Go Green!

Los Angeles teacher Kerry Olinger points out five benefits for students who engage in environmental sustainability initiatives:

 1. Students are exposed to topics that are relevant in their lives (regardless of their age, gender or cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds). These issues matter to everyone. 

2. Students are empowered to create action-oriented solutions, whether the topic is reducing their carbon footprints or organic pest management in the garden, the power to create solutions is not relegated to adults. 

3. Students who have access to the natural world have better overall well-being; they have time and space to be creative and to use modalities that are not often built into typical curricular activities. We know that students learn best when they are connecting to information using as many modalities as possible. 

4. Environmental education is inclusive. Students of all abilities benefit from exposure to new vocabulary and concepts. We as teachers get to see student strengths in a new way when we engage in activities that move beyond traditional desk work.

5. Students, teachers and mentors build a sense of community that breeds mutual respect and cooperation, both for the individuals and the environment. For many students (and adults), these connections make school a more enjoyable place to be.

Tips for creating sustainability connections in the curriculum

1. Team up with people who have expertise you don’t have. Our school was fortunate enough to have a dedicated group of master gardeners “adopt” us. Our work together has evolved into a program that allows nearly half of our student population to enjoy curricular lessons in our outdoor classroom/ garden every week. Teachers and master gardeners meet weekly to discuss strategies and curriculum; as a result, we are all acquiring new skills and knowledge. Consistency has helped our program thrive.

2. Create activities that make concrete connections to both the curriculum and environmental issues. Water usage and water rights have been important since the beginning of time. This topic can be studied in every academic subject, and the intercurricular connection potential is endless.

3. Involve students in decision-making whenever possible. Find out what issues are important to them and look for ways to incorporate these topics into the curriculum.

4. Discuss and model environmentally responsible lifestyle choices. Tell your students why it’s important to print on both sides of the paper, ride your bike to work or unplug computers at the end of the school day. Plant and sow the seeds of conscientious decision-making.