Detailed Operational Concept –

Getting into Elementary Schools – It is posited that Wellness, Health and Physical Education Teachers are the proper conduit for bringing a program about the Planet’s health to the elementary level. There is no “science teacher” at the elementary level. Classroom teachers are too busy teaching to the standardized tests required by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation to be involved deeply. It is predicted that if Wellness, Health and PE Teachers can be give the responsibility of presenting this material their professional organization, AAHPERD (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) may endorse and support the program to enhance the status of the Wellness/HPE teacher at the elementary level. AAHPERD endorsement secures physical education teacher involvement. An appearance by Al Gore at the AAHPERD National Convention, April 8-12, 2008 in Fort Worth Texas, introducing the program and asking for PE teacher involvement would cement the deal. Go to http://www.aahperd.org/convention/ for information on the group.

The Presentation – Presentation of the full-length movie, An Inconvenient Truth, is not appropriate for lower elementary grades. Critical to the success of this program is to have personal visits by trained consultants who know how to work with children, teachers, parents and administrators in the school setting. We will send in and try to have the W/HPE teacher show the faculty the full length movie An Inconvenient Truth at least a few days before the day of the consultant’s visit, and we will present two copies of the book to the school library, one for reserve and one to be checked out. Realistically, in many schools this will not actually get done. However any prep work teachers can do will be appreciated.

The outline for a visit to a typical school is as follows:

Teachers Meeting - I'll start with a teachers' meeting in the media center (school library) before school and show a 30 minute version of the Al Gore slide show, leaving most questions unanswered, simply saying that I will see teachers later in the day. Then I explain the logistics of the day. Teachers rush off to greet their kids.