Teaching students about environmental issues from an early age helps them put the environment at the center of their development.
Teaching students about environmental issues from an early age helps them put the environment at the center of their development.
HaDo we blame children for mindlessly flicking rappers out the side of the road or out the car window? Let’s say they don’t know that they have the power to influence them.
Environmental studies not only teaches us about pollution, climate change, and other everyday problems we struggle with, but it also teaches us about understanding the myriad of complex relationships between people and the environment. The aftermath of 2018 is a reminder of how our actions have impacted biodiversity. But we must improve and learn from our mistakes.
Integrated strategy
Lessons on climate change and environmental sustainability can be useful strategies for integrating the SDGs and the UN climate agenda throughout the curriculum. In fact, environmental education offers many opportunities to bring learning outside the classroom and into the natural world, providing students with a fun and interactive experience. For example, schools can host engaging gardening activities to teach students and lay a foundation for sustainable living.
Demand for resources increases with population growth. As a result, ecosystems are under unprecedented strain. Technology has made it easier to serve more people, but we still need to teach young people the value of keeping nature in balance. The interdisciplinary nature of Environmental Studies, which covers social, cultural, physical, and biological topics, further emphasizes its importance in the curriculum. Solutions to environmental problems also have socio-political and economic implications.
All of this learning is much more efficient and lasts longer if children are able to connect basic scientific ideas to the real world. Understanding how it affects our food supply is one example. Learn how natural resources, animals and plants respond to environmental changes and discover the important role of the environment in different cultures and practices.
Children can brainstorm solutions to current environmental problems, and if they understand the causes of these problems, they will have a better understanding of how policies are made. Discussing such issues fosters teamwork in the classroom, encourages outside-the-box thinking, and raises awareness of aspects such as the use of renewable energy resources. All of this not only makes the environment an integral part of all decision-making processes, but also allows us to switch to a greener and more sustainable lifestyle.
Today’s youth need not be another generation fighting climate change and global warming. We can inspire them to become leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators who put the environment at the heart of their development. Given the wide range of subjects covered, environmental studies can be a fun and interesting component of the curriculum.
The writer is the CEO of Grow-Trees.com.
