Training manuals and education resources on sustainability

Training Manuals “Thinking Critically about Environmental Impacts throughout History” is a workshop developed for history and social studies teachers who want to incorporate the scientific and social aspects of using renewable resources into classroom teaching. Through the Ecological Footprint framework, educators learn how to help students understand cumulative environmental impacts. Redefining Progress developed the Ecological Footprint Teacher’s Manual to make this curriculum available for self-paced training. Both complete sections and individual handouts are available for download. After a series of training sessions in 2005 and 2006, participating teachers submitted their own lesson plans and sample student work. These resources comprise the Lesson Plans and Sample Student Work. Ecological Footprint Teacher’s Manual Click on a link to open a PDF that includes the instructions and handouts for the section. All of Section 1: Overview (PDF) All of Section 2: Handouts and Transparencies (PDF) All of Section 3: Connecting the EF to History (PDF) All of Section 4: Lesson Plans (PDF) All of Section 5: Readings and Resources (PDF) PowerPoint Presentation: Section 2 (PPT) Ecological Footprint Handouts Click on a link to open a single document from the training manual. Section 1: Overview Title Page Table of Contents Training Objectives Concepts and Outcomes EPA Grant Summary Agenda Section 2: Handouts and Transparencies 1- Human Needs 2- Sources and Sinks 3- Land Use Types 4-7 Conventional Potato Diagrams 8- Organic Potato Diagram NEW: Coffee Diagrams 9- EF Definition 10- EF Quiz Excerpts 11- Condensed Quiz Results 12- Land Use Definition 13- Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Resources 14- Overshoot Definition 15- Sustainability Definition 16- Population Trends 17- Global Distribution of Income 18- Critical Thinking Graphs 19- Factors Affecting the EF 20- Population and Poverty Cycle 21- Food System A 22- Food System B 23- Modern Agriculture Footprints 24- Food Chart 25- Food System History 26- Changing to a Sustainable Food System 27 and 28- Sustainable Food Policies Section 3: Connecting the Ecological Footprint to History 29- Connecting the EF to History 31-32 Integration Plan 33- Stipend Requirements 34- Identifying EF Connections to Standards 35- Sample EF Activities 36- Sample Research Activities 37- Lesson Plan Overview California State History/Social Studies Standards and the Ecological Footprint Elementary School (K-5) Middle School (6-8) High School (10-12) Section 4: Lesson Plans Food Footprints through Time Columbian Exchange Let Them Eat Cake (www.facingthefuture.org) When the Chips Are Down: GUIDELINES When the Chips Are Down (www.facingthefuture.org) Section 5: Reading and Resources Seeds of Change Article Boston Globe Article "Hamburger, French Fries, and a Cola" Food Timeline List of Resources FAQs Frequent Debates Eating Up the Earth Energy Footprints What about Population? Evaluation Forms Pre-test Post-test Evaluation top of page Lesson Plans and Sample Student Work Learn more about integrating the Ecological Footprint into your classroom from K-12 Educators who have attended the “Thinking Critically about Environmental Impacts throughout History” workshop. Teachers submitted online evaluation forms after using the Footprint in the curriculum. They offered their integration strategies, what standards they addressed, barriers to integration, student reactions, and success stories. Click a link to download a PDF file with sample lesson plan or student work. Sample Lesson Plans 1st Grade 7th and 8th Grade History Geography Natomas High School teacher Serenity Vontroba restructured her geography unit to focus on the Ecological Footprint and the Impact of Human Societies. She has provided a detailed outline of the unit, sample student work, and her observations on student learning and interest. UNIT OUTLINE- Objectives, Lessons, and Observations Objective 1- Human Progression from Hunter/Gatherer to Industrialized Societies Objective 2- Calculating Personal Ecological Footprints Objective 3- Determining Footprints of Products Objective 4- Population and Consumption Trends Objective 5- Global Inequity Objective 6- Impacts of Globalization 10th Grade History 11th Grade History Economics AP Environmental Science Mary Kahl-Redman, Natomas High School, integrated the footprint throughout 8 units in her class. Click here to see the units she taught and the materials she used. 9-12 Environmental Science Tish Tablan, Excelsior Education Center, created a unit and her own lesson plans to conclude her environmental science class, summing up all their work in an action plan. Sample Student Work When the Chips Are Down Posters Students in an AP Environmental Science class at Piedmont High School learned about the social implications of national Ecological Footprints in Facing the Future's activity, “When the Chips Are Down.” Ecological Footprint of Transportation- Poster/Research Project This student from Meg Gorman's Economics class at San Francisco Waldorf School researched the Ecological Footprint of transportation throughout history. Lesson Plans Redefining Progress, in partnership with Earth Day Network, has developed single-day environmental education lesson plans for K-12 educators. The lesson plans are designed to integrate easily into science, social studies, math, and/or economics curricula. Food and You Designed to incorporate environmental education into general math and science classes for elementary school students (K-5th grade), this lesson encourages students to think about where their food comes from, the food production process, and the byproducts associated with their favorite foods. Download Lesson Plan The Trash We Pass This lesson brings environmental education to middle school (4–7th grade) social studies, math, and science classes by asking students to have fun analyzing garbage and recycling options. Download Lesson Plan Have and Have-Not This lesson incorporates environmental education in middle school (7–9th grade) social studies, geography, math, and economics classes by helping students gain a perspective on different consumption habits in developing and developed countries, and the effect that mass consumption has on the ecological footprint of a country and an individual. Download Lesson Plan Sustainable Dining Designed for lower high school (7–10th grade) economics, home economics, and general education classes, this lesson teaches students about sustainably produced groceries as a valuable and environmentally friendly option for grocery shopping. Download Lesson Plan Renewable Energy In this lesson targeting high school history, science, and math classes, students will analyze the use of energy in their every day lives, and consider the advantages and disadvantages of environmentally friendly renewable energy sources. Download Lesson Plan Kid’s Footprint For more lesson plans, please visit www.kidsfootprint.org, our adaptation of the Ecological Footprint Quiz for elementary and middle-school students. Footprint Education The Ecological Footprint is a powerful tool for introducing the concept of sustainability to students. Redefining Progress has applied the Footprint to a number of resources for educators to help students understand environmental impacts of their lifestyles. Kid’s Footprint The Bobbie Bigfoot Quiz is a fun, interactive way to introduce the Ecological Footprint to young people. The site includes lesson plans for science and social studies classes at the elementary and middle-school level. Lesson Plans Five simple sustainability lesson plans can be easily integrated into K-12 classrooms. Training Manual Access the training manual for “Thinking Critically about Environmental Impacts throughout History,” a workshop for social studies and history teachers. Online Course “Assessing Energy's Footprint and Carbon Emissions” is a free, university-level web course designed to teach college students and resource management professionals how to calculate the ecological footprint of energy use and the carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Resources for Sustainability Education
There is a wealth of resources available for educators who want to introduce the concept of sustainability in the classroom. Redefining Progress compiled a list of resources for K-12 sustainability education in conjunction with a survey conducted in 2003. This compilation was made possible by the Packard Foundation.
Bay Area Science Alliance Single activities and module lessons for all levels on a variety of science topics. Center for Economic Conversion Sustainable economics and Genuine Progress Indicator module lessons for grades 9-12. Centre for Science and Environment in India Module lessons for all levels on a variety of sustainability topics. The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education Lessons on consumption patterns, sustainable food systems, and sustainable economics for grades 6-12. Creative Change Educational Solutions (CCES) Module lessons on sustainable development and ecological economics for grades 7-12.
DEPweb The World Bank's Development Education Program provides module lessons, quizzes, and games on sustainable development for grades 9-12. Earth Education Partnership Program Module lessons on sustainable development, population growth, and resource consumption for grades 9-12. EcoVoyageurs A free kit to teach for Canadian teachers about the Ecological Footprint concept. Education for Sustainable Development Toolkit Activities and a sustainability toolkit for all levels. The Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plans The U.S. Department of Education’s extensive list of resources for grades K-12. Environmental Education Center The Environmental Protection Agency's resource center for lesson plans, award programs, grants, and more. Environmental Education (EE) Link Single activities and module lessons for all levels on a wide range of environmental topics. Facing the Future: People and the Planet Module lessons on population growth, poverty, resource consumption, and sustainable economics for grades 5-12. Global Footprints Sustainability games, quizzes, and classroom activities on global citizenship and the Ecological Footprint for grades K-5. Global Learning Inc. Module lessons on sustainability and interrelated concepts of the environment for grades 6-12. GLOBE Program Module lessons for grades K-8 on atmosphere, hydrology, soil, land cover/biology, GPS, and seasons. Green School Guidelines Antioch New England Institute's resources for incorporating environmental literacy into school-wide educational programs. Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley Single activities and module lessons for all levels in science, math, and environmental subjects. Ollie’s World Lessons and online games on sustainability principles for grades K-8. Population Education A program by Population Connections offering module lessons for grades K-12 on population growth and resource consumption. Project Learning Tree Sample module lessons for Pre-K-12 on energy and society, forest ecology and issues, municipal solid waste, risk, and biodiversity. Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) Activities and module lessons on sustainability and water for grades K-12. Project WILD Wildlife management, biodiversity, and sustainable economics activities and lessons for grades K-12. Second Nature: Education for Sustainability Offers workshops and support services to colleges and universities in their efforts to integrate sustainability as a core component of all education and practice. Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable Future: A Multimedia Teacher Programme UNESCO provides a broad range of lesson plans on interdisciplinary issues related to sustainability and sustainable development for grades 6-12. Vermont Community Works Free lessons on service learning and community-based education for grades K-12. Vermont Population Alliance Lessons for grades 4-12 on population, geography, and resource consumption. Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education An educator's network, conference information, and programs for Wisconsin teachers. top of page