This week, we are excited to share some of the programs related to our new environmental literacy lesson series: My Journey to Zero Waste! These programs are available for students and families through the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) Community-Based Partner Hub (the Hub).
My Journey to Zero Waste teaches environmental literacy for Kindergarten and First graders through 5 lessons where students explore their environmental impact through two birthday parties: a typical party and a zero-waste party. Throughout the 5 lessons, students learn how waste is generated, what happens to the waste we create, the benefits of the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle), how to calculate waste, and gain an understanding of their own individual impact on sustainability and the environment.
The Hub is a great tool for teachers to identify local environmental education programs that relate to lessons taught in the classroom. Today, we wanted to highlight a few programs that cover environmental literacy domains present within the My Journey to Zero Waste lesson series: Environmental Justice, Green Guardianship, Pollution, Resource Conservation, and Waste Management.
Visit the Hub today and use the filters to find the right programs that relate to your lesson plans. Filter by program type, topic, grade level, cost, location, and more!
Here we have highlighted a few programs below that can help students expand on their learning in the My Journey to Zero Waste lesson series:
Learn about the role our local wetlands and waterways play in waste management and how we can become better guardians of our environment.
Elkus Ranch Educational Tours – Elkus Ranch
Learn about sustainability and waste management on the ranch through one of Elkus Ranch’s guided tours.
Schoolyard Cleanup Program – California Coastal Commission
Organize and or participate in a Coastal Cleanup Day on a field trip to a beach or local waterway, become environmental stewards of your schoolyard, gain experience in real-world data collection and problem-solving.
Trash Academy/ La Academia De Basura – Season 1
Through a series of lessons, videos, surveys, and projects, students will learn how to identify different plastic, the life stages of plastics, and even apply course materials onto our Home Audit project, where students will categorize different plastics by resin ID code, identify its producer, brand and collaborate to identify the top plastic polluting brands entering their communities.
Virtual Learning – Recology Waste Zero
Recology currently offers a suite of online resources for students and families that is free and accessible online. Resources include virtual tours, videos, and worksheets, as well as opportunities to arrange live virtual field trips with a Recology educator.
Watsonville Green Schools Waste Reduction Assistance
Watsonville Green Schools: Waste Reduction Assistance Training and support for the food scrap collection system for your cafeteria. Advice to improve your school waste reduction: food recovery, food scarp collection, blue cart recyclables, and more. Classroom and cafeteria educational presentations are offered.
Are you interested in teaching the My Journey to Zero Waste lesson series in your classroom? Sign up today to receive the full lesson series kit!
Relevant Links
CAELI Community-Based Partner Hub
The Hub promotes environmental literacy by building educator awareness of environmental education community-based partners and their products and services and fosters educator-partner relationships for increased student enrichment and engagement.
California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI)
The California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI), led by Ten Strands, works statewide with guidance from a leadership council to create systems change in support of environmental literacy with a focus on access, equity, and cultural relevance for all students.
Ten Strands weaves stakeholders and strategies together into strong, focused education partnerships, with the goal of raising environmental literacy by providing high-quality environment-based learning and hands-on education to all California K–12 students. Ten Strands acts as an incubator and a catalyst to create collaborations, build capacity, and transform systems to increase their impact and sustainability.
News and Events
Climate Education and Action to drive the SDGs
Jul. 15, 2021 Center For Sustainable Development, The Earth Institute, Columbia University
This HLPF 2021 side event will help to operationalize SDG 4.7 by developing a series of consensus-building sessions on various themes, such as classroom-based pedagogies, teacher Professional development, curriculum development, and aligning of lesson plans.
Urban Ecology Center Institute Summer 2021 Online Intensive
Jul. 15 – Aug. 12, 2021 Urban Ecology Center
This interactive online course will cover the intersecting themes of transforming kids, parks, cities, and the world.
iNaturalist Online Training
Jul. 21, 2021 Frankston City Council
Come along and learn how to use the world’s most popular nature app- iNaturalist and contribute to citizen science and conservation efforts.
Are Canadian schools raising climate-literate citizens?
Jul. 06, 2021 Corporate Knights
Without consistent K–12 climate change content, Canada faces a climate leadership gap.
Outdoor Environmental Education Grants Awarded for Watershed Studies
Jul. 06, 2021 The Southern Maryland Chronicle
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced $160,000 in awards for student and youth outdoor science and watershed education in the state.
Could dehydrating meat and vegetables help solve the global food waste problem?
Jul. 06, 2021 World Economic Forum
A food-tech company in Mumbai is converting farm food waste into preserved produce using dehydration technology. Solar-powered food preservation could prove vital in tackling global food waste, with 931 million tonnes going to landfill each year.
5 ways you can keep the planet clean this summer
Jul. 06, 2021 National Geographic
Suppose we clean up our messes and recycle what can be salvaged. Isn’t that how Mother Nature would want us to behave?
Greater investment and innovation in educating children about environmental issues needed to help future generations respond to the climate emergency, experts urge
Jul. 07, 2021 FE News
Environmental education provision needs greater investment and innovation if future generations are to be able to respond fully to the climate emergency, experts have said.
Climate change: The need to incorporate climate education into school curriculum
Jul. 07, 2021 Financial Express
Educating children about Sustainable Development means advancing the information, abilities, perspectives, and qualities important to conserve our planet.
‘Sometimes the Good Guys Win’: Company Cancels Plans for Oil Pipeline Through Black Neighborhoods in Memphis
Jul. 07, 2021 Gizmodo
Organizers in Tennessee are claiming victory over the widely maligned Byhalia Connection pipeline project.
