How Can We Improve Wildlife Habitats? Students conduct research on local and global habitats and the human impact on them. Students take action by propagating native plants for use at home.

Grade 3
How Can We Make a Positive Change in Our Environment? At the end of third grade, students participate in an interdisciplinary unit. They investigate and take action on an environmental issue of their choice, applying the 21st Century skills they have acquired throughout the year: Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creativity.

Grade 4
Students investigate environmental issues through their science curriculum. Topics such as animal adaptations (applied to pollinators), erosion, and energy use are connected to the impact of humans on the Chesapeake Bay, its watershed and the things that live there. The science curriculum includes an environmental action project for each topic.

Grade 5
Within their social studies curriculum, students investigate “How do state and local laws address environmental issues?” Students “promote the common good” by investigating and taking action on local environmental issues such as litter, plastic bags, pet waste or fertilizers. Action may include informing people about a law or issue and how they can help, persuading people to change their behavior, creating items to help people change, or persuading lawmakers to improve a law or create a law.

Grade 5 students also complete water safety lessons in language arts and science that reinforce the in-pool lessons they will get when they participate in the Water ready with Drownproofing water safety program. Using their student Drownproofing handbooks, students read about personal water safety and summarize important information. They also collaborate to create a cold water “quilt” that has drawings to summarize key points.

Grade 6
How Do We Use the Chesapeake Bay Sustainably? Through the ecology of Chesapeake Bay species and restoration projects, students examine the human interaction with the environment including policy, economics, and historical significance in addition to stormwater runoff, the biology of living things, restoration, and pollution. Students participate in a field experience and action projects depending on the project for their school. All projects use water quality and environmental issues affecting living things to investigate the Chesapeake Bay.

Family & Consumer Science students investigate the green movement’s impact on the fashion industry and present research on a chosen topic.

Grade 7
How Can You Make A Difference? Students investigate the impact of human population growth on the availability of natural resources and environmental quality. Students use a Green School Report Card to evaluate their school. Students make personal choices to make positive environmental changes at school and in their community.

Grade 8
How Are Humans Affecting Our Global Environment? Students investigate the causes and effects of environmental change. Students work in cooperative groups to research one of the ways that humans impact the natural change process. Students learn about global issues such as climate change and invasive species.

High School

Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center