Promoting energy conservation in secondary schools : a cross-curricular environmental pack

Abstract

Environmental education has always been identified as an essential tool in order to educate people on how they can adopt a sustainable lifestyle. This study reviews the literature on environmental education and how it developed through the years, with reference to sustainable development issues related to energy. The main aim of this dissertation is to provide teachers in secondary schools with ways on how environmental issues related to energy conservation can be included into the secondary classroom. The pack of activities provided consists of a set of teaching and learning material which integrates environmental education themes with different curriculum subjects taught in secondary schools, through a cross-curricular approach. The set of ten activities devised are mainly based on hands-on activities which help students reflect on their behaviour and lifestyles. It also aims to develop the skills needed to appreciate their environment, thus helping to contribute towards a more sustainable future for present and future generations. The resource pack was distributed for evaluation to ten different teachers, from three different secondary schools. The quality of the activities was subsequently improved according to the teachers’ expectances and feedback.