Environmental Education

Three Wisconsin Schools Named Among First-Ever U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, together with White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, announced today that Dimensions of Learning Academy in Kenosha, Middleton High School in Middleton, and Purdy Elementary School in Fort Atkinson are among 78 schools named U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools during a visit to Stoddert Elementary School, one of D.C.’s two honorees. Wisconsin is among 29 states and D.C. with schools receiving the first-ever awards. Read more by clicking here.

Cover of the Environmental Literacy Plan

Wisconsin's Plan to Advance Education for Environmental Literacy and Sustainability in PK-12 Schools provides strategies for statewide collaboration to increase student academic achievement, improve student health, and save schools money through education for environmental literacy and sustainability. It is available as a pdf. To download the executive summary click here.

What is Environmental Education?

Environmental education is a lifelong learning process that leads to an informed and involved citizenry having the creative problem-solving skills, scientific and social literacy, ethical awareness and sensitivity for the relationship between humans and the environment, and commitment to engage in responsible individual and cooperative actions. By these actions, environmentally literate citizens will help ensure an ecologically and economically sustainable environment (Wisconsin Environmental Education Board). Other definitions of environmental education can be found on the WAEE web site.

The ultimate goal for environmental education in Wisconsin is for all students to be environmentally literate. NAAEE in their Excellence in Environmental Education Guidelines for Learning (K-12) define it this way: “Environmentally literate students possess the knowledge, intellectual skills, attitudes, experiences and motivation to make and act upon responsible environmental decisions. Environmentally literate students understand environmental processes and systems, including human systems. They are able to analyze global, social, cultural, political, economic and environmental relationships, and weigh various sides of environmental issues to make responsible decisions as individuals, as members of their communities, and as citizens of the world. (Adapted from Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature, April 2009)”

About Environmental Education in Wisconsin

Since 1983, the people of Wisconsin, through their elected officials, have achieved important environmental education goals, including establishing a requirement that every school district develop and implement a written, sequential curriculum plan integrating environmental education objectives and activities into all subject area curriculum plans at all grade levels, with the greatest emphasis in plans for art, health, science, and social studies education [see Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 8.01(2)(k)].In addition, teachers with licenses in agriculture, early childhood, middle childhood to early adolescent, science and social studies must demonstrate knowledge and understanding in environmental education including the conservation of natural resources.

People who are environmentally literate understand the earth's ability to sustain human and other life. They take action and are involved in their community to help sustain our natural resources so that people can create and enjoy a high quality life for themselves and the future generations. This can be achieved through providing a balanced, academically-based environmental education as part of the curriculum. Breaking down walls between academic disciplines and other areas of environmental study to allow for integration will be essential to helping students become effective, productive, responsible, and environmentally literate 21st century citizens.

Many Wisconsin schools integrate environmental examples into some of their coursework, thereby fostering enthusiasm not only for science but also for reading, math, social studies, art, health and other disciplines. In fact, Wisconsin leads the nation in green schools where subjects are integrated through environmental topics! Infusing environmental education throughout the K-12 curriculum increases classroom learning and can help students develop critical thinking, reasoning, and effective cooperative skills. Environmental education instruction utilizes a variety of instructional models and guidelines that have been long accepted in the field of education. Through integrating environmental education into content areas, educators can also differentiate instruction, engage less motivated learners, and challenge students who are ready to go further.

Read more about environmental education and related research at EEinWisconsin.org. While you are there, check out the education resources and professional development opportunities available in the state! You can also participate in the Green and Healthy Schools Program, a partnership through DPI and DNR.

Explore Environmental Education Resources

Professional Associations

For questions about this information, contact Victoria Rydberg (608)266-0419

For questions about environmental science, contact Shelley Lee (608)266-3319

Last updated on 4/23/2012 3:37:54 PM