Sustainability Project

Purpose:

The purpose of this project is to improve sustainability in your sphere of influence, at school, home, work or etc... 

As you complete this project you will…

• Identify an area in which to improve sustainability.

• Collect data to support the need for improvement.

• Research potential solutions to improve sustainability.

• Research how a warming climate is impacting our local environment in Minnesota, Minnesota American Indian Tribes and communities and other local cultures.

• Develop a proposal specific that also considers the broader context of climate change.

• Present the proposal, including a discussion of the climate change connection and any relevant local cultural insights.

Project Ideas:

Consider projects that fit into one of these categories:

• Waste Reduction and Recycling Initiatives

• Energy Conservation

• Water Conservation

• Green Transportation

• School Gardens and Green Spaces

• Food Sustainability

• Environmental Education and Awareness

• Renewable Energy Projects

• Plastic Pollution Reduction

• Green Building and Infrastructure

Project Steps:

1. Identify an Area of Focus: Choose one of the project ideas (or a related area with your teacher's approval) from the list above and describe how it relates to or affects the sphere(s) you focused on in step 1.

2. Data Collection: Collect data relevant to your chosen area. Consider if there is any local data or anecdotal evidence related to how a changing climate is affecting your chosen area in Bloomington/Minnesota.

3. Research Potential Solutions: Research sustainable solutions for your chosen area. 

4. Develop a Proposal: Create a detailed proposal for how to improve sustainability your chosen area. In your proposal, explain how your proposed improvements could also contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change or adapting to its local impacts. Discuss how your proposal considers the specific environmental context of Bloomington/Minnesota.

5. Presentation: Prepare a presentation to share your findings and proposal. Your presentation should include a brief section discussing how practices that are not sustainable and a warming climate impacts the hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, or atmosphere from the lens of Minnesota American Indian Tribes and communities and other cultures.

Remember to:

• Focus your research on our sphere of influence.

• Collect relevant and reliable data to support your claims.

• Create a works cited list. (Name of website and link)

• Work collaboratively and contribute equally with your partner.