Solano PreK-12 Environmental Resource Guide for Educators

INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY INTO CAREER READINESS PROGRAMS

@SOLANOCOE

A CALL TO ACTION

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A CALL TO ACTION It is imperative that K12 education includes Environmental Education as a means to help students develop skills necessary to make intelligent decisions on caring for our environment. Education is compelled to include green jobs training and environment-related career opportunities while supporting the inclusion of sustainable, green practices in all career readiness programs.

Today’s youth must understand that the choices they make affect the environment and that the choices being made by others will impact career paths and opportunities well into the future. Choices can either help or harm the environment and the earth’s ability to sustain life and students need to understand their role in keeping the environment healthy, sustaining its resources, and creating a good quality of life for themselves and the future. [i] [i] https://ca-eli.org/wpcontent/uploads/2022/03/211221-TeacherCall-to-Action_03.01.22-1-1-1.pdf

Today’s children will one day be responsible for making decisions that will shape the future health of the environment.”

- D E B O R A H M I T C H E L L

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CA BIODIVERSITY

California’s biodiversity faces critical

to purchase the technology necessary to

environmental concerns. Rises in sea

adapt to our changing climate. According

level, losses in water supply, habitat

to a 2009 report by California’s Climate

changes, fires, and higher demands for

Change Center, “[w]ithout proactive

energy and food due to larger populations,

policies to address these equity concerns,

all threaten the natural resources in

climate change will likely reinforce and

California.

amplify current as well as future socioeconomic disparities, leaving low-

And yet it is important to note that not only

income, minority, and politically

are the natural resources themselves

marginalized groups with fewer economic

threatened, but those who use them will

opportunities and more environmental and

feel the effects as well.

health burdens.” The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

“As the Office of Environmental Health

is continually studying the human health

Hazard Assessment stated in its 2013

impacts of climate change and updating its

report, the adverse impacts of climate

reports and research.” [i]

change are expected disproportionately to affect those who are socially and

[i] Climate Change’s Unequal Impacts-

economically disadvantaged, including the

California Department of Justice

urban poor, the elderly, children, traditional societies, agricultural workers and rural populations. Disproportionate impacts can occur where certain groups lack the social and economic resources necessary to relocate to avoid impacts, or

ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY

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ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY

ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY

CURRICULUM

IMPACT

ACTION

“An environmentally literate person has the capacity to act individually and with others to support ecologically sound, economically prosperous, and equitable communities for present and future generations. Through lived experiences and education programs that include classroom-based lessons, experiential education, and outdoor learning, students will become environmentally literate, developing the knowledge, skills, and understanding of environmental principles to analyze environmental issues and make informed decisions.”

- CA Blueprint for Environmental Literacy (2015)

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ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY

[ii] Green Schools National Network Environmental literacy is an individual’s understanding of how our local environments and the world are affected by the way we obtain and utilize resources. It is important for students to realize that our resources are depletable and affect our environment on a global scale.

“Understanding the natural environment and the impact human activity has on it is essential to making informed decisions that affect the environment and human health now and in the future.”[iii] Environmentally literate students are able to examine real-world issues, think critically, and make informed decisions about the challenges affecting our world.[iii] Today’s children will one day be responsible for making decisions that will shape the future health of the environment,” wrote Deborah Mitchell, senior editor for Environmental Protection magazine, in “Promote Environmental Education for Children. “To prepare them for such responsibilities, they need a sound environmental education as a foundation upon which to make those decisions.” Most important, says Mitchell, environmental literacy helps develop and expand children’s critical thinking skills, prepares them for citizenship, nurtures their appreciation of the natural world, and enhances their physical well-being.[iv] [iii] https://blog.savvas.com/environmental-literacy-a-lot-more-than-the-3-rs/ [iv]https://californiaeei.org/abouteei/benefitsenviro/#:~:text=Environmentally%20literate%20stude nts%20are%20able,the%20challenges%20affecting%20our%20world 05

ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY

WHAT IS ENVIRONMETAL LITERACY? It is imperative that K12 education includes Environmental Education as a means to help students develop skills necessary to make intelligent decisions on caring for our environment. Education is compelled to include green jobs training and environmentrelated career opportunities while supporting the inclusion of sustainable, green practices in all career readiness programs.

Today’s youth must understand that the choices they make affect the environment and that the choices being made by others will impact career paths and opportunities well into the future. Choices can either help or harm the environment and the earth’s ability to sustain life and students need to understand what they need to do to keep the environment healthy, sustain its resources, and create a good quality of life for themselves and the future. [i] [i] California Environmental Literacy Initiative

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ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY

ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY IN K-6 EDUCATION

ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES TO ENGAGE CHILDREN IN LEARNING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. Project Learning Tree’s high-quality units and lesson plans supplement existing curriculum and the activities can be integrated into lesson plans for all grade levels and subject areas (especially STEM, reading, writing, and social studies). Topics range from forests, wildlife, and water, to community planning, waste management, and energy.

“The activities are practical, hands-on, and fun, and aligned with state and national academic standards, including the Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core State Standards, College, Career, and Civic Life Framework.” [v] [v] Project Learning Tree

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ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY

ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL CAREER READINESS PRACTICES ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES EXEMPLARY RESOURCE San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE), through a grant provided by the state of California and in partnership with Ten Strands, has developed an Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Initiative Program, that includes lessons and activities for students in grades K-12.

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES Included in the Program, is the Green Careers Awareness Program, which shares instructional modules for grades 5-8 in a variety of areas such as agriscience, clean energy, engineering, and biotechnology. These resources can be found at: SMCOE’s Green Careers Awareness Program

ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY

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ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL CAREER READINESS PRACTICES

SAMPLE PROJECTS Sample projects are also available for school sites, grade levels, and classrooms to duplicate.

SMCOE’s Green School Technical Assistance

PROJECT BASED LEARNING RESOURCES The program also includes a PBL Unit of Study Exemplar for grades K-12. It includes sample activities and is downloadable for use.

SMCOE’s K-12 Clean Energy Exemplar Resources

THE LINK BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION

CTE

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OPPORTUNITY FOR ALIGNMENT A focus on college and career readiness,

(They are cognizant of impacts on the

including Career and Technical Education

social condition, environment, workplace,

(CTE), provides an avenue for incorporating

and profitability of the organization.)

environmental content into the educational program. A plan for achieving environmental

[vi] A Blueprint for Environmental Literacy

literacy is proposed in “A Blueprint for Environmental Literacy: Educating Every

These standards create a connection

Student In, About, and For the Environment”

between environmental literacy and career

which was published by the California

readiness. “The hands-on and

Department of Education. The central

interdisciplinary focus required for building

strategy is to integrate environmental literacy

environmental literacy also lends itself

efforts into the educational system K-12.[vi]

well to the grounded, real-world focus of

The CTE model standards cover 15 industry

CTE standards. By achieving

sectors, of which at least three are directly

environmental literacy for all California

related to environmental topics: Agriculture

students, we can effectively prepare them

and Natural Resources; Energy,

for a range of college and career

Environment, and Utilities; and Engineering

pathways. In fact, while jobs in California’s

and Architecture.

overall economy grew by 12 percent from 1995-2010, employment in the state’s

The CTE standards include “Standards for

green economy grew by 109 percent.

Career Ready Practice,” which include skills

Ensuring that students attain

related to environmental literacy:

environmental literacy is also a critical

Act as a responsible citizen in the

investment in California’s future

workplace and the community.

workforce.” [vii]

(Awareness of the impacts of decisions on others and the environment around

[vii] A Blueprint for Environmental

them, and concerning the short-term and

Literacy

long-term consequences of their actions.)

Understand the environmental, social, and economic impacts of decisions.

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CTE

EDUCATING THE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE

A STANDARDS FOR CAREER READY PRACTICE Career and Technical Education integrates academic skills, employability skills and job/technical- specific skills

The United States is projected to need at

making a learner career and college

least 10 million new skilled workers.

ready. Embedded in the CA Standards for

Investments in infrastructure including

Career Ready Practice are standards

upgrading 4 million buildings, weatherizing 2

directly related to environmental

million homes, building 1.5 million

competencies that align with the Blueprint

sustainable homes, investing $111 billion in

for Environmental Literacy. Specifically:

wastewater, drinking water, and storm water infrastructure have been proposed.[vii]

Standard 11. Employ valid and reliable research strategies. Career-ready

Opportunities exist to build connections and

individuals employ research practices to

raise awareness across grade levels in

plan and carry out investigations, create

support of developing environmentally

solutions, and keep abreast of the most

focused skills and competencies and

current findings related to workplace

constructing career pathways for learners to

environments and practices.

understand environmental impacts on their careers of choice.

Standard 12. Understand the environmental, social, and economic

[viii] Integrating Environmental Literacy into

impacts of decisions. Career-ready

Career and Technical Education

individuals understand the interrelated

Programming

nature of their actions and regularly make decisions that positively impact other people, organizations, the workplace, and the environment. They are aware of and utilize new technologies, understandings, procedures, and materials and adhere to regulations affecting the nature of their work. They are cognizant of impacts on the social condition, environment, workplace, and profitability of the organization.

GREEN CAREERS BY GREEN CAREERS BY INDUSTRY SECTOR INDUSTRY SECTOR

GREEN CAREERS

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GREEN CAREERS BY INDUSTRY SECTOR

In addition to the key standards that are present in CTE pathways, there are green careers popping up throughout all 15 industry sectors. San Mateo County Office of Education has created an overview of each CTE industry sector with examples of green jobs in each.

SMCOE’s Green Economy Overview for K-12 Educators Many occupations and careers today are considered Green. This means they produce items or provide services that benefit the environment. For a list of occupations by industry sector that are considered Green or have components of a Green career click on the following link: CalJobs Source: This information is based on O*NET™ data. O*NET is a trademark registered to the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.

“Everything depends on our ability to sustainably inhabit this earth, and true sustainability will require us all to change our way of thinking on how we take from the earth and how we give back.”

- DEB HAALAND

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GREEN CAREERS

SOLANO COUNTY ENVIRONMENTALLY MINDED INDUSTRIES

Superior Farms Thistle Green Workforce Policy Playbook Gotham Greens National Career Clusters Framework Sustainable Solano Recology Build-it-Green Patz Materials & Technologies Carlise Construction Materials Solano Land Trust Solano County Farm Bureau Benicia Water Treatment Fairfield Water Treatment Vacaville Water Treatment

There must be a better way to make the things we want, a way that doesn't spoil the sky, or the rain, or the land."

-PAUL MCCARTNEY

CTE PATHWAY ANCHOR STANDARDS REFERENCES

RESOURCES

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There are many resources available to support districts and schools in integrating Environmental Literacy into their programs.

Climate Education Resources Padlet

Center for Energy Workforce Development

San Mateo County Office of Education’s Green Careers Awareness Program

San Mateo Office of Education’s Green Economy Overview for K-12 Educators

Ten Strands

Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network’s Climate and Energy Educational Resource Collection

Solano County Office of Education California Environmental Literacy Initiative

Green Schools National Network

Sustainable Agriculture Education

California Department of Education Civic Engagement

California Education & the Environment Initiative

California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom

California Educators Together

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FOOTNOTES

FOOTNOTES

[i] California Environmental Literacy Initiative: Teacher Call to Action [ii] State of California Department of Justice: Climate Change's Unequal Impacts [iii] Green Schools National Network: Tips and Ideas for Integrating Climate Literacy Across the Core Subjects [iv] SAVVAS Learning Company: Environmental Literacy: A Lot More than the 3 Rs [v] California Education and Environment Initiative: Why Environmental Literacy? [vi]

Project Learning Tree

[vii] California Department of Education: A Blueprint for Environmental Literacy [viii] California Department of Education: A Blueprint for Environmental Literacy [ix] Integrating Environmental Literacy into Career and Technical Education Programming [x]

Department of Education: Standards for Career Ready Practice

[xi] California Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards

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