K12 Sustainability Education Resources
GREEN SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Alliance to Save Energy Green Schools and Green Campus Programs http://www.ase.org/section/program/greenschl
Michigan Green Schools www.michigangreenschools.us/
Wisconsin Green & Healthy Schools http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/greenschools/index.htm
Greening Schools (Illinois EPA; home/school energy audit lessons for middle and high schools)
http://www.greeningschools.org/resources/view_cat_teacher.cfm?id=192
College Sustainability Report Card http://www.greenreportcard.org/
K12 CURRICULA
Alliance to Save Energy http://www.ase.org/section/_audience/educators/lessons/
Elementary, middle school and high school lesson plans.
Center for Environmental Education http://www.ceeonline.org/
Searchable curriculum library for environmental education lessons related to becoming a green school. Children learn best through experience. If their schools are green, children will learn to live that way. “Blueprint for a Green School” offers three levels of guidance in transforming schools: 'Upload Knowledge', 'Take Some Action,' and 'Go the Extra Mile.'
Confronting Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region Curriculum Guide by Union of Concerned Scientists and Ecological Society of America): www.ucsusa.org/greatlakes/glchallengeteachers.html
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 support from the Michigan Energy Office. K-8 lesson plans encourage students to make informed choices about energy consumption. http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-25676_25770-160788--,00.html
Facing the Future http://www.uspartnership.org/main/show_passage/48#TeachingResources
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, textbooks, and professional development. 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.
Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Support (MEECS) |
http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3307_3580_29678---,00.html
National Energy Education Development http://www.need.org/curriculum.php
K-12 Curricula Guides & activity kits
Project Learning Tree (PLT) Energy & Society program provides formal and nonformal educators with activities for PreK-8 students to learn about their relationship with energy and investigate the environmental issues related to energy's role in society. http://www.plt.org/cms/pages/21_21_9.html
Sustainability Education Handbook Resource Guide for K12 Teachers by D Jones, MFA, Education Director, Sustainable Futures Group with funding from the Michigan Energy Office, Department of Consumer and Industry Services. http://www.urbanoptions.org/SustainEdHandbook/Introduction.htm
With links to websites on:
Environmental Sustainability and Creating a More Humane Future
Action Opportunities / Make a Difference
Community Building and Citizenship
Consumption: Understanding Our Individual and Global Impacts
Energy Conservation / Renewable Energies (Solar, Wind, etc.)
Environmental Education
Higher Education
Sustainable Organic Gardening http://www.gardensimply.com/index.php
Resources to set up local organic gardens---managing volunteers, soil, water, labor, community support/services, etc. and more.
Sustainable Food Laboratory http://www.sustainablefoodlab.org/
Resources, newsletter, presentations, and case studies of growing food sustainably.
U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development - K-12 & Teacher Education Sector http://www.uspartnership.org/main/show_passage/48
Watts On Schools http://www.wattsonschools.com/activities.htm
K-12 activities related to solar energy.
PROGRAMS
International Dark-Sky Association www.darksky.org
Vote “EARTH” by switching off your lights for one hour:8:30-9:30 pm, Saturday, March 28. School classes and families may participate in the annual global sky observation known as GLOBE at Night to observe the constellation Orion from 16-28 March 2009 and report your findings to the GLOBE program.
Shelburne Farms’ Sustainable Schools Project - works to help schools use sustainability as an integrating theme, both at the standards level (state and national) and “on the ground” with teachers, coaching and co-constructing curriculum in pilot schools. Conduct an Education for Sustainability Institute in August and customized professional development for schools. http://www.sustainableschoolsproject.org/
Sustainable Futures Institute at Michigan Technological University http://www.sfi.mtu.edu/
SFI is an education and research leader on sustainability initiatives related to water, air, and energy; industrial ecology; environmentally conscious manufacturing; green engineering; public policy; the built environment; sustainable development that includes issues of the developing world; pre-college education for students and teachers; community outreach; and university campus eco-improvements.
Urban and Northern Options http://www.urbanoptions.org/
Programs and services to improve energy efficiency and environmental sustainability of homes, businesses, and communities. (U.P. contact: T. J. Brown tjbrown@northernoptions.org or call (906) 226-1136.
