EcoLiteracy and Numeracy

Student-directed learning and reflection

Integrate environmentalism into all aspects of the curriculum.

Tips:

• Systems thinking allows students to understand complex networks of ecology and relationships in the natural world. Start in science classes and extend to other subjects.
• Math is the path: bring ecology into numeracy and data collection. Create graphs of school progress over the year or investigate your carbon footprint.
• Tailor subjects to your school’s environmental-stewardship projects: math classes can measure school-ground trees, culinary students can look into composting, language classes could write Earth Day poems.
• Integrate lessons about reusing and recycling into technical secondary subjects such as fashion or technology; EcoFashion shows are very popular. For younger students, create reusable art or share reusable craft-supply kits, but be sure to highlight the environmental issue.