AWARENESS,

ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION IN THE
SCHOOL
CURRICULUM
Ms. Jemelle Rose S.Sencida
Ms. Jenny M. Seiton
Mr. Winniebert Labroda
Mr. Melchor S. Sedicol Dr. Elma S. Santacera
Discussants Professor
Introduction:
Kids nowadays are quite inquisitive and always
ready with a “why” or “how” when being taught
something new. It is in the first few years of a person’s
life that we learn new concepts quickly. Children can
speak a new language easier and more naturally than an
adult. A child’s brain is like a sponge. It soaks up all the
information it receives. Schools have a responsibility
towards future leaders - not just teaching them how to
read and write, but also educating them about
environmental awareness.-Sharjeel Ahmed
WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION?
Environmental education is a process that
allows individuals to
explore environmental issues, engage in
problem solving, and take action to improve
the environment. As a result, individuals
develop a deeper understanding
of environmental issues and have the skills to
make informed and responsible decisions.
 WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL
AWARENESS?
Environmental awareness is about being aware of
the state of the environment, to all parts of nature,
living and non-living. 
Schools must lead the conversation. environmental
awareness should be a part of the curriculum in all
schools. This will encourage young people to engage in
their environment to protect it and can help communities
become more environmentally aware.
 Being aware of the environment is particularly
important, given the increasing environmental
challenges we are facing, such as climate change,
global warming, water scarcity, droughts,
deforestation, floods, pollution
Being aware of these issues and making beneficial
lifestyle changes to alleviate negative effects on
the environment, is what environmental
awareness is about.
 A. Conservation education - is the
process of influencing people's attitudes,
emotions, knowledge, and behaviors about
wildlife and wild places. This is done
through the efforts of skilled educators and
interpreters, who use a variety of
techniques, methods, and assessments to
reconnect people with the natural world.
 Teaching conservation education is not
an added extra, or more work. It is about
providing your students with a real-life
context on which to base their learning,
and an opportunity to apply their
learning to authentic local community
opportunities.
B. COMMUNICATING WITH SCHOOL

In order to raise awareness around

environmental issues, a good place to start is by
including lessons about the environment in
school curriculums.
Here are some practical tips to do the
same:
1. Teach children about the three R’s:
reduce waste, reuse resources, and recycle
materials.
2. Organize tree planting days at school
and tell children why trees are important to
the environment.
3. Encourage children to switch off
all appliances and lights when not in
use.
4. Ensure taps are closed properly
after you have used them and use
water sparingly.
ROLE OF TEACHERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION
 To arouse the children’s interest in the environment and
to raise challenging problems
 To discuss the approach to problems or topics
 To arrange visits
 To provide materials needed for practical work
 To arrange for visiting speakers
 To initiate and develop discussion and debate; and
 To provide facilities for displays and exhibitions of the
work carried out.
 C. ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Environmental education (EE) provides the methods and
content that can lead to environmental literacy and a more
sustainable future. Through EE, people develop questioning,
analysis and interpretation skills; knowledge of environmental
processes and systems; skills for understanding and addressing
environmental issues; and personal and civic responsibility
(NAAEE, 2010). Environmental education develops an
environmentally literate citizenry that makes choices that are
better for the health of the environment, leading to a more
 Environmental education has other
benefits, besides leading to
environmentally literate citizens. For
example, using the environment as the
integrating context for learning has been
linked to improved test scores,
engagement, and teacher satisfaction
(Liebermann & Hoody, 1998).
Benefits of Environmental Education
1. Imagination and enthusiasm are
heightened
EE is hands-on, interactive learning that sparks
the imagination and unlocks creativity. When
EE is integrated into the curriculum, students
are more enthusiastic and engaged in learning,
which raises student achievement in core
academic areas.
2. Learning transcends the classroom
Not only does EE offer opportunities for
experiential learning outside of the
classroom, it enables students to make
connections and apply their learning in the
real world. EE helps learners see the
interconnectedness of social, ecological,
economic, cultural, and political issues.
3. Critical and creative thinking skills are
enhanced
EE encourages students to research, investigate
how and why things happen, and make their own
decisions about complex environmental issues. 
By developing and enhancing critical and
creative thinking skills, EE helps foster a new
generation of informed consumers, workers, as
well as policy or decision makers.
4. Tolerance and understanding are
supported.
EE encourages students to investigate
varying sides of issues to understand the
full picture. It promotes tolerance of
different points of view and different
cultures.
5. State and national learning standards
are met for multiple subjects
By incorporating Environmental Education practices into
the curriculum, teachers can integrate science, math,
language arts, history, and more into one rich lesson or
activity, and still satisfy numerous state and national
academic standards in all subject areas. Taking a class
outside or bringing nature indoors provides an excellent
backdrop or context for interdisciplinary learning.
6. Biophobia and nature deficit
disorder decline
By exposing students to nature and
allowing them to learn and play outside,
EE fosters sensitivity, appreciation, and
respect for the environment.  It combats
“nature deficit disorder”
7. Healthy lifestyles are encouraged
EE gets students outside and active, and helps
address some of the health issues we are seeing
in children today, such as obesity, attention
deficit disorders, and depression.  Good
nutrition is often emphasized through EE and
stress is reduced due to increased time spent in
nature.
 8. SUPPORTING STEM
 EEoffers an engaging platform for gaining and
applying knowledge and skills in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
9. Communities are strengthened
EE promotes a sense of place and connection
through community involvement. When students
decide to learn more or take action to improve
their environment, they reach out to community
experts, donors, volunteers, and local facilities
to help bring the community together to
understand and address environmental issues
impacting their neighborhood.
10. Responsible action is taken to better the
environment
EE helps students understand how their
decisions and actions affect the environment,
builds knowledge and skills necessary to
address complex environmental issues, as well
as ways we can take action to keep our
environment healthy and sustainable for the
future.
11. Students and teachers are empowered
Environmental Education promotes active
learning, citizenship, and student leadership. It
empowers youth to share their voice and make a
difference at their school and in their
communities. Environmental Education helps
teachers build their own environmental
knowledge and teaching skills.
 D. INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION INTO SCHOOL CURICULUM
Environmental education has been considered an
additional or elective subject in much of traditional
K- 12 curriculum. At the elementary school level,
environmental education can take the form of
science enrichment curriculum, natural history field
trips, community service projects, and participation
in outdoor science schools
 D. INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION INTO SCHOOL CURICULUM
In secondary school, environmental curriculum
can be a focused subject within the sciences or is a
part of student interest groups or clubs. At the
undergraduate and graduate level, it can be
considered its own field within education,
environmental studies, environmental science and
policy, ecology, or human/cultural ecology
programs.
 EE policies assist schools and organizations in
developing and improving environmental
education programs that provide citizens with an
in-depth understanding of the environment.
School related EE policies focus on three main
components: curricula, green facilities, and
training.
 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
BENEFITS SCHOOLS AND EDUCATORS
BY…
 Creating Enthusiastic Students. EE offers opportunities
for rich, hands-on, real world and authentic learning
across the curriculum. This relevance to students’ lives
engages and inspires them more than traditional
pedagogy.
 FosteringInnovative Teacher-Leaders. EE gives
educators the confidence to take students outdoor and to
design more dynamic, interactive learning experiences
that spark students’ engagement.
 AddressingAcademic Standards. EE offers an engaging
way to meet the content and skills identified in
Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts
and mathematics, as well Next Generation Science
Standards and C3 Framework for Social Studies.
 Saving Schools Money. When students investigate and
take action to improve the environmental performance
of their school buildings and grounds, they often cut
costs in electricity, water, waste management, and
more.
 QUESTIONS:
 What is environmental awareness?
 Whatare the benefits of environmental
education among students?
 Whatare environmental education benefits
schools and educators?
 Why environmental education is important?
 REFERENCES:
 https://www.greenschoolsalliance.org/blogs/60/628

 https://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/conservation-education/what-is-
conservation-education/
 https://www.plt.org/about-us/why-environmental-education-is-important/

 https://www.slideshare.net/maimaihorolan/environmental-education-68397436