Common Ground | Environmental Learning

ENVIRONMENTAL UNDERSTANDING

…is the heart of our curriculum

Through challenging interdisciplinary block classes and core academic classes, student learn about important environmental issues, both global and local. Courses like Environmental Justice, Biodiversity, Ecologia, and Food & The Environment focus squarely on the ecological challenges facing our community and our planet – while also developing the essential skills and understandings students need to succeed in college. Truly unique courses -- like Environmental Ventures, where students start and run small businesses using products from the farm -- help students apply their passions to environmental challenges. Beyond the core environmental curriculum, every class on campus – from British Literature to Accelerated Algebra – takes on key environmental themes.

Experiences outside the school building extend academic learning. Our students complete senior projects focused on social justice and environmental topics. They participate in a year-long Green Jobs Corps, taking on paid internships at local environmental organizations and participating in a year-long leadership and career development program. They compete in the state-wide Envirothon competition and participate in an after-school environmental leadership club. They teach younger students about important environmental issues through after-school, summer, and school day programs.

Our Environmental Honors Program offers students additional academic challenges. Environmental Honors students take on rigorous environmental courses, complete honors projects in these classes, and take part in environmental opportunities outside the school day. To honor their achievements, these students receive recognition on their high school transcripts and have access to additional educational and college readiness opportunities.

All of our courses address six essential themes – environmental "big ideas" that connect the curriculum together. Each term, our students explore one of these themes in greater depth. For instance, when the trimester's theme is appreciation and curiousity, students use experiences in nature as the inspiration for creative writing, develop observation and inquiry skills in science, and address issues of aesthetics in art.

Big Idea #1: Interconnectedness. Everything is connected, living and non-living, human and non-human.

Big Idea #2: Humans and the Environment. Humans are a part of the natural world. We change the environment, and it shapes us.

Big Idea #3: Appreciation and Curiosity. The environment can fill us with wonder. Curiosity, close observation, and good questions lead to real learning.

Big Idea #4: Learning Across Disciplines. Every subject – science, history, English, math, art, anything – helps us understand the environment.

Big Idea #5: Food and Health. Food and health start with our own choices, and connect to bigger issues: poverty, justice, pollution, climate.

Big Idea #6: Environmental Action. We face pressing environmental challenges, local and global. We are all responsible. We need to act.


	Environmental understanding ENVIRONMENTAL UNDERSTANDING …is the heart of our curriculum Through challenging interdisciplinary block classes and core academic classes, student learn about important environmental issues, both global and local. Courses like Environmental Justice, Biodiversity, Ecologia, and Food & The Environment focus squarely on the ecological challenges facing our community and our planet – while also developing the essential skills and understandings students need to succeed in college. Truly unique courses -- like Environmental Ventures, where students start and run small businesses using products from the farm -- help students apply their passions to environmental challenges. Beyond the core environmental curriculum, every class on campus – from British Literature to Accelerated Algebra – takes on key environmental themes. Experiences outside the school building extend academic learning. Our students complete senior projects focused on social justice and environmental topics. They participate in a year-long Green Jobs Corps, taking on paid internships at local environmental organizations and participating in a year-long leadership and career development program. They compete in the state-wide Envirothon competition and participate in an after-school environmental leadership club. They teach younger students about important environmental issues through after-school, summer, and school day programs. Our Environmental Honors Program offers students additional academic challenges. Environmental Honors students take on rigorous environmental courses, complete honors projects in these classes, and take part in environmental opportunities outside the school day. To honor their achievements, these students receive recognition on their high school transcripts and have access to additional educational and college readiness opportunities. All of our courses address six essential themes – environmental "big ideas" that connect the curriculum together. Each term, our students explore one of these themes in greater depth. For instance, when the trimester's theme is appreciation and curiousity, students use experiences in nature as the inspiration for creative writing, develop observation and inquiry skills in science, and address issues of aesthetics in art. Big Idea #1: Interconnectedness. Everything is connected, living and non-living, human and non-human. Big Idea #2: Humans and the Environment. Humans are a part of the natural world. We change the environment, and it shapes us. Big Idea #3: Appreciation and Curiosity. The environment can fill us with wonder. Curiosity, close observation, and good questions lead to real learning. Big Idea #4: Learning Across Disciplines. Every subject – science, history, English, math, art, anything – helps us understand the environment. Big Idea #5: Food and Health. Food and health start with our own choices, and connect to bigger issues: poverty, justice, pollution, climate. Big Idea #6: Environmental Action. We face pressing environmental challenges, local and global. We are all responsible. We need to act.