted by the Broward County Air Quality Program at your school

Sustainable School Plaque

E-Certificates for each teacher who participates

Winning banner for school (8’ by 3’)

2011 Clean Air Calendars

Recognition from the Board of County Commissioners

Climate Change Collection (books, documentaries, and movies) for library

A NatureScape butterfly garden
The Broward County Pollution Prevention, Remediation & Air Quality Division continues to
incorporate Character Education into its educational efforts. Each month the newsletter will
relate core values to science in an effort to educate students about good character and the
importance of protecting our natural resources.
This year’s newsletters support the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Science.
Grade K - Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science
Grade 1 – Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science; Big Idea 6: Earth Structures; Big Idea 17:
Interdependence
Grade 2 – Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science; Big Idea 17: Interdependence
Grade 3 – Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science; Big Idea 3: The Role of Theories, Laws,
Hypotheses & Models; Big Idea 17: Interdependence
Grade 4 – Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science; Big Idea 2: The Characteristics of Scientific
Knowledge; Big Idea 6: Earth Structures; Big Idea 17: Interdependence
Grade 5 – Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science; Big Idea 2: The Characteristics of Scientific
Knowledge; Big Idea 17: Interdependence
Activity 1: Eco-Friendly Holiday Tree Decorations
Option 1: Bottle-cap bow
Materials:
Photos or magazines
Bottle caps
Nontoxic glue
Leftover scraps of gift-wrapping ribbon, various lengths
and widths
Instructions:
1. Cut an image to fit the size of the bottle-cap interior
and glue it in, pressing to make sure the image lies flat.
2. Take one of the wider ribbons and tie it into a bow proportional to the size of the bottle cap.
3. Then, take a thinner ribbon, preferably one with wire in it for stiffness, and thread it through
the top of the bow's knotted center. Once threaded, pull ribbon to desired length and tie a knot
at the top to form a loop.
4. Glue the back of the bottle cap to the bow.
Source: www.mnn.com/family/raising-a-family/photos/diy-christmas-tree-ornaments/bottlecap-bow
Option 2: Coffee can wreath
Materials
Coffee can lid
Shells
Nontoxic glue
Raffia (or yarn)
Instructions
1. Cut out the inside of coffee can lid to use as wreath base.
Broward County Public
Schools Environmental
Stewardship
Upcoming Events
February:
Clean Air Poster Contest
March:
Clean Air Poster Contest
Recommended Reading for
November & December:
CLIMATE CHANGE –
Picturing the Science
Gavin Schmidt & Joshua
Wolfe
2. Wrap raffia around the lid and tie in back to make a loop.
3. Glue cut shells and smaller seashells onto raffia.
4. Glue on raffia for hook to hang.
Source: www.mnn.com/family/raising-a-family/photos/diy-christmas-tree-ornaments/coffee-can-wreath
Antarctic Auditions: Penguin Craft
Materials
 Black and white glossy acrylic paint
 Plastic soda or water bottles (we used 12-ounce, 1-liter,
and 2-liter bottles)
 Styrofoam balls (2- to 3-inch diameter)
 Black and yellow craft foam sheets
 Tacky glue
 Masking tape (optional)
 Plastic knife (with adult supervision)
 Googly eyes (3/4- to 1-inch diameter)
 Funnel
 Sand
 Small doll accessories (optional)
 Child's socks (optional)
 Permanent marker
 Cardboard to make a lawn sign- 15 by 19 inches or larger (optional)
Instructions
1. For each penguin, pour two parts black paint and one part water inside a bottle (we
used 1 to 4 tablespoons of paint depending on the size of the bottle). Screw on the cap
and shake the bottle to coat the sides. Remove the cap and save it for later.
2. On the outside of the bottle, paint a white oval from the spout to the bottom. Dry
overnight (the inside may be slightly wet in the morning).
3. Coat a Styrofoam ball with black paint and let it dry.
4. Cut two wings from the black craft foam and a beak and feet from the yellow craft foam
(you can download our template.) Glue the wings and feet to the bottle as shown and
let them dry. If needed, use masking tape to hold the wings in place as they dry.
5. With the knife, bore a hole in the Styrofoam ball big enough to fit the neck of the bottle.
Glue on googly eyes. Make a small slit below the eyes, insert a few dabs of glue, then
slide the beak into the opening.
6. Funnel sand into the bottle to weigh it down (we used 1 to 2 cups depending on the
bottle's size). Replace the cap and press the Styrofoam head on top.
7. If you like, dress the penguin in doll accessories or use kids' socks to make your own.
For a hat, snip a 6- to 8-inch length from a sock and knot one end. For a scarf, cut a
1½-inch-wide loop from a sock, snip it open, and fringe the ends.
8. Write "Penguins wanted, apply within" on the lawn sign, then arrange it and the
penguins in your yard as shown.
Source: http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/crafts-by-material/recyclable-projects/penguin-lawn-decoration-802301/
If you have a sample FCAT question you would like to see featured in this section, please email it to airoutreach@broward.org
The distance to the center of the earth is 12,757 kilometers. What is the place value of the
digit 1 in the number 12,757.
A. Hundreds
B. Hundred Thousands
C. Ten thousands
D. Thousands
Answer: C. Ten thousands
The Walking School Bus
Join the bus! A walking school bus is a group of children walking to school with parents or
volunteers. It gives children a jump start on daily exercise and learning. Benefits include
saving fossil fuels, reducing traffic & emissions around the school and students getting
physical activity.
Spread the Word!!!
Subscribe to our electronic Character Education Science FCAT Warm-up Newsletters
Today!
The monthly edition of this newsletter is distributed only through a FREE electronic e-mail
subscriber list. E-mail the Broward County Pollution Prevention, Remediation & Air Quality
Division at airoutreach@broward.org to ensure that you continue to receive this valuable
curriculum resource. The newsletters are also available on our Environmental Kids Club web
site at www.broward.org/kids. Archived copies of the newsletter are also available through
the School Board’s BEEP system.