This week on Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio we’re looking at environmental workshops for young people.
Top 10 Benefits of Environmental Education
- Imagination and enthusiasm are heightened – Environmental Education is hands-on, interactive learning that sparks the imagination and unlocks creativity. When it’s integrated into the curriculum, students are more enthusiastic and engaged in learning, which raises student achievement in core academic areas.
- Learning transcends the classroom – Not only does EE offer opportunities for experiential learning outside of the classroom, it enables students to make connections and apply their learning in the real world.
- Critical and creative thinking skills are enhanced – EE encourages students to research, investigate how and why things happen, and make their own decisions about complex environmental issues, which develops and enhances critical and creative thinking skills.
- Tolerance and understanding are supported – EE encourages students to investigate varying sides of issues to understand the full picture. It promotes tolerance of different points of view and different cultures.
- State and national learning standards are met for multiple subjects – By incorporating EE practices into the curriculum, teachers can integrate science, math, language arts, history, and more into one rich lesson or activity. Taking a class outside or bringing nature indoors provides an excellent backdrop or context for learning.
- Biophobia and nature deficit disorder decline – By exposing students to nature and allowing them to learn and play outside, EE fosters sensitivity, appreciation, and respect for the environment.
- Healthy lifestyles are encouraged – EE gets students outside and active, and helps address some of the health issues we are seeing in children today, such as obesity. Good nutrition is often emphasized through EE and stress is reduced due to increased time spent in nature.
- Communities are strengthened – EE promotes a sense of place and connection through community involvement. When students decide to learn more or take action to improve their environment, they reach out to help bring the community together.
- Responsible action is taken to better the environment – EE helps students understand how their decisions and actions affect the environment, and builds knowledge and skills necessary to address complex environmental issues.
- Students and teachers are empowered – EE promotes active learning, citizenship, and student leadership. It empowers youth to share their voice and make a difference at their school and in their communities. EE helps teachers build their own environmental knowledge and teaching skills.
For more information:
www.rediscoverycentre.ie
