Green Options

Does your child’s school have plants in the classrooms? If not, they should. Plants could make going to school more enjoyable. A recent study published in the journal HortScience found that the presence of greenery in classrooms had a significant positive impact on the level of satisfaction students felt in relation to learning, instructors’ enthusiasm and instructors’ organization.

Since many Americans spend up to 80% of the day indoors, it’s no surprise that bringing nature inside is a good thing. Previous studies have shown houseplants can help clean indoor air, reduce tension, improve coping mechanisms, boost work productivity and help increase concentration and attention.

Architecture Involution LLC (Ai3), a leading architect firm that specializes in educational design and Triumph Modular, the premier provider of temporary and permanent modular buildings have teamed up to launch the CASE 21 (Creative Academic Sustainable Environments for the 21st Century) classroom solution. CASE 21 is a high-performance learning environment employing state-of-the-art green design, organizational layout and technology integration.

When I taught grades K-8 in a one-room schoolhouse, we began each morning with the sun salutation, only I called it the “good morning” stretch in order to not freak out some right wing parents.

We would go to the grassy field, form a circle, and flow through this vinyasa each morning. On rainy days, we modified this practice in the classroom. I’ve recently come across several articles about yoga in the classroom and the benefits to children.

You’ve heard about how to introduce your friends and family to Fair Trade, and how to build the movement within your community. Now let’s look at how to bring this important education into your school.

• Fair Trade fundraising. With many different options and rewards, it’s easy to make the switch to selling a sweeter chocolate.
• Raise awareness and funds with a Fair Trade bake sale. Check out the many delicious recipes at

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Editor's note: Yes, if you've got school-aged children, they're probably on summer vacation right now. Still, we thought Lighter Footstep editor Chris Baskind's article on incorporating sustainability into your child's classroom was a good one to get parents thinking about the upcoming school year. This article was originally published on May 8, 2007.

Perhaps the only thing more important than making sustainability important in your own life is making sure it's important

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