What Is the Sustainability Curriculum Program?

The Sustainability Curriculum Program is a collaborative project which involves teacher leaders and community participants from the Tahoe-Truckee Region and from surrounding communities. The program's purpose is to implement a model process with teachers and students that focuses on sustainability; how to promote a healthy environ- ment and provide for an adequate standard of living for all community groups, including the non-English speaking community. The purpose of the initial phase is to help to build strong working relationships between the schools and community groups and to pilot use of innovative projects. Key to the success of sustainability education is the ability of students to interact with their world in a real context and to engage the inherent complexity found there. This program will use the Kettering Dialogue Process to promote respectful examination of the range of issues to be faced.

Goals of the Program

1. Students working on issues which involve sustainability with the following components:
   • outside projects with real applications (both environmental and economic/lifestyle related),
   • build partnerships with resource and business professionals, and
   • prepare students for complex life decisions including dialogue skills to accommodate diversity of views.
2. Education and classroom support for teachers which includes:
   • access to state-of-the-art scientific knowledge relying on the collection of expertise in the Region,
   • building partnerships with professionals in the field, and
   • providing a tool and follow-up support for use of the Internet in classrooms.
3. Promote both learner based and thematic or integrated education which involves parents, school district officials, community leaders, and resource professionals.
4. Use existing curriculum as a basis to build from past experience and develop new applications for potential future use nationally and internationally.

Program Methodologies

• Help teachers develop a single, integrated project which includes an outdoor environmental element and examination of a related economic/lifestyle component.
• Develop partnerships (or a mentor group) with resource and business leaders for each classroom who will assist the teacher in project implementation.
• Provide follow-up support for teachers to address dialogue skills, parent and school district involvement, evaluation of the project, and design of an end-of-the- project learning event.
• Create an end-of-the project learning experience which allows for reflection time and a group dialogue led by students.

To Learn More Contact:
Sue Rae Irelan, Program Manager, TCSF
P.O. Box 1096
Homewood, CA 96141
phone: 916-525-1646 fax: 916-525-1613
email: srirelan@sierra.net

Last Updated on November 11, 1996