Summer Institute for Elementary Grade Levels

Education for Sustainability:
Connecting Children with Nature and Community


We had some technical difficulties with our registration form. If you registered previously and did not hear from us, please send an email to katie@celfeducation.org to confirm we have your reservation.

July 19-21, 2010 at Manhattanville College, Purchase, NY

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: JULY 2nd

The CELF Summer Institute for Elementary Grades gives teachers, librarians and administrators the chance to explore strategies that make sustainability learning real, relevant, engaging, local and fun!

Gain a deeper understanding of the principles of sustainability in grades K-5, and find ways to integrate sustainability education into your own curriculum.

Bring Sustainability Education to Your Classrooms

Participants in CELF’s Summer Institute will learn to:

  • Integrate sustainability content and themes into existing math, social studies, science and ELA curricula, and tie sustainability education to New York State standards
  • Improve teaching and learning through interdisciplinary units and inquiry-based curricula, using the school building and grounds
  • Connect students with nature and the outdoors, including the school ground, the school community, and nearby parks and green spaces
  • Involve students in applying their learning to real situations through positive actions
  • Help students learn to make connections across subject lines by researching, analyzing and solving problems

The Institute will introduce teachers to case studies and curriculum exemplars from schools around the country.

Participants will leave having created a unit makeover to be implemented during the school year,

The CELF Summer Institute for Elementary Grade Levels is offered in collaboration with:

Shelburne Farms

an environmental education center located on a 1,400-acre working farm in Vermont. It is nationally recognized for its work in place-based sustainability and agricultural education.

Manhattanville College School of Education

whose mission is to educate students to become ethically and socially responsible leaders for a global society.


Critical Concepts and Subject Knowledge Covered

  • Interdependence and systems thinking
  • Needs versus wants
  • Connection to and love of place
  • Natural resources and limits
  • Food systems—natural and cultural cycles
  • Social and biological diversity

“CELF's presentation made me ask myself, "Why WOULDN'T we want to refer to issues of sustainability in our instruction?" ... Sustainability education is SO possible to integrate into existing curricula and other efforts. I'm convinced--and on my end, I'll be working with colleagues to explore how to bring life to sustainability education in our district.”

Katonah-Lewisboro School District Administrator

 

Learn About
CELF Outcomes

See exciting curriculum concepts developed by participants in the Summer Institutes»

Read about last year’s Summer Institute

 

Summer Institute flyer—
Elementary School PDF

Summer Institute online registration»

Summer Institute accommodations»

Copyright 2009. Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation. All Rights Reserved. CELF-taught is a Service Mark of CELF.