Encourage Your Local School to Change the World

Starting this September, middle schoolers can beat the back to school blues in a rewarding competition to solve local environmental issues. The name of the game is The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge and is sponsored by Discovery's own education department, The Siemens Foundation and the National Science Teachers Association.

Though the challenge kicks off with emphasis on middle schoolers, the program covers a wide age-range as the first and only national K-12 curriculum focused on sustainability?teaching kids what it is, what it means, and why it's important to protect the environment. The most appealing aspect of the program is its intention to not just teach students about environmentalism but to actually equip them with the tools that are needed to go out and green their homes, communities and the world at large.

Here is a break down of what the basic curriculum will look like:

- K-2: My Classroom: Introduce students to the importance of "being green" and provide opportunities for active learning and engagement.

- 3-5: My School: Inspire students to think beyond their classroom ? using science and math skills to take their school "green."

- 6-8: My Community: Empower students with tools to apply the Scientific Method to real-world "green issues" in their local communities.

- 9-12: My World: Connect students with real-world scientists as they tackle today's "green challenges" ? moving from insight to global action.

Take action whether you're a parent or not, by forwarding this article to your kids' science teacher or checking in with your local school district to see if they are aware of this amazing program.

(Though I am sans kids, I re-count my grade schools days and only wish I could have been gifted with green schooling at an earlier age. I'll definitely be passing this on to my 8th grade social studies teacher, mom!)

Difficulty level: Easy