My students need 10 children's books that focus on environmental studies in order to complete a 'service learning' component of their environmental science curriculum.
Gandhi once said, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Starting last year, the Environmental Science II class had this as a motto.
We are a small, rural Kansas school with a high at-risk population, dwindling industry, and skyrocketing substance abuse problems.
Our school, like many others, is facing severe budget cuts and restrictions. However, there are great things happening in our district. We have teachers that, even though tied to state mandates, are teaching guiding principles that will stay with students indefinitely. Integrating respect, responsibility, accountability, and stewardship components into the state prescribed curriculum is just a start.
My Project
Environmental Science II students are given scenarios where they have the power to make a difference. After learning about sustainability and stewardship, the students devised ways our school district could save money on energy and waste disposal, presented these ideas to the school board, and saw some of them come to fruition within the year. The service-learning component of this course is now to reach out to the younger generation. The students will be expected to read the age-appropriate, environmentally focused books I've ordered to elementary students. In addition, they will be responsible for developing a 'mini-lesson' that correlates with the moral or theme of the book read. In this way, they will be able to "Be the change the change they want to see in the world."
One of my guiding principles is to teach the students responsibility not only for themselves, but their environment as well.
Imagine the interaction and inspiration that will take place between two students at different ends of the age spectrum. The young student will be able to look up and see not a sports or movie star, but someone just like them, making a difference in the world one small step at a time. Thank you for your considerations.
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