Go Green: Education for the Ecosystem
Our first environmental issue includes a roster of green heroes, plus lesson plans, service-learning opportunities, our Go Green Database, and more.
by Edutopia Staff
Credit: Bart Nagel
There are enormous gains to be made in public education -- potential reforms for what ails the system and promising innovations to bring it to the cutting edge. But every scenario for improvement takes for granted the good health and staying power of our ecosystem.
Can we assume that ongoing pollution of air, water, and soil, as well as extreme weather and other consequences of climate change, will not hamper our vital efforts to effect change? Unfortunately, no. Without significant support, the planet will not provide a safe context for growth or learning.
Fortunately, this reality has not escaped many people invested in education culture. Students, teachers, administrators, and environmental activists have found ways to integrate knowledge and awareness of Earth's fragility with classwork and community service, carefully blending concern with action to help kids feel engaged and hopeful.
That is also our goal with this "Go Green" issue of Edutopia. Every section of the magazine is tied to the theme, from the Editor's Note to Cool Schools to Design, and we enrich the whole package with feature stories dedicated to an exploration of green curriculum, a look at those bringing environmental awareness to education, and projects that involve students and teachers directly with protection of the environment.
Check out our searchable, resource-packed Go Green Database, which features links to innovative classroom projects, service-learning opportunities, green curricula, lesson plans, and online tools. Search by topic, grade level, cost, or location. You also can contribute your favorite green online-education resources -- look for the "Contribute" link on the Go Green Database home page, and we invite you to rate, browse, and discuss the resources in this ever-expanding green repository. Hopefully, green awareness and activism will become a permanent feature of all our lives.
Credit: Veer
Read these articles and resources about environmental actions in, around, and for schools:
- Kids Count: Student researchers become the eyes and ears of environmental scientists.
- Taking It to the Class: Try these great lesson ideas for environmentally conscious teachers (and their lucky students).
- Green Heroes: Here are some outstanding educators and students who have become agents of environmental change.
- Kids at Work: Check out our poster saluting students on the front lines of environmental defense.
- Go Green Database: Find lesson plans, green curricula, service-learning opportunities, classroom projects, and much more.
This article was also published in the October 2007 issue of Edutopia magazine .
Advertisement
Advertisement
EE is crucial to sustainability
As an environmental studies student almost 40 years ago, past master's student of outdoor education 30 years ago, past environmental educator and US National Park Service Ranger Naturalist, and now as director of an environmental sciences master's program, it heartens me that environmental education is almost considered mainstream. As an undergraduate, I wanted to focus on education, but my professors were activists, and they did not appreciate the value of education. As a reminder let's appreciate our over used, but very important "creed".
“I believe that education is the fundamental method of social progress and reform. All reforms which rest simply upon the law, or the threatening of certain penalties, or upon changes in mechanical or outward arrangements, are transitory and futile.... But through education society can formulate its own purposes, can organize its own means and resources, and thus shape itself with definiteness and economy in the direction in which it wishes to move.... Education thus conceived marks the most perfect and intimate union of science and art conceivable in human experience.”
--John Dewey, My Pedagogic Creed, 1897
I cannot speak for all, but for many of us who at some time in our lives have referred to ourselves as environmental (or outdoor) educators, the words of Dewey remain an inspiration.
Thank you to all who contribute to learning about the environment. Tally Ho!
Go Green from India...
Dear Editor,
I am glad to say that I am in touch with GLEF for the past 3 years continously and observed your concern for educating people "The Right Way".
I am with J.Krishnamurty Foundation from 1977 and met him in 1979 and 1980.
His school in Ojai,Southern California is an example for you to understand The Indian Way of Thinking on Environment and Growth.
A balanced Growth and balanced consumption is the hour of the need.
I unconditionally support all your efforts in maintaing "The Balance".
Let us start from the consumption end reduce it as far as possible. Environment will get automatically balanced. Humanbeing are the cuprits and no one else is responsible.
I am an active member of Art of Living lead by Guruji Sri Sri Ravishankar.
Thanking You,
Please reply to my mail id.
cpkumaresan@sify.com
With best wishes,
C.P.Kumaresan from Tirupur, TN, India.
Thanks for putting this together! It is a valuable resource for educators!
Go Green
I think GO Green is a great program. I am doing a project in my schools EAST Lab, that encourages GO GREEN. We are hoping to do a few presentations on this topic and think very highly of it.
Go Green for Schools
Our website matches teachers with donors of new, used or in-kind contributions of classroom equipment, materials and supplies. Teachers register for free and create WishLists of anything they need. Donors give towards the WishList and when fully funded the items are shipped to the school.
Donors can also post a DonorOffer of things they want to donate. Only registered teachers or schools that fit the profile the donor's want to give to can see the postings.
iLoveSchools.com can be used by teachers to give to other teachers, businesses to give to local schools, alumni to give to their former schools as well as many more uses.
Join iLoveSchools.com and find sorely needed classroom resources or, find teachers who can use your new or gently used goods.
Thanks much!
I think that as humans, we owe a certain respect to our planet. By Going Green, we can help put back some of the necessary things we have selfishly taken away. If everyone would Go Green, I think it would make some kind of an improvement. There are plenty of people out there who have already jumped on this bandwagon and are working hard to spread the word.
My brother is an educator in France, and he really wants to teach that kind of things to his french students. Unfortunately, you can't teach whatever you want in France, even if it is about Green Education...
Sophie Durand, from Gardes-Enfants.com
PS : Sorry for my english...
Ecology became really imporant question aswell as power saving. Unfortunately these technologies develop slower than IT and it's not so easy as clicking a button to play some mp3.
Going Green
I am observing in a school that is trying to promote sustainability. I feel that becoming more green as a school/community is an extremely important attribute because as a school students look up to us in ways that we cannot imagine, and if we can model what it is like to be "green" then the students will undoubtedly take to the idea. I feel this is a great site to start being green and contributing it to the classroom. Thank you!
Going Green
I am observing in a school that is trying to promote sustainability. I feel that becoming more green as a school/community is an extremely important attribute because as a school students look up to us in ways that we cannot imagine, and if we can model what it is like to be "green" then the students will undoubtedly take to the idea. I feel this is a great site to start being green and contributing it to the classroom. Thank you!