Educating for Earth’s Future

Math, History, Language Arts, and Sciences are the basic subjects taught in schools worldwide. These subjects are imperative to giving students the knowledge to succeed in the future, but what about the learning that is imperative to our planet's future? Environmental education and service give students opportunities to become engaged, knowledgeable, and interested in real-world issues.

"Right now, in the second decade of the 21st century, preparing our students to be good environmental citizens is some of the most important work any of us can do. It is for our children, and our children's children, and generations yet to come." - US Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Sep 2010

One leading international school in Shanghai is ensuring that its students get the necessary encouragement and skills to make the world a better place from a young age. At the Western International School of Shanghai, we believe that doing and experiencing is a critical component of meaningful learning. As IB learners, we strive to be caring members of the community with a personal commitment to make a positive difference in others' lives and the world through service.

At the Western international school of Shanghai, environmental education starts with the youngest learners. The ideas of responsibility and sustainability are instilled through projects created as part of our IB Units of Inquiry. For example, Pre-K students work with materials that encourage students to look at these materials differently and recycle what they can.

 Through a curriculum that teaches Early Years students to care for the earth, young students at the Western International School of Shanghai do projects focused on caring, responsibility, and sustainability that fosters each child's awareness of their role in nature. Projects such as planting trees on campus, caring for plants, growing a garden, and building a worm farm have given students a fun way to learn these important skills.

As students grow older, their passion for making a difference grows alongside their knowledge of making a difference. Students in Grades 2-5 at the Western International School of Shanghai can join a student-driven club called Action Cubs. Action Cubs identify problems and needs within the school, develop solutions, propose their solutions to school leaders, and make changes in our community.

Acting as change-makers, students identify problems and needs and come up with ways to make the necessary changes happen. One of the key areas of change that students focus on is environmental change needed in the school. The Environmental Committee of Action Cubs has worked to remove single-use plastics from the school canteen and cafes and to educate other students and staff on waste in the classroom.

Students in IBMYP (aged 11-16) are introduced to the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a service framework. Students choose a sustainable goal and find a need in the community that aligns with the goal, and then create a project to address it. Students often focus on the earth and environment through past projects such as tree planting in Inner Mongolia and recycling/upcycling activities for Earth Week.

The oldest students at WISS who have spent years exploring pressing environmental issues and their solutions may choose the IBCP Business & Sustainability pathway. This program real-world career training for students interested in becoming environmentally responsible business leaders. These students take courses focusing on sustainability and topics such as climate change, sustainable tourism, corporate social responsibility, and environmental ethics.

Through environmental education and growing a passion for green initiatives, the next generation can lead the charge in making the world a better place.