Warming-Waste-Water-Watts-Wildlife (W5)
Thanks to the support of Alcoa Foundation, Eco-Schools programme has launched a global K-12 environmental literacy initiative focused on Green STEM and the Sustainable Development Goals. The project will educate children about environmental issues through science, technology, engineering and math skills.
Through this project, thousands of students will be given opportunities to assess, design, and build innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
The project is implemented in:
Norway
USA
Green STEM utilises project-based learning to provide students with authentic, real-life environmental and sustainability issues to tackle while emphasising 21st century skills development like critical thinking, problem solving, cooperation, communication and teamwork. And it does this within the context of the students’ own communities, making the experience more relevant, inspiring, and engaging.
FEE’s internationally acclaimed Eco-Schools programme provides a framework to help educators integrate sustainability principles throughout their schools and curriculum and provides a model for environmentally sound practices, enhancing science and academic achievement.
Warming (which includes climate change education, reducing carbon emissions, renewable energy);
Waste (which includes recycling, reduction, reuse, litter, and more);
Water (which includes fresh water consumption, watershed education, stream restoration, and more);
Watts (which addresses the energy usage and energy sources of the school).
Wildlife (which includes biodiversity audits, identifying and monitoring species, creating habitat and more).
The overarching goals of the Alcoa W5 project are:
Improve student and faculty environmental literacy.
Connect learning to the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.
Reduce the environmental impact and use of natural resources of the school.
Improve student engagement in hands-on, experiential Green STEM disciplines through the project-based learning afforded by the Eco-Schools’ framework.
Connect to career paths in sustainability.
Increase teacher knowledge of Green STEM and the environment into their curricula and lesson plans.
Provide opportunities for Alcoa employees and community members to engage with schools in action-oriented events.
Project Resources
FEE Academy Course:
Learning & Teaching about the SDGs
This self-paced, online course introduces the Sustainable Development Goals and gives teachers ideas for how to engage their students actively in contributing to the Global Goals.
Direct link to course (first log in to www.feeacademy.global)
Learning Guide - Water
This guide can be a helpful tool to better understand how the Seven Steps methodology looks in practice.
You will learn how to address the theme of Water in your school in a fun and engaging way!
Educational Materials
National Wildlife Federation has created a number of lessons that can be used to connect students with the SDGs. You can download the the activities by clicking on the links below:
Green STEM
How Environment Based Education Boosts Student Engagement and Academic Achievement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
Partners
Foundation for Environmental Education and Eco-Schools
The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) was launched in 1981 and went on to create the Eco-Schools programme in 1994 with support from the European Commission. Eco-Schools was identified by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) as a model initiative for Education for Sustainable Development in 2003.
National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is America's largest wildlife conservation and education organisation, uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. In December 2008, NWF was granted host status for the K-12 Eco-Schools programme in the United States by The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). In America, the programme is known as “Eco-Schools USA.”
Alcoa Foundation
Alcoa Foundation invests where Alcoa has a presence, partnering with communities to address local needs in a sustainable manner. With our nonprofit partners, we contribute to programs that protect and preserve the environment and promote equitable access to education and skills-building opportunities.
Learn more at alcoafoundation.com and follow Alcoa on Twitter and Facebook.