Spring News | Curriculum Documentation & Mapping

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EfS Curriculum Documentation and Mapping at Burke’s School

We are in the swing of our first year working with the Burke’s School in San Francisco, CA, an Independent K-8 School for Girls that has taken on Educating for Sustainability for the first time this year.

It is wonderful to be working with Alice Moore again (currently Director of the Lower School and formerly at Marin Country Day School where we worked together with Robert Greene for seven years integrating EfS with DEI) and joyful working with Fran Yang, Director of Curriculum and Innovation for the first time. I have been working with the first cohort of “early adopter” faculty this year who are all members of the curriculum council at Burke’s School. We have been sustainablizing exemplary units so that they can make the results visible, desirable and doable for the next cohort and the rest of the faculty. The showcase is scheduled for late Spring. We are planning for the second cohort now, and will “bake” service learning into the mix next year.

Oxford International Schools Conference

Jaimie recently attended the Oxford International Curriculum Schools Conference as keynote speaker and panel discussion participant.

We're happy to share some feedback from teachers and school leaders:

  • What resonated most with me was the webinar's holistic view of education for sustainable impact. It wasn't just about teaching environmental science or sustainability concepts - it was about cultivating learners who are empowered to be ethical leaders, systems thinkers, and passionate advocates for a more equitable and regenerative future.

  • I used to think sustainability education was just about recycling and conservation, but now I realize it’s about empowering individuals to make holistic, informed choices that benefit both people and the planet. It’s about fostering a mindset of interconnectedness and responsibility towards our environment.

  • I used to think my actions towards sustainability in education will not amount to much in the long run and now I think one small action from my side can cause ripple effects for the coming generations.

  • I used to think that we needed to teach students about the problems happening in nature... now I think that we need to teach them starting from a positive aspect of nature, so they actually realize everything that’s going on and help them develop creativity.

Our Annual Curriculum Design Studio - Attend Online or On Campus

Join us for the popular Intro to Education for Sustainability (EfS) One Day Workshop or a full week of Curriculum Design and Coaching.

Introduction to EfS will immerse participants in systems thinking games and simulations, group discussions about economics and quality of life, and the science of sustainability. Stories and case studies will be shared, we will explore contemporary ideas in EfS and we will envision what is possible when we educate for sustainability.

During the Curriculum Design Studio, we will use backwards design/ Understanding by Design (UbD), to re-orient, innovate, build, and map curricula designed to meet academic standards in addition to EfS standards, performance indicators, and enduring understandings - without additional class time.

Submit Exemplary EfS Curricula for Review and Attend the Summer Design Studio for Free

Are you passionate about Education for Sustainability (EfS) and have exemplary curricula or lesson plans to share? We invite you to submit your curriculum for review to The EfS Collective.

By contributing to the Collective’s EfS Reservoir you help enrich a collection that includes high-quality curriculum units, courses, assessments, performance criteria, and student work samples. In addition, we'll select outstanding submissions to receive an invitation to our Summer Design Studio where you can participate at no cost.

This unique opportunity allows you to collaborate with other educators, refine your educational strategies, and gain deeper insights into sustainability education. Join us in illustrating the transformative impacts of EfS in schools and communities. Help us nurture and expand the reservoir of knowledge that supports educators worldwide in teaching for a sustainable tomorrow. Submit your curriculum for professional review and consideration.

Learning and Sustainability in Dangerous Times

Stephen Sterling’s latest book, Learning and Sustainability in Dangerous Times is a must read for everyone interested in contributing to a sustainable future through education, i.e., by thinking differently, and by thinking about our thinking. The essays are accessible and to the point. Praxis in motion.

The fundamental research question Stephen has been grappling with for decades is, How should-how can-education and learning be re-thought and re-configured to make a significant and central contribution to achieving a more sustainable and just world? Excellent question. Read it to find out.

Solar Paint May be Coming Soon

Cloud Institute partner Darcy Hitchcock recently shared how solar panels may be coming sooner than we think.

Imagine painting your roof or the exterior of your house in paint that can capture solar energy.

”Right now, the solar paint is about eight percent efficient in converting sunlight to energy. (Most solar panels are about 20 percent.) Experts think that solar paint just needs to reach 10 percent to be a viable product, so they’re pretty close!” This is an excellent example of biomimicry!

Your Support Is Appreciated

The Cloud Institute exists to ensure the viability of sustainable communities by leveraging changes in PreK-12 school systems so that we may prepare young people for the shift toward a sustainable future. 

Friends like you make it possible. Your donation gives us the flexibility to create new opportunities for the teachers, students and the communities we serve.