Integrating Sustainability Education into Quality Teaching and Learning K-6

Transcription

1 Integrating Sustainability Education into Quality Teaching and Learning K-6 NSW Institute of Teachers Course No.151SCR031

2 Program 1. Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country 2. Integrating environmental and sustainability education 3. The Sustainability Action Process, a DEC model to support Quality Teaching of sustainability education - workshops in Stages or school groups 4. Morning Tea 5. Examples of outdoor learning activities to promote environmental and sustainability education, and Quality Teaching, within the K - 6 curriculum 6. Parbury Ruins, recap and depart

3 The Environmental Education Policy for Schools

4 What is environmental education Education about the environment Education in the environment Education for the environment

5 Sustainability Education Education for the environment Sustainability Education: equips students with skills, knowledge and confidence to contribute to achieving a sustainable future. should be part of everyday lessons. is interdisciplinary and should be systematically programmed, taught and evaluated as part of the K 6 curriculum. should progressively build knowledge and skills through the stages of schooling that allow students to use the school site and other built and natural environments to investigate, plan, and take action for the environment. The Environmental Education Policy For Schools provides a foundation to help students: develop a deeper understanding of sustainability build capacity to act Become effective environmental citizens for the future.

6 What is Sustainability? Visit v=b5nitn0chj0

7 Why teach sustainability? 1. To help reduce significant environmental problems Water Climate scientists predict that due to the greenhouse effect, the climate in Sydney will become hotter, drier and more tropical with more uncertain rainfall. The DEC encourages schools to improve water efficiency. Energy Australia relies on fossil fuels for most energy needs causing climate change. This is a global environmental problem and rising energy bills are huge cost to families and schools. Biodiversity Australia has one of the highest rates of species extinction in the world greening playgrounds is one way to help support biodiversity. Waste Australians are high waste producers. Students need to understand the concept of reducing, reusing and recycling to help address this issue.

8 Why teach sustainability 2. Sustainability and the NSW Quality Teaching Framework Education for Sustainability encompasses pedagogy that relies on high levels of intellectual quality, a quality learning environment and the significance of students work 3. Effective citizenship Education for sustainability can enable students to become effective citizens and active change agents by helping them to deal with complexity and uncertainty. It can also help them to understand that there is rarely a single solution because new knowledge is continuously generated, and diverse viewpoints exist in society 4. Economic efficiency Implementing sustainability programs can result in significant savings on water, electricity, waste removal etc 5. Sustainability... the most important concept we can teach our children? The relationship between human life and the physical world is obvious and well known. We need to understand that resources are finite, that the way we live is in excess to the level that can be sustained and that change must occur to ensure the future for the coming generations. This must be taught early!

9 Programming for Sustainability Education Involves Integrating sustainability education across all KLA s to support Literacy, numeracy, student engagement, Aboriginal Education and Connected Learning by: Providing learning opportunities outside the classroom such as the playground / local community (eg Kitchen Gardens, outdoor classrooms, local excursions, visiting an EEC or other environmental education provider) Involving students in authentic learning contexts, especially around resource management in the school and engaging students in the Sustainability Action Process (eg through programs like Climate Clever, Watch Our Watts, Water Wiseguys, Creature Feature, other citizen science projects) Encouraging student centred learning and collaborative learning through projects (eg Murder under the microscope, Water watch, Water Bug Survey etc) Encouraging participation in global citizenship campaigns/projects (eg Schools Clean Up day, Earth Hour, world green dates)

10 Environmental Education Policy for Schools Principals are responsible for leading the implementation of this policy in their schools including: Incorporating sustainability education and management objectives and actions into their school plan, and for the translation of this policy into schools practice and student learning programs. Ensuring quality programs, effective teaching and learning and targeted resourcing to provide a high standard of sustainability education

11 Environmental Education Policy For Schools Teachers are responsible for: Integrating authentic learning for sustainability into teaching and learning programs as required by the syllabuses and as appropriate, including use of the school site as a context for learning. Implementing teaching practices that include students in the sustainability learning and action process. Maintaining professional learning about sustainability education. Contributing to the sustainable management of school sites and resources.

12 How sustainable is your classroom or school? Use of resources within your classroom - How do you manage lighting, water, heating, air conditioning, interactive whiteboard, paper use, holiday shutdown plan? Disposal of wastes - Where do you dispose of paint, science chemicals, craft materials, food wastes etc? Classroom based recycling Is it linked to your whole school recycling? Curriculum content Do you integrate environmental / sustainability education into your teaching programs? School based green events / days - Do you involve your class in events like No waste lunch days World Environment Day, Earth Day, National Tree Day, Clean Up Australia Day, No Power Hour, Mobile Muster? Outdoor learning opportunities Have you visited an Environmental Education Centre or similar EE or EFS provider? What is your class ecological footprint?

13 Sustainability and the Australian Curriculum Sustainability is one of the three cross curriculum priorities mandated by the Australian Curriculum along with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures and Australia s engagement with Asia. These cross-curriculum priorities are to be embedded in all learning areas. They will have a strong but varying presence depending on their relevance to each learning areas. You may have noticed that the content descriptions that support the knowledge, understanding and skills of sustainability are tagged with a leaf icon. Observatory Hill Environmental Education Centre

14 Sustainability and the Australian Curriculum The tagging brings to the attention of teachers the need and opportunity to address the cross-curriculum priorities at this time. However, there are endless opportunities to integrate sustainability into your classroom.