Eco-Literacy in Social Studies and More
Social studies and history already have strong connections to E.L. The study of environmental conditions and changes can easily connect to changes in human civilizations, political or social movements, and economic fluctuations. For example, Europe's Little Ice Age had wide spread affects on European culture, economics, and history. The same can be said for the American Dust Bowl. Additionally, students can explore how humans have changed the environment and the affects that has had on society. For example, the Plains Tribes used fire to encourage the growth of Great Plains grasses and improve hunting. Or, students could look at how the building of dams on Pacific Northwest rivers had negative affects for some groups, but positive outcomes for others. For more modern connections, students could look into the factors that lead to the creation of the National Parks, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, or the Environmental Justice movement. In looking at topics like these, students can not only examine the history of each, but also the social or economic ramifications of their implementation.
To look at things through another lens, try geography. While geography is a science focused on "the lands, the features, the inhabitants, and the phenomena of the Earth." it is so much more than maps and country facts. The social studies aspect of geography relates to learning about how those phenomena and land forms affect human cultures past and present. In order to understand the interaction between the human culture and geography, students must first understand ecological cycles and then apply them to societies, traditions, and historic points of change.
Social studies also incorporates civics (also political science) and economics. Both of these also have strong ties to E.L. Students need to understand the political processes that make environmental protection and resource management possible. They also need to understand how they as individuals and groups have power to affect environmental policy change locally and nationally. Civics provides the framework for understand those processes, powers, & rights.
A natural tie-in and a great way to get kids engaged before starting to teach civics is service learning. Whether through taking surveys of a local population about attitudes, cleaning up a river, planting trees, or participating in a citizen science initiative, students get hands on experience with real world issues in the local community. This provides them with opportunities to talk with people who are experts or who are affected by the issues. It also helps them to build emotional connections to what would otherwise be abstract topics. It also helps students to develop a sense of empowerment and responsibility for their local environment and community. Most importantly, service learning should help students develop a new level of curiosity that will prompt them to further investigate the issues they worked with.
Similarly, economics provides the framework for understanding the movement of money and resources. This gives students and understanding for how the world works. They gain an understanding of consumption, business, taxation, and more. Economics also helps to explain economic drivers of various ecological topics. For instance the black market timber trade is related to economic growth in China. The same is true for rare and endangered animals. On the other hand students can learn about how companies and corporations can be an influence for environmental and social good. Meanwhile, a way of tackling the problem of Climate Change is through implementing economic tools such as a carbon tax. Also, arguments for the preservation of wetlands have been made via the valuation of environmental services. In helping students to make the connection between economics and ecology, we empower them to seek multiple avenues for solving ecological problems.
For additional ideas try these:
To look at things through another lens, try geography. While geography is a science focused on "the lands, the features, the inhabitants, and the phenomena of the Earth." it is so much more than maps and country facts. The social studies aspect of geography relates to learning about how those phenomena and land forms affect human cultures past and present. In order to understand the interaction between the human culture and geography, students must first understand ecological cycles and then apply them to societies, traditions, and historic points of change.
Social studies also incorporates civics (also political science) and economics. Both of these also have strong ties to E.L. Students need to understand the political processes that make environmental protection and resource management possible. They also need to understand how they as individuals and groups have power to affect environmental policy change locally and nationally. Civics provides the framework for understand those processes, powers, & rights.
A natural tie-in and a great way to get kids engaged before starting to teach civics is service learning. Whether through taking surveys of a local population about attitudes, cleaning up a river, planting trees, or participating in a citizen science initiative, students get hands on experience with real world issues in the local community. This provides them with opportunities to talk with people who are experts or who are affected by the issues. It also helps them to build emotional connections to what would otherwise be abstract topics. It also helps students to develop a sense of empowerment and responsibility for their local environment and community. Most importantly, service learning should help students develop a new level of curiosity that will prompt them to further investigate the issues they worked with.
Similarly, economics provides the framework for understanding the movement of money and resources. This gives students and understanding for how the world works. They gain an understanding of consumption, business, taxation, and more. Economics also helps to explain economic drivers of various ecological topics. For instance the black market timber trade is related to economic growth in China. The same is true for rare and endangered animals. On the other hand students can learn about how companies and corporations can be an influence for environmental and social good. Meanwhile, a way of tackling the problem of Climate Change is through implementing economic tools such as a carbon tax. Also, arguments for the preservation of wetlands have been made via the valuation of environmental services. In helping students to make the connection between economics and ecology, we empower them to seek multiple avenues for solving ecological problems.
For additional ideas try these:
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| President Teddy Roosevelt posing with John Muir and company in Yosemite National Park, 1903 Photo Source: PBS.org |
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