There are many ways to optimize your school or group's participation in National Green Week. You may wish to take part in one or many of GEF's eco-challenge programs, lessons, and/or activities. The objective is to spotlight environmental learning whether a school wide program or a simple lesson or book reading to your class. Below is the step-by-step process to help make your program a breeze!

Schools can choose any week until April 13 to participate in the Waste-Free Snack trash reduction program as well as other GEF eco-challenge programs.

1. Principals send out this letter to teachers to educate them on the program. This will:
- Inform teachers about the Waste-Free Snack program at your school. 
- Prepare teachers for the procedures that will be followed for weigh-ins prior to and during National Green Week
- Inform teachers of the goal to eliminate snack trash by bringing in waste-free snacks and drinks in reusable containers and water bottles throughout National Green Week

2. Visit the NGW curriculum section for National Green Week posters, activities, themes and daily lessons for each grade. There many new lessons in this section of the GEF site!  Lessons are complete with beautiful artwork, specific procedures, and helpful worksheets. Select one or all! If you cannot implement these lessons during National Green Week, make any week your green week and use them at your convenience.
- For each grade there is a week long series of Reduce Your Trash lessons. Charts for data recording, worksheets for graphs, suggested teacher read aloud books, and a parent letter explaining the Waste-Free Snack Challenge is provided.

- Five theme based lessons for each grade are provided. The themes are as follows: 

• Pre K-K: Recycling
• Grade 1: Trees and Land Conservation
• Grade 2: Litter
• Grade 3: The 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Grade 4: Energy Reduction
• Grade 5: Shopping Green
• Middle School: Landfills

3. Investigate a new or improved recycling program for your school.
- National Green Week is an opportune time to evaluate the recycling program and procedures at your school or district.
- Read NGW Activity:Recycling Roundup for tips on starting, improving, or sustaining a recycling program in your school.

4. Check out Green Energy Challenge lessons and how to prepare for a school energy audit.
- The Green Energy Challenge lessons section provides teacher friendly, standards-based lessons about renewable and nonrenewable energy.
- Lessons relating to solar, wind, biofuel, and electricity are available
- Teachers can find directions to conduct audits of fuel, water, and trash and recycle for their schools
- Reminder cards for light switches and thermostats are available

5. Adopt-a-Plant for your classroom (complete with adoption papers!). NASA recommends one indoor plant for every 100 square feet of living space to improve indoor air quality. Adopt a plant for your class and bring some nature indoors this winter.

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