Introduction to Sustainability
Summary
The Introduction to Sustainability course is designed to help students in elementary, middle, and high school begin developing sustainable intelligence—the ability to understand how human actions affect environmental, social, and economic systems and to make more informed, responsible choices. Through age-appropriate activities and discussions, students explore what sustainability means, how individual and collective behaviors impact shared resources, and why living in balance with nature and society is important for a healthy future.
The course consists of three grade-band lessons that build on the same foundational concepts while increasing in depth and complexity. Each lesson includes:
- An engaging interactive game or simulation that demonstrates how everyday actions can contribute to unsustainable outcomes.
- Video-based instruction introducing key sustainability concepts.
- Guided discussion questions that encourage critical thinking and reflection.
- Real-world examples connected to students’ experiences at school and home.
- Opportunities for students to identify sustainable and unsustainable practices in their own lives.
Modules
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Introduction to Sustainability: Elementary School
This lesson sets the stage for students to develop sustainable intelligence. They begin by playing an interactive game that illustrates how innocent actions can turn into unsustainable practices that impact everyone and the Earth we call home. Students then watch a video and learn what the term sustainability means and…
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Introduction to Sustainability: Middle School
This lesson sets the stage for students to develop sustainable intelligence. They begin by playing an interactive game that illustrates how innocent actions can turn into unsustainable practices that impact everyone and the Earth we call home. Students then discuss how the game illustrates a concept called the tragedy of…
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Introduction to Sustainability: High School
This lesson sets the stage for students to develop sustainable intelligence. They begin by playing an interactive game that illustrates how innocent actions can turn into unsustainable practices that impact everyone and the Earth we call home. Students then discuss what the term sustainability means and begin exploring two important…
