ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

2019 – Present

Environmental Education engages with students in the Chicago Public School system and spreads knowledge about various topics related to the environment, our relationship with it, and sustainability as a whole. The goal is to enlighten students about ways that they can interact with and help our planet.

Our project group recognizes the importance of turning awareness into pro-environmental behavior. Thus, we also aim to provide students with the tools and resources to more easily engage them in sustainable living and to help them become environmental advocates.

We partner with public and charter schools (K-12) through the Neighborhood Schools Program and teach mini-lectures on climate change, sustainability, food security, natural gardening, and permaculture complemented by hands-on activities (e.g., poster-making, indoor and outdoor gardening, blind-taste tests).

This year, we are teaching tailored lessons to the following schools:

Ray School
Gary Comer Youth Center
Woodlawn Charter School
Dulles Elementary School

Project group leader Defne leads an interactive soil activity (2019)

Interactive Activities

Students at Ray Elementary School participated in a bean sprout growing activity. The students measured the plants' growth over time (image left), and they planted their sprouts in the school's garden along with other vegetables.

Environmental Education also led water testing activities, where students tested the pH and other chemical properties of various water bodies in Hyde Park.