Environmental Education Standards for Kansas - Revised

Here are the official position statements of national education professional associations:

ASCD: Because people in developing nations are rapidly consuming Earth's natural resources and because the world population is increasing rapidly, human beings must take individual and social responsibility for the environment. Schools should provide environmental education.

NSTA strongly supports environmental education as a way to instill environmental literacy in our nation's pre-K-16 students. It should be a part of the school curriculum because student knowledge of environmental concepts establishes a foundation for their future understandings and actions as citizens. Central to environmental literacy is the ability of students to master critical-thinking skills that will prepare them to evaluate issues and make informed decisions regarding stewardship of the planet. The environment also offers a relevant context for the learning and integration of core content knowledge, making it an essential component of a comprehensive science education program.

NCSS: National Council for the Social Studies believes that an effective social studies program must include global and international education. Global and international education are important because the day-to-day lives of average citizens around the world are influenced by burgeoning international connections… A global perspective is attentive to the interconnectedness of the human and natural environment and the interrelated nature of events, problems or ideas. An important characteristic of global studies is the analysis or problems, issues, or ideas from a perspective that deals with the nature of change and interdependence.

Education Opportunities at the WATER Center

• Field Trips - the WATER Center will customize a field trip for your class. Our focus is on water and the science, art, language, history, and mathmatics that are used to appreciate this incredible resource.

• Discovery Boxes - six resource trunks which can travel to your classroom for up to two weeks.  The trunks include curriculum guides, hand's-on materials, investigation tool, story books and more.

• Family Adventure Packs - this resource is available for use at the WATER Center and works well from classrooms, home schools, or scout groups with less then ten individuals.

Links to Activities

Want to teach your students more about the environment? Here is a listing of links for you to gather material for your class!

• EnviroScape Learning Tool
  EnviroScape Tools are available for checkout from the Sedgwick County Environmental Resources Office at (316) 729-0331.
• EPA: Games and Classroom Resources
• Math and Science Activities from WSU
• Student Water Survey Page
• Tox Town Interactive

Want to Get Your Students Involved in River Sampling?

• Kansas StreamLink
• Natural Resource Leadership Camp

Water Education Programs in Other States

Here are what other states are doing in water education:

• Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
• Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
• Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
• Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

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