Use an online tool like Google Maps to research food miles represented by each type of produce grown in the school garden had it come from a non-local source and been purchased in local supermarkets The calculation Use this formula to calculate an estimated amount of carbon that was – produced based on the researched travel distance for each type of produce. Then follow the steps below to log this data at NatureWorksEverywhere.org as your carbon offset amount. Lbs of carbon produced = [x] travel miles X 3.7lbs. CO2 See footnote for formula logic. Show students the Carbon Reduction data collection tool at the Nature Everywhere Gardens website. Then view the graphic showing how much carbon offset has occurred nationwide through the efforts of all schools participating in the Nature Works Everywhere Gardens program. Tell students that they will be adding to this total. Enter the number from the students’ calculation on the Nature Works Everywhere Gardens website following these steps: Locate the CO2 Offset Data Reporting tool. Move the slider feature to record student calculations for CO2 offset based on the formula above and click save. The website will take the amount of carbon you have just entered as the amount of carbon you have saved by growing and consuming the vegetable locally and give you a comparison for context. In the screen shot example above, 45 tons of carbon saves 11 miles worth of driving of a semi-truck. Cumulative data on the amounts of carbon offset to date is shown in the school dashboard feature of the website. Use these figures to track and observe trends in your data. Help students review the data to discuss the effects of saved CO2 as shown in the local harvest figures and also as featured by the total carbon offset created by all schools participating in Nature Works Everywhere Gardens programs. Have students recall that while transportation is a small part of the carbon emissions for food, when they combine their saved CO2 with other schools and communities doing the same thing, the effect adds up to have a significant carbon savings around the country. Also think about how much carbon may be saved from your production process of the vegetable, which is not accounted for in this formula. Your number and cumulative CO2 savings may seem small, but combine that with schools, communities, and other cities around the country and your students will see how they are participating in a significant reduction of carbon emissions. Reflect Write the vocabulary terms (without definitions) on the board. Have students discuss what they know and understand about these terms.
Use an online tool like Google Maps to research food miles represented by each type of produce grown in the school garden had it come from a non-local source and been purchased in local supermarkets The calculation – Use this formula to calculate an estimated amount of carbon that was produced based on the researched travel distance for each type of produce. Then follow the steps below to log this data at NatureWorksEverywhere.org as your carbon offset amount. Lbs of carbon produced = [x] travel miles X 3.7lbs. CO2 See footnote for formula logic. Show students the Carbon Reduction data collection tool at the Nature Everywhere Gardens website. Then view the graphic showing how much carbon offset has occurred nationwide through the efforts of all schools participating in the Nature Works Everywhere Gardens program. Tell students that they will be adding to this total. Enter the number from the students’ calculation on the Nature Works Everywhere Gardens website following these steps: Locate the CO2 Offset Data Reporting tool. Move the slider feature to record student calculations for CO2 offset based on the formula above and click save. The website will take the amount of carbon you have just entered as the amount of carbon you have saved by growing and consuming the vegetable locally and give you a comparison for context. In the screen shot example above, 45 tons of carbon saves 11 miles worth of driving of a semi-truck. Cumulative data on the amounts of carbon offset to date is shown in the school dashboard feature of the website. Use these figures to track and observe trends in your data. Help students review the data to discuss the effects of saved CO2 as shown in the local harvest figures and also as featured by the total carbon offset created by all schools participating in Nature Works Everywhere Gardens programs. Have students recall that while transportation is a small part of the carbon emissions for food, when they combine their saved CO2 with other schools and communities doing the same thing, the effect adds up to have a significant carbon savings around the country. Also think about how much carbon may be saved from your production process of the vegetable, which is not accounted for in this formula. Your number and cumulative CO2 savings may seem small, but combine that with schools, communities, and other cities around the country and your students will see how they are participating in a significant reduction of carbon emissions. Reflect Write the vocabulary terms (without definitions) on the board. Have students discuss what they know and understand about these terms.
NWEGardens_CO2Guide_finalv2.docx