Green Options » lesson plans

Facing a Cleaner, Greener, and More Peaceful Future

Glenn Chickering — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:57:16 +0000

The world is fast becoming more complex and it’s problems of sustainability are easily keeping pace. In a world that is increasingly more interconnected how do we prepare our children to face these problems with an eye toward creative and sustainable solutions? This question is the inspiration for Facing The Future, a non-profit organization based out of Seattle, Washington. Facing the Future’s aim is to arm educators with curriculum and resources to raise student’s awareness of global sustainability issues and give them the critical thinking skills necessary to come up with solutions.

There is No Substitute for Immersion… Get the Kids Outside!

Glenn Chickering — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:27:27 +0000

Although I wholeheartedly agree with it, I have to admit to stealing that line from Thom Henley and Kenny Peavy, authors of As if the Earth Matters. This book can serve as a textbook, a field guide, or an outdoor manual for teachers, parents, and children. It is full of hands-on activities which have been developed and field-tested by the authors and their students.

Thom Henley is well known in the world of conservation, having been instrumental in protecting and forming Canada’s Gwaii Haanas National Park on the Queen Charlotte Archipelago. He is an associate professor of the Stream Keeper Academy in Washington State and serves as Honorary Director of the Rediscovery International Foundation. The author or co-author of nine other books, his environmental accomplishments are too numerous to keep listing here.

New Ideas and Creative Thinking: “Things To Be Happy About” Website Offers Fun Questions and Free Lesson Plans for Kids

Lucille Chi — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 20:43:29 +0000

Recently on our sister site Feel Good Style, we talked about creating happiness for us and everyone around…In reading it, did you discover the free creative lesson plans and questions for awakening kids minds? They are so fun!

For example, lesson plan idea number one for getting off to a great start with a new team (both in the classroom and out) is:

Resources for teachers abound on the Internet

Kelli Best-Oliver — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 13:33:02 +0000

Environmental sustainability is a truly interdisciplinary subject, incorporating science, mathematics, sociology, ethics, economics, philosophy, history, government, health, reading, writing, and critical thinking. Few schools are fortunate enough to have entire courses devoted to sustainability, but most schools have teachers who are, and for those teachers, there are a plethora of resources to infuse sustainability education into their everyday lesson plans.

One of my personal favorites in terms of resources is Yes! Magazine. It's focus on positive solutions to sustainability problems, along with their commitment to supporting education (great lesson plans tied to articles AND free one-year subscriptions for teachers) make it a must read for all greens, but particularly teachers.

Classroom Earth is a comprehensive website with a user-friendly design that compiles environmental education resources. It's a great starting place when looking for lesson plans and ideas.

Facing the Future offers textbooks and workbooks all about sustainability and global issues. I've seen them, and they are great for both middle and high school. For teachers working a budget (which ones aren't?), they've also put a plethora of lesson plans online. I've used them. They work. Get thee to their website.

Finally, Michigan's Urban Options has developed a sustainability education handbook, complete with activities, that's aligned with Michigan's state standards.

This is a brief list of my favorites, but related links exist on all of these sites.