Environmental Education in Ontario Social Studies

"The frog does not drink up the pond in which it lives."
--Proverb

Environmental education in the social studies is increasingly essential given recent developments in climate change research and the difficulty in distributing resources to an ever-growing global population. Students need to develop green habits that they can share with others and carry on into adulthood. 

Environmental education gives students a greater connection to local and global communities, helping increase their sense of place and involvement. It enhances critical-thinking and problem-solving skills in the process. Environmental education is linked with field work, which develops valuable skills and can be connected with other disciplines, giving students a more interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary education. With the proper educational framework, students can move from awareness to action in regards to caring for the environment. 

Environmental education is also beneficial because it has connections to other ministry initiatives, such as the inclusion of aboriginal history and culture into the curriculum. It also is in alignment with Foundations for a Healthy School framework, which emphasizes a healthy physical environment and supportive social environment for successful learning. On average, children like to be helpful and feel like their actions are important, and by having them participate in environmental initiatives in the school and the larger community, it can give a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that they are making a positive impact in the world.

What Might it look like in a Classroom?

Environmental education and field study could be aligned with the grade 7 Geography curriculum through the A2 inquiry expectations, where students must “guide investigations into the impact of natural events and/or human activities that change the physical environment.” Students could look at their local community and investigate through analyzing maps, climate graphs, and census data how the environment has changed in their local community over time, and how these changes occurred e.g. did the building of a dam change the local habitat, has there been a decrease in availability of arable land due to new housing developments, etc. 

Apart from developing their data analysis and spatial skills, this inquiry could be supplemented with visits to various natural habitats or historic sites in the area to compare and contrast how humans lived in this area before and how they live now. This incorporates many skills and concepts of both Geography and even History, while addressing Environmental education in a hands-on way. 

Remember too that Environmental education allows a great cross-curricular opportunity with Science, as Environmental education and stewardship is a major component of the Ontario Science curriculum as well. There are many ways to bring up the environment when teaching students, we do all live on Earth so it's kind of hard to avoid really. Any of the Social Studies strands could theoretically involve Environmental education; it's just time to get creative and see what you can do to incorporate those values and concepts.