LA Unified School Board President Zimmer speaks to students

 (COPY) Curriculum

This page highlights resources for sustainability-related curriculum and presentation resources.

Energy

Energy Information Administrative
  • Energy information for students K-12
  • Includes extensive general and specific information on various energy topics (including energy generation and conservation), games, experiments and lesson plans
  • Lesson Plans and Teacher Guides
California Energy Commission – Energy Quest
  • Energy information for students K-12
  • Includes general and specific information on various energy topics (including energy generation and conservation) and games
US Department of Energy – Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
  • Information on energy efficiency, many games and interactive features exploring energy efficiency
  • K-12 Lesson Plans
Nation Energy Education Development Project
  • Board Education Energy Website – Includes links to partner agencies
  • Energy Education Materials, Resources and Teacher Guides
  • Curriculum/State Standards Correlation
Energy Start Kids
  • Information on energy efficiency, many games and interactive features exploring energy efficiency
Energy Hog
  • Interactive, student friendly game and supporting materials
Kids Energy Zone
  • Games, activities, stories, videos
U.S. Department of Energy – Energy Literacy: Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts for Energy Education
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US Department of Energy – Energy Education and Workforce Development, K-12 Lesson Plans
  • Here you’ll find many creative lesson plans, labs, projects and other activities for grades K-12 on energy-related topics. Incorporate them into your classroom.

Water

CA Department of Water Resources – Water Education Materials
  • Water Education Materials for Educators
  • Education services and materials are provided to schools throughout California by the Public Affairs Office
  • Includes student materials and a teacher guide
  • Links to additional related online resources
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
  • Water conservation information from various sources throughout Southern CA
  • Some links include information geared toward teacher and students
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority – Curriculum Guides and Classroom Activities
  • “Water Quality, A Field Based Water Quality Testing Program for Middle and High Schools” is a field-based program appropriate middle school and high school students.
  • Other free materials for suitable for teachers or grades K-12
Water Education Foundation
  • Water education lesson plans that adhere to California content standards available for purchase
U.S. Geological Survey

Climate Change

Earth Day Network - Climate Education Week
  • The Climate Education Week Toolkit is a free, easy-to-use, ready-to-go resource with hand-picked lesson plans, activities, and contests for all your K-12 students. It meets both Next Generation Science and Common Core standards.
  • With the goal of educating and engaging K-12 students on climate change, this cross-disciplinary resource includes a range of activities from an energy conservation action plan to reading and discussing Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring.
Earth Day Network - Digital Textbook:  The Story of Climate Change
  • ​The Story of Climate Change is a first of its kind, interactive digital textbook for middle school students. Students watch glaciers melt, dive into the world’s coral reefs, and explore how bike share programs reduce carbon emissions – all from their personal tablets.
  • Digital textbooks are the next wave in teaching climate science. Studies show that children learn better when they use multimedia resources. Digital textbooks go way beyond written content, allowing students to explore videos, graphs, and animations with just a touch of the screen.
  • A Teacher’s Guide is also available on Earth Day Network’s website. It includes in-depth activity lesson plans, Next Generation Science Standard Alignments, student action plans, and handy resources to help educators make the most out of every chapter.

Curated 

Center for Green Schools Learning Lab - Empower your students to become global citizens.
  • Learning Lab provides K-12 teachers and school leaders with comprehensive, project- and STEM-based curriculum that encourages student leadership, environmental literacy, and real-world action.
  • Discover best-in-class content, training and tools. Access curated catalog of lesson plans, interactive projects, assessment opportunities, and other multimedia resources in English and Spanish. Lessons are mapped to meet current educational standards, and were created by educators, for educators.

Waste Reduction

US Environmental Protection Agency
  • “Wastes” Educational Materials.
  • These resources will assist you in teaching your students about the waste we generate in our schools, homes, and communities—and what we can all do to make a difference! From classroom activities, to starting a school electronics recycling program, these materials will help you and your students learn what we can do to reduce and better manage waste in the world around us. Many of these resources are provided in both English and Spanish.”

Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation

Through consulting services, CELF promotes awareness of sustainability and helps schools districts make sustainability an ongoing part of education. 

Los Angeles Department of Water & Power

LADWP is the largest municipal utility in the U.S., serving over 4 million residents. LAUSD has partnered with LADWP on several water and energy conservation initiatives including the Power Challenge, a Drop in the Bucket, and Times in Education.

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

MWD is a regional wholesaler that delivers water to 26 public agencies; the mission of the organization is to provide the service area with adequate and reliable supplies of high-quality water to meet present and future needs in an environmentally and economically responsible way.

National Environmental Education Foundation

NEEF is an independent non-profit organization complementary to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), extending its ability to foster environmental education for all ages and in all segments of the American public.

National Wildlife Federation

The NWF's mission is to protect the ecosystems that are most critical to native wildlife for our children's future. The NWF sponsors many programs on LAUSD campuses including Eco Schools and Ranger Rick activities. Currently, 7 LAUSD campuses have been certified as a NWF Eco School. 

PEAK

PEAK is an environmental education program designed to empower students with the knowledge to manage energy use in their homes and schools. Through hands-on learning, students are inspired to take action to create a more sustainable world. Over 50 schools have participated in PEAK programs. 

Southern California Edison

Southern California Edison is the largest subsidiary of Edison International. Committed to delivering safe, reliable, affordable electricity, Edison is guided by their core values of integrity, excellence, respect, continuous improvement, and teamwork. 
Project Learning Tree
  • Professional Development
  • Curriculum
  • Grants
  • Service Learning Opportunities

Getwise and http://www.resourceaction.com
  • K-12 Programs
    • EnergyWise
    • LivingWise
    • WaterWise
  • Savings kits

California Regional Environmental Education Community
  • CREEC curriculum page in an index of environmental education
EE Capacity
  • Encouraging innovation in environmental education by bringing youth and community development professionals together with environmental education professionals to network, learn and share.