9th Grade Service

Sustainable Living

 

Adah Fitzgerald and Kimberly Lysne

 

Class Page

 

Following our philosophy of forming ongoing, mutually responsible partnerships between school and community, students use service-learning discussions to springboard community action plans that address environmental issues in our area.

 

 

The students examine the relationship of humans to the the natural world through art and literature and identify ways that they can contribute to a sustainable society without sacrificing their own fulfillment. Or in Daniel Quinn's words, the students decide how they can become Leavers. The year begins with examination and creation of nature art in an attempt to understand how students see and value the environment. Students then discuss Daniel Quinn's Ishmael which chronicles the dialogue between a man and his gorilla teacher. The teacher, Ishmael, helps his student, the narrator, understand the long history of the role of humans on Earth from a non-human (literally) perspective. Ishmael is a call to action for everyone, and students develop Ishmael-inspired community action plans. Since Ishmael is not a how-to manual on saving the planet, students have the flexibility to develop ideas that fit within their own prescribed interests or spheres of influence while paying homage to the philosophy described in Ishmael.

 

 

They take ownership of a project that reaches out to the community on topics of sustainable living, such as environmental ethics, education, legislation or preservation. They develop objectives & an action plan, make necessary contacts, organize logistics, and upon completion of their project, reflect on their experience and present what they have learned. Their outreach projects may include maintaining an island habitat, developing and teaching curriculum to lower school students, creating an environmental education website, adopting and maintaining a stretch of highway, initiating a letter-writing campaign, or authoring a book on guidelines for sustainable living. As students involve themselves in strengthening the sustainability of our community lifestyle, they better understand their role and values.

 

Green Website and Podcasts

 

 

 

 

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