The following listings are a cursory list of curriculum. Please note we have not evaluated the following listing but rather compiled a resource guide to help direct K-12 teachers to available curriculum addressing sustainability concepts.

Please also click on Websites for additional curriculum.


Please Click on one of the following topics to view each curriculum section:

Environmental Sustainability and Creating a More Humane Future

Action Opportunities / Make a Difference

Community Building and Citizenship:

Consumption: Understanding Our Individual and Global Impacts

Energy Conservation / Renewable Energies (Solar, Wind, etc.)

Environmental Education

» A Sustainable Development Curriculum Framework for World History & Cultures (9-12)

Contact: Global Learning, Inc., 1018 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
ISBN: 0-928630-001
908-964-1114
Discussions and activities about equity issues, ethics, values and creating an economically viable (for all peoples and cultures) world. Good discussion of world politics and potential scenarios.

» Creating a Humane and Environmentally Sustainable Future / Positive Futures Fair (7-12)

Contact: Dr. Debra Rowe, Oakland Community College, 739 S. Washington, Royal Oak, MI 48067
248-246-2553 or dgrowe@occ.cc.mi.us
free curriculum
A class project where students envision positive scenarios for the future. Fun and easy to implement. Curriculum covers topics including science, social studies, language arts and life skills.

» Junior World Game (6-12)

Contact: Upland Hills Ecological Awareness Center, Judy Piazza, 2575 Indian Lake Rd, Oxford, MI 48370
248-693-1021 or uheac@igc.org
Workshop (fee $375 or $575 for 2 workshops)
Multi-media game played with an entire class on a large dymaxion map of the world. Students interact with accurate information about the distribution of world resources (food, population, energy and literacy) and develop strategies to make the world work for 100% of humanity.

» The Shape of Change (9-12)

Contact: Creative Change Educational Solutions, Susan Santone, 229 Miles St. Ypsilanti MI 48198-4017
734-482-0924 or educhange@igc,org
$35 Introduction to Sustainability Curriculum (Module I)
$50 towards a Sustainable Economy (Module II)
` Curriculum uses a fable as its initial teaching tool. Module I teaches students how to think, evaluate, learn connections and evaluate evolving practices and programs such as The Natural Step. Module II includes a 6 week course on economics and sustainability, globalization, human rights, externalizing costs and new measures of progress. All curriculum is coordinated with the goals and objectives of Michigan Educational System.

» The World Pledge (K-5)

Contact: Lillian Genser
248-545-3207
Curriculum helps students identify their role as human beings with rights and responsibilities toward themselves and other members of the world. Activities, vocabulary, reading extensions (fiction and non fiction) and poster included. Excellent for K-2 students integrated science, arts, social studies and math curriculum.

» Youth Scenarios for a Sustainable Future: Visions for the Year 2100 (7-12)

Contact: Planet-TECH Associates, Seth J. Itzkan, 135 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard, MA 01451
978-456-2702 or sitzkan@planet-tech.com
Middle and high school web-based curriculum provides units on futures thinking including trend identification, environmental scanning, scenario writing, sustainable development, population growth, climate change and ecological economics. Science, social studies, and community involvement addressed.

» Take the Challenge: Energy Action Challenge for Students (4-6)

Contact: National Energy Foundation, 5225 Wiley Post Way, Suite 170, Salt Lake City, UT 84116
801-539-1406 or info@nef1.org or www.nef1.org
Five step method to teach students how to evaluate their individual energy use and issues concerning natural resource use and energy to create greater energy efficiency and awareness of responsibility

» 10 Community Connections by Ginny Graves (4-8)

Contact: Center for Understanding Our Built Environment (CUBE), Prairie Village KS 66208
913-262-0691
$19.95 ISBN: 0-9632033-2-0
Activities and projects educate students to better understand and actively participate in the development of a quality built environment. The basic concept: vibrant neighborhoods = citizen involvement and commitment to responsible action

» Box City (4-8)

Contact: Center for Understanding our Built Environment (CUBE), Ginny Graves
913-262-8222 or www.cubekc.org
$30.00
ISBN: 0-9632033-1-2
Curriculum teaches how cities are planned, or unplanned; what makes a quality city, and how students can participate in the improvement of the built environment. Participants build a city using modular boxes in 4-, 5-, and 6-inch sizes. CUBE’s philosophy is to empower kids to take responsible action in their own community. Curriculum is thorough, easy to use and interdisciplinary.

» Greenmapping (6-12)

Contact: Modern World Design, Wendy Brawer, P.O. Box 249, NY NY 10002
212-674-1631 or info@greenmap.com or www.greenmap.com
Create a greenmap of your local community. Contact website for curriculum. Greenmapping creates a sense of place when students identify green spaces and eco-resources in their community. Curriculum includes: 1 page handout, 1 article, curriculum and greenmap example.

» Walk Around the Block (4-8)

» Connections: A Curriculum in Appropriate Technology for 5^th & 6^th grades (5-6)

Contact: National Center for Appropriate Technology, Box 3838 Butte, MT 59701
$5.00 for teachers guide with reproducible activities for classroom
Very good, integrated curriculum discussing the effects of our everyday actions on the environment. Topics include: waste, water, energy, gardening, recycling, transportation---discussion, activities and quizzes for each section.

» Earth Matters: Studies for our Global Future (9-12)

Contact: Zero Population Growth (ZPG)1400 16^th St. NW. Suite 320, Washington, D.C. 20036
1-800-767-1956 or www.zpg.org/education or PopEd@zpg.org
Curriculum is correlated to the National Framework Standards, excellently researched, interdisciplinary curriculum focusing on the effects of world population growth. Topics covered include: population dynamics, climate change, air pollution, water resources, deforestation, food and hunger, waste disposal, wildlife endangerment, energy issues, wealth and poverty, economics, and solutions to these issues.

» Ecological Footprint: Leaving Shallow Footprints (6-12)

Contact: Redefining Progress, Mathis Wackernagel or
Population Coalition, Monty and Marilyn Hempel, 1476 N. Indian Hill, Claremont, CA 91711
www.rprogress.org or mhempel@earthlink.net
to measure the footprint of your school: www.secondnature.org/programs/starfish/ (click on methods, then click on environmental studies)
Mathis Wackernagel developed the Footprint calculator to help individuals evaluate how many resources they are using in terms of energy. Each person is given a fixed amount of energy use per year and this exercise helps determine priorities. Many versions are available now. Excellent exercise, especially for school energy assessment projects.

» Living in a Material World: Lessons on Commercialism, Consumption and Environment (9-12)

Contact: Center for A New America Dream, 6930 Carroll Ave, Suite 900, Takoma Park, MD 20912
202-332-9110 or www.newdream.org
$10
Eight lesson plans and activities exploring the effects of advertising , commercialism, and consumption on the environment and society. Curriculum offers creative ways to counter commercialism and increase care for students’ communities.

» Population and Consumption (9-12)

Contact: Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), Popnet, Karen Hlynsky, 55 Chapel St. NewtonMA 02458-1060
401-941-8249 or khlynsky@edc,org or www.edc.org/INT/EEPP/
Popnet helps students understand the issues of population growth, resource consumption and the long term impacts of this issue. Pre and post tests, vocabulary, and copy ready exercises included in curriculum.

» The Paper Trail: Connecting Economics and Natural Systems (7-12)

Contact: The Sustainability Education Center of the American Forum for Global Education, Jamie Cloud, 120 Wall St. Suite 2600 NY, NY 10005
212-624-1300 or globed120@aol.com
Curriculum tracks paper through its full life cycle. Designed for middle and high school students, interdisciplinary curriculum. Topics include decision-making relating to: production, consumption, economics of paper use and production. Geography, social studies and environmental concerns addressed.

Energy Conservation / Renewable Energies (Solar, Wind, etc.):

» Home Lighting Energy-Saver Detective (4-7)

Contact: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (part of the Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs)
202-586-9240 or www.eren.doe.gov/buildings
Excellent source for grade specific energy curriculum (all K-12). Curriculum includes vocabulary, activities, history for various projects.

» Hot Water and Warm Homes from Sunlight (4-8)

Contact: Lawrence Hall of Science, University of Berkeley, CA 94720, Glenn T. Seaborg
ISBN: 0-912511-24-9
Alternative energy curriculum focusing on solar power. Activities include detailed instructions for making a solar greenhouses, water heaters and homes. Hands- on activities, detailed discussions, graphs, charts and history (all reproducible).

» Renewables are Ready: A Guide to Teaching Renewable Energy in Junior and Senior High School Classrooms (7-12)

Contact: Union of Concerned Scientists, 2 Brattle Square, Cambridge, MA 02238
617-547-5552
Curriculum teaches renewable energy sources such as: solar (photovoltaics), wind, and biomass. Includes plans for making solar water heaters and cookers as well as uses games as teaching tools.

» Acid Rain (9-12)

Contact: Chemistry Dept. University of Wisconsin at Madison, 1101 University Ave. Madison, WI 53706
608-262-3033
$6.00 for curriculum and $6.00 for experimental supplement
Curriculum describes causes of acid rain and ways to reduce emissions. Experimental supplement includes 5 related hands-on experiments.

» Closing the Loop (K-6)

Contact: Integrated Waste Management California Environmental Protection Agency
415-554-3422 or 916-255-2385 or www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Schools/curriculum/ctl/default.htm.
Detailed curriculum with thorough discussion and extension activities. Topics include: making paper by hand, vermicomposting (worm bins), landfill information and packaging.

» Conserving Earth’s Biodiversity (10-12)

Contact: Island Press Books
1-800-828-1302 or www.islandpress.org/wilsoncd
$39.95 for CD Rom (phone for free demo)
Curriculum includes video clips of E.O Wilson, world maps, interactive models, in-depth case studies, photos , interviews teaching conservation biology and environmental science. Recommended for advanced students.

» Ecology for All Ages: Discovering Nature Through Activities for Children and Adults by Jorie Hunken (K-6)

Science / English Language Arts oriented for K-8 but primarily K-5. Focus: streambeds, water habitats, neighborhood ecosystems, pond life, field ecology, woodland & desert ecology. Easy to use, teacher resource.
Contact: The Globe Pequot Press, P.O. Box 833 Old Saybrook, CT 06475 ISBN 1-56440-138-3
Cost: $16.95

» Michigan WISE: Waste Information Series for Education (K-6)

Contact: Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Curriculum created by the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources. Grade specific activities (K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12), all copy ready to create class hand-outs. Topics are indexed in back of binder.

» Shelburne Farms: Project Seasons, Hands-on activities for discovering the wonders of the world written by Deborah Parrella,

illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith (K-6)
Contact: The Stewardship Institute, Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, VT 05482
802-985-8686
ISBN: 0-9642163-0-2
$24.95
Seasonally based, integrative, innovative curriculum. Activities range from animal tracking, butter making, worm composting to seed anatomy. All activities included detailed directions, history, reproducible student sheets and prep-time.

» Worm Composting (K-8)

Contact: Urban Options of East Lansing
888-999-6424 or pat@urbanoptions.org
Curriculum includes detailed instructions to set up a classroom worm recycling bin. If your school is in the Lansing area, phone Urban Options to have a worm composting specialist come to your school for a demonstration.

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