- California   |
California Disney’s Environmentality Challenge (DEC) provides an opportunity for your class to "think green." DEC is a challenging and fun hands-on experience for the entire class and DEC will help your students learn more about their environment and show them why caring about the earth is cool! The purpose of the DEC program is to encourage students to think and act environmentally at school, at home, and in their communities. The program is available to you as a result of a unique partnership between The Walt Disney Company, CEEIN, US EPA, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Easy Exciting Educational Disney’s Environmentality Challenge is a two-part program consisting of the Pledge (available to grades 3, 4, & 5) and the Class Project Competition (available to grade 5 only). Your level of commitment is up to you and your students. The Pledge entails making a commitment, while the Class Project Competition requires building a comprehensive action-based project. The DEC Pledge (Grades 3, 4, & 5) and the Class Project Competition (Grade 5 ONLY). The Pledge inspires students to think of ways they can positively impact the environment in their everyday lives. The Project Competition motivates fifth grade classrooms to delve deeper into a specific environmental issue.
Part 1:
1. Enroll - [If you have not already for the 2009 DEC Program]Take the Environmentality Pledge **Grades 3, 4, & 5** The Pledge is an easy, fun and interactive way to do something good for the environment and allow for your students to use their creativity. Each student in your class will also receive a cool Disney’s Environmentality Challenge gift for their valued participation. Get started! Click here to fill out and submit the entry form. On the DEC website you will also find sample lesson plans and the Disney’s Environmentality Challenge Handbook for step by step information. Remember - you will need to enroll this year even if you have signed up in previous years. YOUR GIFTS AND PLEDGE FORMS WILL BE MAILED TO YOU IN THE FALL AFTER YOU ENROLL 2. Discuss After you have received your pledge forms, conduct a discussion with your students about the importance of the environment and our responsibility for maintaining its healthy balance. Visit www.deckids.com for more information, handy advice, and tips and tricks to get your class started. 3. Take the Pledge Ask students to pledge three things he or she can do to help the environment. Pledges can be anything from drawing on both sides of the paper or picking up litter in the cafeteria, to being in charge of turning of lights at school or starting a recycling program in the classroom. Students write their pledge on the pledge card (see number 1) and take it home to share with friends and family.
ENROLL BY DECEMBER 19, 2008
The 5th Grade Project Competition motivates fifth grade classrooms to delve deeper into environmental issues. The project is completely up to you and your class; the sky’s the limit -- put the whammy on water pollution, compost like crazy, or help reduce energy costs!Your adventure can stop here or continue to Part 2, the Class Project Competition ***For Grade 5 ONLY*** Part 2: Enter the Class Project Competition **Grade 5 Only** With your class, select ONE real-world environmental issue in the community - from animal habitats to climate change - and discuss with your class the change you want to see and help create. Together, create a solution and plan of action for the issue on which you have decided. Help your class to dig deeply and gain knowledge about the subject through research, volunteerism, and teamwork. Then take action for improvement and to positively impact the environment! The class must develop and submit its project for evaluation on a state-wide basis by a panel of distinguished scientists, educators, and environmental leaders. Projects are evaluated on environmental relevance, student learning based on CA State Standards, changes in practices and attitudes, community involvement, lasting benefit to students, school and/or community, and originality. Three Simple Steps - Class Project Competition 1. Enroll See Part 1, Step 1 2. Do the Project Identify an issue, develop and conduct an action plan, evaluate results. Check out the DEC Handbook and specially designed lesson plans in our new Tools and Resources section for guidance, handy-hints, and portfolio submission forms. 3. Submit Assemble the class project portfolio and send it in!
Integrate Your Content Standards
Sample lesson plans that integrate California State Content Standards can be found in Tools and Resources. Once your class has selected an environmental topic, provide the students with information and resources to help them develop a conceptual understanding of the issue.Use of a variety of curricula standards in your environmental project that incorporate mathematics, science, language arts, visual and performing arts, service learning, and social studies. Once the environmental topic is selected, you and your students should do the following: GO FOR A GOAL Set one or more meaningful, challenging goals, and make sure they are realistic and measurable. GET EVERYONE INVOLVED Lead the way to get friends, family, other students and the community to join in your mission. TAKE ACTION Once the goals are set, strive to accomplish them. Work as a team. Take things one step at a time. Above all, be proud of your accomplishments. You’re making a difference! MEASURE UP Measure your project outcomes and benefits to the environment. Quantify what you have accomplished.
On the Environmentality Team, Everyone Wins
State Semi-Finalists (up to 10 classes)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pledge Participants **Grades 3, 4, & 5** Thank you for making a positive change for the environment! All of your class members will receive a specially designed Disney’s Environmentality Challenge gift for your participation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Class Project Competition Participants **Grade 5 Only** By turning in a class project for judging, each student in the class will receive a certificate and the teacher will receive a specially designed gift for their classroom. State Finalists (5 classes) Grand Prize Winner (1 class) Each class member receives all of the above, PLUS:
****AN ALL-EXPENSE-PAID FIELD TRIP INCLUDING 2 DAYS AND 1 NIGHT AT A DISNEYLAND? RESORT HOTEL, COMPLIMENTARY PASSES TO THE DISNEYLAND RESORT THEME PARKS!!*******
1. Have fun!STUDENTS WILL ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO: Class Project Competition Rules and Regulations 2. You must be a California public or private school, fifth grade or fifth grade combination class (fourth/fifth or fifth/sixth) or school affiliated club. A maximum of 40 students and 1 teacher PER class. Only one entry per class. Separate entry for each class, even if you are located at the same school. 3. Classes outside the California school system are not eligible to participate. 4. Class project portfolio should be designed, created, and written by students, with minimal assistance from the teacher. The portfolio should use paper no larger than 11x17, and contain no more than 16 pages of text, photos, drawings, etc. Originality and creativity is highly encouraged! 5. REPEAT RULE #1.
DUE DATE
Judging the ProjectAll class project entries must be POST MARKED by February 27, 2009 Disney’s Environmentality Challenge C/o Environmental Policy The Walt Disney Company 500 South Buena Vista Street Burbank, CA 91521-9758 (800) 290-0299 A panel of distinguished scientists, educators, and environmental leaders will judge the Class Project Competition. A Scoring Rubric will be available at www.deckids.com as a judging guideline for your project. |
