Illinois EPA's+Environmental+Pathways+(Bree+Mobley)

Module Review: Illinois EPA’s Environmental Pathways

1. What organization developed the curriculum module you are evaluating? The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency created this environmental curriculum. It is provided as an educational tool for public school teachers to use.

2. What is the mission of the organization? The purpose of the IEPA is to safeguard environmental quality, consistent with the social and economic needs of the State, so as to protect health, welfare, property, and the quality of life.

3. What is the educational mission and philosophy of the organization? The IEPA has provided Educators’ Tools to help explain why protecting the environment is important.

4. What does the curriculum module aim to teach? In other words: what are the learning outcomes supposed to be? Environmental Pathways: Youth Investigating Pollution Issues in Illinois is specifically designed for 5th and 6th graders. There are material packets that include a teacher’s guide, posters for display in the classroom, and information on the statewide poster and poetry/prose exhibition that are free to the public and can be accessed by any educator. The student packet is designed to help develop critical thinking skills and encourage students to think constructively about environmental issues.

5. Do you think the curriculum is appropriately designed to produce the intended learning outcomes? I think the curriculum would be a good addition to a public school classroom. I think it targets the right audience, 5th and 6th graders are old enough to begin influencing their parents and controlling their own choices. By using visual aids and engaging students in a statewide exhibition, this can inspire passion in young students.

6. Does this curriculum teach the kind of literacies the EcoEd Research Group advocates? Yes, this curriculum does parallel EcoEd’s goals. By creaing innovative ways for students to become engaged in the protection of the environment can affect the way they live out the rest of their lives.

7. What could be layered into this curriculum so that it addresses more of the learning outcomes that the EcoEd Group advocates? I think that making this program a mandatory aspect of 5th and 6th grade would make it a more effective tool. By making it optional, it just puts more effort of that of the teachers. And thus creating a disadvantage for students who are in classrooms with teachers who are not aware of environment concerns