K-12 Education Resources
Co-chairs: Kim Rakow Bernier and Jen Cirillo
Check out these recently added resources below. There are more resources available by clicking here.
What is NEW on the K-12 and Teacher Education Sector pages?
Washington, Connecticut, New Mexico, and Oregon's Governors sign the Resolution of the U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development K-12 & Teacher Education Sector
The U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development (USPESD) K-12 & Teacher Education Sector, with its educational partners across the nation, invites students, teachers, schools, colleges of education, and community members to join in the recognition of Sustainability Education Week November 9-13. The USPESD encourages participation in sustainability education learning opportunities beginning the week of November 9-13 and continuing throughout the school year.
ESD in USA report published by the International Alliance of Leading Education Institutes - This report describes the status of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the United States of America. It was completed in 2009 as part of the work of the International Alliance of Leading Education Institutes (http://www.intlalliance.org/alliance.html), and is one of ten such national reports. In response to the Alliance's charge, this report focuses on formal (schoolbased) education at the primary and secondary levels. It addresses theoretical concerns as well as research results and the practical realities of American ESD.
News and Resources from the K-12 & Teacher Education Sector
What is Education for Sustainability? A white paper on EDUCATING FOR SUSTAINABILITY By K-12 and Teacher Education Sector of the U.S. Partnership
National Education for Sustainability K-12 Student Learning Standards, Version 3
The Education for Sustainability (EfS) standards were developed by the K-12 and Teacher Education Sector of the USPESD with input from K-12 educators in public, private, and pre-service (teacher education) fields. Version 3 of the standards includes content updates and clarifications in response to expert and general public review and comments.
Download Version 3 of the National Education for Sustainability Standards here.
THE EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SUMMIT
The K-12 Sector team held a one-day, invitation only summit on October 6th, in Washington, D.C. To view a presentation from the summit, click on the following links.
The Education for Sustainability National Professional Organizations Summit: Part 1 The Education for Sustainability National Professional Organizations Summit: Part 2
Click here for a summary of the summit, including participants and outcomes.
Click here for an update on what the National Professional Organizations are doing to support EFS.
OTHER RESOURCES: a K-12 Annotated Resource List
The resources available through the following links provide K-12 teachers with the tools they need to infuse curricula with principles of educating for sustainable development. Materials are divided into four categories:
- Teaching Resources includes links to lesson plans, activities, and units of instruction, teacher professional development opportunities, benchmarks and standards, essential questions, and methods and models for integrating ESD into existing curriculum.
- Sustainability Literature includes current trends, articles, and journals that focus on or include ESD.
- Online Networking offers links to sustainability list-serves and other networking opportunities.
- ESD Stories offers snapshots of teachers and schools currently practicing ESD, kid testimonials and work examples, green school design, and campus ecology projects.
AAAS - Global Climate Change Resources AAAS seeks to increase the volume of scientific leadership on the issue of global climate change. Background materials on AAAS efforts related to climate change and links to relevant resources are provided including "Communicating and Learning About Global Climate Change: An Abbreviated Guide for Teaching Climate Change," from Project 2061 at AAAS.
Access Excellence
While this site is sponsored by the National Health Museum and is targeted to health and bioscience teachers, many of the lessons directly or indirectly address issues of sustainability. Click "Activities Exchange" for lessons and activities.
The American Forum for Global Education
Site lists lessons, units, and activities that promote the education of American youth for responsible citizenship in an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world.
Association Pour la Terre
Non-profit association dedicated to preserving and protecting our planet through active participation in projects ranging from environmental protection to educating impressionably aged children in principles of Sustainable Development through the production of artists for CDs, DVDs, musical productions, and related School Kits as part of UNESCO's Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.
The Center for Environmental Education
CEE's "Curriculum Review Library" contains curricula on topics ranging from the water cycle to sustainable economics for grades P-16. In addition, this site has a good resource list for teachers interested in ESD.
Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation Founded in 2003, CELF is a non-profit organization whose mission is to make sustainability education an integral part of K-12 education, in school curricula and culture, through comprehensive programming for students, educators and the community.
Children of the Earth United
Teacher-submitted classroom lessons and activities that promote responsible Earth stewardship.
The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education
Services for Educators includes professional development workshops, curriculum materials for purchase, and curriculum design and consultation services, all offered by highly experienced practitioners of ESD.
Cooperative Games for Social Change
A free, downloadable guide to a variety of activities focused on helping students become active participants in social change.
Coverdell World Wise Schools
The Peace Corps primary resource site for teachers includes lesson plans and activities categorized by topic, by grade, and by geographic region. Site also offers connections to Peace Corps volunteers currently in the field for real-time communication opportunities.
Creative Change Educational Solutions Offers curriculum and professional development on multiple sustainability topics, including food systems, land use, brownfields redevelopment, green design, energy, environmental justice, and ecological economics. An on-line curriculum library provides a searchable database of Creative Change materials as well as completely developed units.
Creative Learning Exchange
Creative Learning Exchange offers lesson plans and activities in many disciplines for K-12 educators. All materials encourage a systems approach to teaching, a key element of ESD.
Ecological Footprint Quiz
An online quiz helps individuals better understand their consumption of resources in a global context. A version for younger children, called "Adventures with Bobbie Bigfoot," can be found at http://www.kidsfootprint.org/.
Education for Sustainable Development Toolkit
"Tools to Reorient Education" offers K-12 teachers, administrators, and curriculum designers evaluative tools to identify potential changes to existing curricula in order to address sustainability.
Energy Education Kit (EEK!)
The EEK! curriculum teaches students about energy with hands-on, science-based, interdisciplinary lessons. Developed by Western Michigan University and the Sustainable Futures Group with grant assistance from the Michigan Energy Office. Designed for students from Kindergarden to eighth grade with support materials are available online. These lesson plans encourage students to make informed choices about energy consumption. Theoretical concepts relating to energy production are woven into the materials.
EE Link
Links to lesson plans and activities through the North American Association of Environmental Educators (NAAEE). Lessons available for grades PreK-12 on a wide variety of subjects ranging from energy to biodiversity.
Environmental Issues Forum
The Environmental Issues Forum was a program sponsored by the Chicago Academy of Sciences and the Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago for one year in 1995-1996. Site includes lessons focused on four issues, written by participatory teachers: air quality, land use, water quality, and solid waste management.
Environmental Kids Club
Sponsored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, this site includes links for teachers and students to topical information and resources as well as lesson plans covering topics such as water quality, conservation, ecosystems, and human health.
Environmental Literacy Council
Environmental science labs and activities are designed primarily for AP Environmental Science teachers interested in using the inquiry method of teaching. Materials are available in pdf or html format.
Facing the Future
Facing the Future is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and motivating today's students to be responsible stewards of tomorrow's world. We develop and deliver standards-based hands-on lessons, student textbooks, curriculum units, and professional development opportunities for educators that promote critical thinking on global issues, sustainability and positive solutions. Facing the Future curriculum is in use in all 50 U.S. states and over 100 countries by teachers and students in grades K-12, in undergraduate and graduate classes, and across multiple subject areas. Visit their website to download free curriculum resources for K-12 educators!
Five E's Unlimited
Sustainable development consulting services for schools and other organizations.
Florida Solar Energy Center
FSEC dedicates substantial effort to the development of educational resources for teachers. With a strong belief that clean and efficient energy resources are key to the future generations' ability to achieve a safe and sustainable environment, FSEC offers a range of teacher resources for the K-12 classroom.
Foundation for Our Future at the Center for a Sustainable Future
K-12 lessons and activities on topics such as Sustainable Economies, Stewardship of Resources, and Thinking About and Affecting the Future. To get to curriculum materials, go to "Curriculum" in left hand column. Scroll down page to "View ESF Curriculum Units." Use arrow buttons to scroll down list of curricula.
The GLOBE Program
GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) is a worldwide hands-on, primary and secondary school-based education and science program. Students and teachers involved in the program practice real science by taking measurements, analyzing data, and collaborating with scientists in the field. Findings are shared with other program schools around the world.
Go Green Initiative
A grassroots environmental program that unites parents, teachers and students to create a culture of conservation on school campuses. The program involves students at every level and takes a comprehensive approach to help schools evaluate every aspect of their environmental impact. It provides schools simple checklists and tools to examine everything from recycling to unsafe pesticides used on playgrounds.
Graduation Pledge Alliance
Site offers guidelines for development and examples of voluntary pledges that remind students of the ethical implications of the knowledge and training they receive.
Green Map System
GMS participants engage in the process of creating and sharing environmental and cultural maps of their communities. The site offers detailed instructions in how to participate in this global project.
Growing Up Global: Raising Children to be At Home in the World helps parents to raise children with a global perspective. Not all families can travel overseas to expose their children to world cultures, but they can start engaging with the world right in their own home communities. This hands-on book helps to begin that process.
Heifer International
Curriculum materials for K-12 classrooms developed by the award winning non-profit with the tag line, "Ending Hunger, Caring for the Earth."
Healthy Neighborhoods/Healthy Kids Published in partnership with Smart Growth Vermont and Fletcher Allen Community Health Foundation, this guide is designed to help educators engage youth in creating livable and sustainable communities. It includes lesson plans, tools, planning guides, and resources.
MSPnet A new NSF-funded regional partnership (Philadelphia area) to create an institute to train teachers in sustainability.
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
Resources on sustainable schools and a listserv which focuses on "education for sustainability" topics and concerns in K12 independent schools.
National Energy Foundation
Lessons for K-12 teachers highlight a better understanding of energy, natural resources, and the environment.
National Environmental Education & Training Foundation
National Library for the Environment
An online library of environmental information and data, including access to Congressional Research Service Reports.
Nature Rocks
This site will help you find all sorts of nature activities, plus tools to help guide and plan your adventures. You'll also find useful tips and information to help you get into nature without getting over your head.
Peace Games
A partnership program with school communities with the aim of empowering students to become peacemakers.
Prince's Rainforest Project The aim is to provide a framework for learning about the rainforests and their global significance, in which children and teachers work collaboratively and find solutions to problems. Lessons are compatible with the UK National Curriculum and will help schools teach about sustainability.
Project Food, Land & People
Project Food, Land & People promotes approaches to learning to help people better understand the interrelationships among agriculture, the environment and people of the world. Curriculum materials are available for purchase.
Project Seasons Developed at Shelburne Farms, Project Seasons is an education activities guide that contains a collection of hands-on activities for discovering the wonders of the world. Classroom educators, pre-school & after-school teachers, summer camp instructors and parents will find Project Seasons an invaluable in cultivating an awareness and appreciation of agriculture and natural resources.
Pulse of the Planet
Pulse of the Planet offers two-minute downloadable sound portraits of planet Earth. Sound bites range from human celebration to a chorus of bullfrogs to a symphony created by a storm.
Redefining Progress
Several lesson ideas for K-12 educators who are also interested in using the Ecological Footprint Quiz in their classrooms.
Rocky Mountain Institute for Kids
Activities and information designed by RMI for 4-6 educators and students on subjects such as energy and water.
Roots & Shoots
Founded by Dr. Jane Goodall, this global program emphasizes the principle that knowledge leads to compassion, which inspires action. All Roots & Shoots groups show care and concern in three areas: the human community, animals, and the environment.
Rustle the Leaf
Environmental comics, lesson plans, podcasts, e-newletters, and downloadable classroom materials highlight this colorful website. Lots of information highlighting Earth Day celebrations.
Science Friday
Hosted by National Public Radio, this site offers teachers lessons and activities that connect to NPR's weekly radio show, "Science Friday." Topics are geared toward the urban landscape and activities are designed for hands-on, experiential learning.
The School Water Audit Project (SWAP) combines water education with practical applications of scientific methodology. It brings community members together with students for the purpose of accomplishing a unified goal. It empowers students and adults alike to be responsible water stewards. Click on the above link to learn more about SWAP!
Shelburne Farms' Sustainable Schools Project The Sustainable Schools Project is a dynamic new model for school improvement and civic engagement. The program is designed to help schools use sustainability as an integrating context for curriculum, community partnerships, and campus practices.
Story of Stuff The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
Student Environmental Action Coalition
SEAC is a grassroots coalition of student and youth environmental groups, working together to protect our planet and our future. A good source for conferences, journals, and action plans targeted for a young audience.
Sustainability Basic Course
Created by d@dalos, the international UNESCO education server for civic, peace and human rights education, the Sustainability Basic Course offers an introduction to ESD through a series of activities that help to clarify our understanding of the term and its implications in K-12 education.
Sustainability Education Guide
Developed by the Tahoe Center for a Sustainable Future, the Guide offers teachers an overview of ESD as well as a series of lesson plans that focus on sustainable development. While the materials focus on the Lake Tahoe area, many activities and the general information about ESD are applicable to any region.
Sustainability Institute
Resources for teachers interested in professional development opportunities that offer instruction in sustainability principles.
Sustainable Communities Network
An extensive listing of resources useful to K-12 educators interested in ESD.
Sustainable Education Handbook
"Evaluation Criteria for Sustainability Standards" is a tool for teachers and administrators to evaluate whether or not existing curriculum embraces sustainability concepts. The thirteen evaluation points highlight key concepts in ESD. Click on all tabs on the left for a variety of curricula resources.
Sustainable Oregon Schools Initiative
SOSI's mission is to help Oregon's K-12 schools integrate sustainability principles system-wide and prepare our children to create and succeed in a sustainable future.
Sustainable Schools Programs in U.S. and Other Countries
This site provides a collection of websites related to Sustainable Schools Programs in Other Countries.
United Nations Cyberschoolbus
The "Global Teaching and Learning Project" offers educators curriculum on topics ranging from peace education to ethnic and racial discrimination, book and film reviews, and current news stories as well as current information on contests, celebrations and conferences.
U.S. Green Building Council's Educator Resource Center
USGBC is committed to supporting educators in using the built environment as the context for learning. USGBC promotes the reorientation of K-12 and higher education programs toward sustainability and green building as a tool for preparing students to enter the green marketplace.
Yale-New Haven Teacher's Institute
A general curricula site with hundreds of units of instruction on topics covering every subject area. Look under "Ecology and Environmental Science" for curricula that connects directly to sustainability issues.
Bringing Sustainability into Schools
An article by Wynn Calder of the National Association of Independent Schools outlines the major dimensions of educating for sustainability.
Conservation Economy
A host of resources, journal articles, and practical materials that help to answer the question, "What does a sustainable society look like?"
Children & Nature Network (C&NN)
The Children & Nature Network set out to compile a premier set of research studies to help us all understand what's best for children's healthy development. Read the studies here.
Education for Sustainability: An Agenda for Action
A report initiated at the "National Forum on Partnerships Supporting Education about the Environment," a demonstration project of the President's Council on Sustainable Development, held at the Presidio, San Francisco, California, in the fall of 1994.
Environmental Literacy Council
Environmental science labs and activities are designed primarily for AP Environmental Science teachers interested in using the inquiry method of teaching. Materials are available in pdf or html format.
Journal of Education for Sustainable Develpment
The Journal of Education for Sustainable Development (JESD) is a peer-reviewed international journal, aimed at global readership, with an editorial board comprised of leading ESD educators from around the world. The scope of content covers all fields of formal and nonformal ESD. The journal is published twice per year. Click the link above to read more about JESD.
Implementing Sustainability Education: Lessons from Four Innovative Schools A thesis by Victoria M. McMillan and Amy Lyons Higgs describing how four secondary schools, selected for their far-reaching approaches to SE, have implemented their visions for educating for and about sustainability. The analysis describes the ways in which these schools are implementing SE, the impacts their efforts appear to be having on students, the challenges they have faced, and offers recommendations that can guide the design of SE programs in other schools. Click the above link or download the PDF below.
National Council for Science and the Environment
Highlights current trends linking science and the environment.
National Environmental Education & Training Foundation
NEETF is dedicated to advancing environmental education in its many forms to a wide range of stakeholders. The site offers some practical ideas but is primarily a resource for those interested in furthering their knowledge in EE.
Project Food, Land & People
Project Food, Land & People promotes approaches to learning to help people better understand the interrelationships among agriculture, the environment and people of the world. Curriculum materials are available for purchase.
Sustainability Institute
Resources for teachers interested in professional development opportunities that offer instruction in sustainability principles.
Sustainable Communities Network
An extensive listing of resources useful to K-12 educators interested in ESD.
UNESCO's Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems
A listing of journal articles connected to ESD.
Sustaink12 listserv This is a new national listserv for k-12 educators focused specifically on the topic of education for sustainability. Educators involved in teaching students in any subject in the k-12 arena are encouraged to join. The goal of the Sustaink12 listserv is for educators to communicate and collaborate on strategies to integrate education for sustainability into the teaching and operations of k-12 schools. There are two ways to join the listserv: 1) Go to https://listserver.itd.umich.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=sustaink12 and join; or 2) Send an email message to "sustaink12-request@umich.edu" with the word "subscribe" in the Subject line of your message.
Brown University's Green School Listserv The Green School Listserv, the first of its kind and widely used, is primarily for discussion related to physical campus operations. The intent of the list is the exchange of ideas, support and technical information between people who are working on institutional change to improve the environmental performance of schools, colleges, and universities. Discussion topics cover a wide range of areas, including energy, buildings, food, landscaping and grounds, purchasing, recycling and solid waste, transportation, and water. Although the listserv is primarily targeted toward the higher education community, there are useful entries for facilities and business directors at K-12 settings.