The Sustainability Classroom
Boone, the beluga whale, named after Dr. Chris Boone
Hello from the Future
The Sustainability Classroom is a project to create authentic, sustainability lessons and classroom materials for educators.
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Sustainability is the intersection of the environment, economy, and equity (society). By understanding sustainability as much more than just environmental science, we are able to focus on community well-being all over the world.
Sustainability is...
"Sustainable development is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs"
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- UN Brundtland Commission, 1987
"Sustainability is improving human well-being and ensuring social equity for present and future generations while safeguarding the planet’s life-supporting ecosystems"
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- Dr. Chris Boone, ASU School of Sustainability
"Sustainability is about people coming together to stand up for one another, respect and protect nature, and work together to build a better world for the next generation. It's a personal and collective call for integrity, authenticity and progress"
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- Haley Penny, 2022
Sustainability Materials for Teachers
As part of my doctoral thesis, I have designed ten structured units of sustainability materials aimed at middle schoolers. This curriculum is intended to be used over the course of one school year and can fit in with national science, language arts, social studies, math, and health standards. The lessons include social-emotional learning activities, group projects, sensory activities, CALL activities, and the lessons bridge the gap between science curriculum and sustainability curriculum. I'm proud to say that the activities also focus on elements of social sustainability (diversity, disabilities, and community representation) which I strongly believe need to be introduced into the standard curriculum.
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The following units are available upon request and will be free of charge until the completion of my thesis.
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Unit 1: The Built World
Unit 2: The Living World
Unit 3: Water Systems
Unit 4: Food Systems
Unit 5: Public Health
Unit 6: Inner Sustainability
Unit 7: Society
Unit 8: Economics
Unit 9: Energy
Unit 10: Transportation
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I am still looking for classrooms to try these materials as part of my research study. If you're interested in using these materials with your class, or if you're an educator who wants to take a look, send me an email.