Overview

Shelburne Farms' Sustainable Schools Project Education for Sustainability Starter Kit is a tool that schools can use to start the process of becoming a Sustainable School.

Over the course of our work with schools, we’ve had growing requests from educators to help make their schools “Sustainable Schools.”  We realized the need to develop a Sustainable Schools Project Starter Kit, in order to meet this demand and extend our reach to more schools and educators. 

This Starter Kit includes what schools need to start using sustainability as an integrating theme, and to catalyze school change with efficient use of existing resources and without regard to geographic limitations.  The Sustainable Schools Starter Kit includes:

• Introductory professional development modules, including Sustainable Schools Project resources and tools
• Education for Sustainability Guide (download separately)
• Healthy Neighborhoods/Healthy Kids Guide (download separately)

Because the Starter Kit is an educational tool, it is designed to incorporate some of the pedagogy of Education for Sustainability (EFS) into its activities.  For example, place-based education is a foundational aspect of EFS, and many of the activities in the Starter Kit modules incorporate place-based learning opportunities.  We want to make this intentional design aspect explicit, as we want to model our pedagogy.

How to Use the Starter Kit

The Education for Sustainability Starter Kit is designed to be used as ‘do-it-yourself’ Education for Sustainability professional development program for schools.  The content is divided into three modules, to provide foundational understanding, introduction to strategies, and implementation tools.  Each learning activity is provided in a lesson plan format, and is designed to be facilitated by anyone with an interest in moving their educational institution toward becoming a ‘Sustainable School’.   Each activity is clearly written, and includes timing estimates, so that you may tailor the training to the needs and constraints of your particular situation.  The grid on the following page provides suggestions on the sequencing of activities for 60 minute, 90 minute, half-day, full-day and two-day professional development trainings.  In some cases, activities are divided into sections, allowing for only part of the activity to be easily completed with limited time.  We are available to offer assistance as you implement the Education for Sustainability Starter Kit.

Suggested Workshop Formats and Activities

EFS Starter Kit

Education for Sustainability Guide 

Healthy Neighborhoods/Healthy Kids Guide

Module 1:  What is Education for Sustainability

This introductory module aims to familiarize participants with a basic understanding of sustainability and Education for Sustainability.

Module 2:  Education for Sustainability Strategies

The goal of this module is to provide participants with an introduction to some strategies, tools, and promising practices of Education for Sustainability.

Module 3: Education for Sustainability Application

The goal of this module is to provide an overview of Shelburne Farms’ Sustainable Schools Project’s approach to school-wide EFS implementation, and our curriculum design process.  This module also provides a tool for assessing existing possibilities.