Appendix C - Cross-Curricular Outlines

Environment And Sustainability

What is Environmental Education?
Environmental education is defined as a way of understanding human relationships with the environment. It involves:

students learning about their connections to the natural environment through all subjects
students having direct experiences in the environment, both natural and human-built
students making decisions and acting for the environment

The term sustainability helps to describe societies that "promote diversity and do not compromise the natural world for any species in the future."

Why Integrate Environment and Sustainability Themes into the Curriculum?
These themes facilitate individuals having a responsible attitude toward caring for the earth that integrates environment studies and sustainability themes. Studies that integrate environment and sustainability themes provide students with opportunities to identify their beliefs and opinions, reflect on a range of views, and ultimately make informed and responsible choices.

The guiding principles which should be interwoven in subjects from K to 12 are:

direct experience is the basis of human learning
analysis of interactions help humans make sense of their environment
responsible action is both integral to and a consequence of environmental education

Some organizing principles are:

human survival depends on complex natural and human-built systems
human decisions and actions have environmental consequences
students should be provided opportunities to develop an aesthetic appreciation of the environment

Sample theme study units could be:
Consumerism, School Operating Systems, Pollution, and Endangered Species

This summary is derived from Environmental Education/Sustainable Societies - A Conceptual Framework, Curriculum Branch, 1994.

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Maintained by: Fine Arts Coordinator

Revised: August 22, 1995

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