Environmental Education/Air Quality Education for Elementary, Middle and High School Audiences

1. Environmental Education/Air Quality Education for Elementary, Middle and High School Audiences Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE) 2610 Claflin Road Manhattan, KS 66502 Laura Downey (785)532-3322 ldowney@kacee.org Shari L. Wilson (913)287-6879 swilson@kacee.org

2. What is Environmental Education/Air Quality Education? • NOT environmental advocacy —rather EE promotes a full understanding of environmental issues through the education process • a process directed at creating awareness and understanding of environmental issues, leading to responsible and informed individual and group actions. • Heavy emphasis on using the environment as a context to learn critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills • Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education available at www.naaee.org

3. Support for Environmental Education… In Kansas, 94% of those surveyed believe it is important to teach EE in schools (KDHE Survey of General Public, 1998). 95% of adults and 96% of parents in the US support Environmental Education being taught in schools(National Report Card on Environmental Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviors, 2001).

4. Who We Are…KACEE Membership KACEE was established in 1969 as a public/privatepartnership with currently more than 200 organizational members and an additional 300+ individual members. • Business & Industry • Organizations • Federal, State, & Local Agencies • Colleges & Universities • Schools & School Districts

5. What We Do…KACEE Activities • Environmental Education Workshops • Facilitator Training • Water Festivals • KS Environmental Education Conference • Networking & Partnerships • Special Programs • Ongoing Membership Communications • Online EE Community www.kacee.org

6. Sample Activity • Project Learning Tree-Air Quality Viewpoints On the Line (sample activity)

7. What to Do With Schools—EE/Air Quality Possibilities • Conduct hands-on activities with classrooms • Help create and support “Air Quality Monitoring Teams” • Help to host/organize Teacher Workshops on EE/Air Quality • Work with School-Based Green Teams • Impact Greenspace/Tree Planting Projects

8. Teacher WorkshopSample Agenda • The Idea Pool (Project WET, p. 7) Air Quality-Pre-Assessment of participant’s knowledge on air/air quality • What Is Air? Exploring the Properties of Air (EPA Materials), Inflate a Teacher, Cup in Water, Balancing Act • “Finding Sources of Air Pollution in Our Community” (EPA, p. 115), “Invent an Air Monitor” (EPA, p. 105) and “Particulate Collectors”, design and place • What are the Risks of Air Pollution? (PLT Secondary Risk Module and Air Quality Issues, Understanding Probability) • Minimizing Risks: The Role of Plants (PLT Air Plants Activity) • Science Pioneers Overview and review of Ozone Protocol, Lichen and Milkweed Field trip from http://pathfinderscience.net • Indoor Air Quality (PLT Secondary Module on Risk-Radon) • Air Quality Valueson the Line (PLT Activity and wrap-up)

9. School Projects • Kansas Green Schools—Coming Soon!! (Funding through the Bureau of Air and Radiation) • Tools and resources for combining school greening activities and education • Small grant opportunities for schools • Air Quality Monitoring Teams • collect ongoing air quality data • use http://pathfinderscience.net protocols

10. Community Projects • Greenspace/Tree Planting Projects • work with schools, scouts, etc. • create more community greenspace • plant trees

11. Potential Partners/Resources • Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (www.kacee.org) • Local Health Departments • Pathfinder Science: http://pathfinderscience.net • EPA Resources: http://www.epa.gov/teachers/curric-air.htm

12. Discussion In what ways could/should businesses, industries, local governments, community leaders and environmental consultants be involved in environmental/air quality education and outreach? How can KACEE support that involvement?