State+Curriculum


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=Environmental Education in North Carolina Public Schools=


 * What is this?**

The North Carolina State Board of Education has developed a mandatory curriculum for all students that includes several years of environmental science education. By the time students graduate from high school, they will have been exposed to courses covering earth science, animal science, and plant sciences.


 * Why is this important?**

Through environmental science education, students gain perspective on how their choices may affect their environment and how their environment will impact their lives.

** The Triangle is home to many museums. Here are a few that have exhibits focusing on the environment. ||
 * // Museums in the Triangle Area //
 * // Museums in the Triangle Area //
 * **NC Museum of Natural Science** (Raleigh): Featuring the Living Conservatory and Arthropod Zoo
 * **Museum of Life and Science** (Durham)**:** Featuring the Butterfly House and Wetlands Exhibit
 * **NC Botanical Garden** (Chapel Hill): Featuring the Conservation Garden and Herbarium
 * **Duke Lemur Center** (Durham): Home to lemurs, lorises, and bushbabies
 * **Carolina Tiger Rescue** (Pittsboro): Formally the Carnivore Preservation Trust, home to tigers, ocelots, bobcats, and more


 * What does this measure show?**

The State Board of Education views environmental education as an important component to a well rounded person and has included an environmental science component in every year of the K-12 curriculum (Table 1).

**Table 1.** Environmental science in NC Public Schools. Source: NC State Board of Education

The environmental science curriculum for elementary schools (grades K-5) teaches increased awareness of the student’s surroundings and encourages students to make choices that will have a low impact on the environment. During elementary school, students across the state will be exposed to lessons on animals, plants, soils, weather and climate, the solar system, ecosystems, and how humans interact with and affect these systems. Beginning in kindergarden, students are taught how humans can care for animals, the importance of habitat to an animals survival, and the connection between humans and animals. Throughout the elemenatary school years teachers are expected to emphasize the way our choices and behavior can have an impact on the environment and the plants and animals around us. Environmental studies for elementary school children is focused on their own community -- students in the Triangle area will learn about plants, animals, and soils that can be found in their own backyards.

In middle school (grades 6-8) students are exposed to environmental science at a global scale. They learn about oceans, the overlap of ecosystems across large regions, global population dynamics, and other important concepts. By expanding the scope of study to a global level, students learn how their choices will impact not only their community but communities in other parts of the world. A large amount of time is spent teaching students about the water cycle, how to protect water sources, and the consequences of water pollution. In the Triangle, where water quantity and quality is an issue of growing importance, it is crucial to expose children to solutions to the issue when they are young and still developing life-style behaviors and choices.

Every high school (grades 9-12) student in North Carolina is required to take one semester of either Earth or environmental science. In these classes, students study concepts of hydrology, meteorology, the atmosphere, and the cause and effect of natural disasters. By the time Triangle students are preparing to graduate from high school they will understand the science behind the environment. Many high schools offer the option to take Advanced Placement (AP) versions of environmental science that exposes students to environmental science at a collegiate level. By mandating a course in earth or environmental science in high school, the state has ensured that all students will be exposed to the curriculum one last time before entering the job force or higher education. This final exposure may lead some Triangle students to pursue careers or degrees in environmental science or at least understand how their choices will influence their surroundings.


 * Author** Lauren Forbes, NCSU :: 2010 04 29


 * Technical Notes**

Science curriculum and goals were downloaded from the NC State Board of Education website: [[@http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/science/scos/2004/|Standard Course of Study

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**Connecting People with Nature Indicators**
 * //Parks & Nature Recreation//** :: Natural Area Recreation :: Proximity to Parks
 * //Environmental Education//** :: Environmental Education Centers :: Community Colleges :: State Curriculum
 * //Environmental Choices//** :: Green Buildings :: Transportation Choices :: Waste and Recycling Practices