Ten Strands is leading the Initiative to create a system of support in California that enables all students to have local, standards- and environment-based experiences that enhance their learning inside and outside of the classroom. We partner with more than 20 government, non-government, and other stakeholder organizations to move the Initiative forward, and we seek advice and input from a 30-person advisory body in addition to a wide array of other educators, scientists, and environmental experts.
The environment around us is an engaging way to teach and learn, and when interwoven throughout core subject areas like science, history–social science, English language arts, mathematics, and health, can lead to outcomes that include academic success and increased engagement in learning among students.
Learning through, and about, our local surroundings fosters a sense of connection to community and place. Environmental literacy supports students in acquiring the knowledge and motivation to think critically and act in ways that reflect an understanding of the interrelatedness of human and natural systems.
Our work is focused on a theory of action organized around the goals of equity and cultural relevance, recognizing school districts as a fundamental unit of change—then taking this work to scale.
Our theory of action focuses on:
- Developing a supportive statewide context for environmental literacy
- Ensuring environmental literacy is infused throughout the education system
- Demonstrating, through pilot programs, that any school district can create districtwide environmental literacy programs based on plans that focus on equity of access and cultural relevance for all students
To learn more about what’s been accomplished and projects currently underway, we invite you to read about our work below.
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