Ecology and Environmental and Sustainability Studies
Gery Juleff, sustainability manager and Ecology Teacher, gives an overview of this year’s Ecology program objectives:
Lower and Upper Elementary Ecology
To create learning experiences that allow the student to:
- understand the interdependence between people and nature
- have the knowledge and skills to positively communicate ideas on environmental issues to peers and family, at an appropriate level
- develop skills to enable them to undertake simple research and auditing related to ecology
And, most importantly…
- have a love of nature and feel comfortable in the outdoors.
Our goals are based on the Montessori philosophy. Dr. Montessori herself said, “There must be provision for the child to have contact with Nature, to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony and the beauty in Nature …. so the child may better understand and participate in the marvelous things which civilization creates .”
Modern research supports this approach and informs how we teach Ecology. We’ll spend as much time as possible outside in the vegetable garden, in our own woods, and visiting Marchese Family Farm, our Farm to School program partner. Experience shows that the students love being outside and greatly benefit from it.
We will be following the National Wildlife Federation Eco-schools program this year, focusing on Sustainable Food, Learning About Forests, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Waste and Consumption, and Schoolyard Habitats.
Middle School Environmental and Sustainability Studies
To create learning experiences that allow the student to:
- understand the interdependence between people and nature
- have the knowledge and skills to positively communicate ideas on environmental issues to peers and family
- develop skills to enable them to undertake simple research and auditing related to ecology
- contribute to a more sustainable school in concrete ways
- Develop essential skills, with reference to the IB approach to Teaching and Learning Skills
And, most importantly…
- have a love of nature and feel comfortable in the outdoors.
Modern research supports this approach and informs how we teach Environmental and Sustainability Studies. We’ll spend as much time as possible outside in our vegetable garden and woods, working with the Ridgeview and Sourland Conservancies, and visiting Marchese Family Farm, our Farm to School program partner. Experience shows that the students love being outside and greatly benefit from it.
