K-12 and Teacher Education
Co-chairs: Kim Rakow Bernier and Gilda Wheeler
National Sustainability Education Standards, Version 2
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 2 of the standards now include performance indicators by grade band levels and a glossary of terms. Download Version 2 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
RESOURCES: 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.
- ESD Stories offers snapshots of teachers and schools currently practicing ESD, kid testimonials and work examples, green school design, and campus ecology projects.
- Sustainability Issues includes current trends, articles, and journals that focus on or include ESD.
- Online Networking offers links to sustainability list-serves and other networking opportunities.
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 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 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: People and the Planet
A nonprofit organization dedicated to educating young people to think critically about global issues, sustainability, and positive solutions. The organization develops standards-based, hands-on lessons and accompanying textbooks and also provides professional development for educators. Facing the Future curriculum is in use in 49 U.S. states and 42 countries by teachers and students in grades K-12, in undergraduate and graduate classes, and across multiple subject areas.
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.
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."
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
Resources on sustainable schools and a listserv which focuses on "education for sustainability" topics and concerns in K12 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.
Peace Games
A partnership program with school communities with the aim of empowering students to become peacemakers.
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.
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.
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
Subscribe to their monthly newsletter.
Sustainable Schools Listserv
The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Sustainable Schools Listserv focuses on "education for sustainability" topics and concerns in K12 schools.
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.
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.
ESD Stories
Center for Ecoliteracy
Links to schools and projects that embody processes and practices for educating for sustainability.
Clearing Magazine
A quarterly publication for K-12 and non-formal educators in the fields of natural resources, environmental ed, and place-based education. In addition to topical articles and book reviews, each issue contains lesson plans and activities appropriate for the classroom.
Environmental educator Susan Santone is national trailblazer
Susan Santone may have left the classroom, but she's still teaching students about the environment in an innovative way that's gaining momentum locally and around the country.
Green Teacher
Green Teacher is a quarterly magazine written by and for teachers, providing inspiration, ideas, and classroom-ready materials to help educators enhance environmental and global education across the curriculum at all grade levels.
Greening Schools
Several short video clips highlight schools around the country that have implemented programs for reducing toxins and utilizing an integrated pest management program, and improving air quality and energy efficiency.
Interstate Renewable Energy Council
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council's mission is to accelerate the sustainable utilization of renewable energy sources and technologies in and through state and local government and community activities. Site highlights P-16 schools around the country that have adopted solar energy use plans.
Poudre School District, Ethics of Sustainability
A description of the district's policy on developing Sustainable Design Guidelines that inform and guide school energy plans and waste management. In addition to individual site descriptions, website includes materials lists and other green design resources.
Sustainable Communities Network
An extensive listing of resources useful to K-12 educators interested in ESD.
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?"
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.
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.