TEACHING TO THE TEST
A guide to teachers' resources for
New Jersey's Social Studies Standard 6.6

Prepared for The New Jersey Sustainable Schools Network
by Jeffrey Brown, Executive Director, Global Learning, Inc.

New Jersey's Social Studies Standard 6.6 regarding an "historical understanding of economic forces, ideas, and institutions" contains three progress indicators at grades 4, 8 and 11 that link economic growth, environmental preservation and sustainable development.

The resources noted below will help middle and high school teachers prepare students to analyze and evaluate the relationship among these important concepts. This selection is not a complete or comprehensive representation of the growing field of sustainability education, but it is suggestive of the wide variety of sources and resources available to the classroom teacher.

This guide has been prepared as part of Global Learning's commitment to help teachers teach, not only to the test, but also toward a more sustainable future for all of us.

RESOURCES

  1. Community Sustainability

  2. Earth Matters: Studies for Our Global Future

  3. The Environment: Opposing Viewpoints

  4. Feeding a Hungry World: Focus on Rice in Asia and the Pacific

  5. Global Resources: Opposing Viewpoints

  6. Global Warming: Opposing Viewpoints

  7. Going Places, Making Choices: Transportation & The Environment

  8. Growing Greener Cities: Environmental Education Guide

  9. Making Global Connections in the Middle School: Lessons on the Environment, Development & Equity

  10. The Paper Trail: Connecting Economic and Natural Systems

  11. People and the Planet: Lessons for a Sustainable Future

  12. A Sustainable Development Curriculum Framework for World History & Cultures

  13. Sustaining the Future: Activities for Environmental Education in US History

  14. Teacher's Guide to World Resources: Exploring Sustainable Communities

  15. 21st Century Earth: Opposing Viewpoints

  16. Water Resources Education Initiative Poster Series

  17. Where Are the Gardens in the Garden State? Middle School Lessons on Sustainable Agriculture and Farmland Preservation

  18. Why Is There Hunger In Africa? Nature Pleads "Not Guilty"

A. Community Sustainability. Benedict J. Hren & Diane M. Hren. Izaak Walton League of America, 707 Conservation La., Gaithersburg MD 20878. (301) 548-0150. 1996.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  1. Sustainability Starting Point (local & global definitions)

  2. Sustainability Snapshot (brainstorming/webbing)

  3. A Peek at the Past (interviewing elders)

  4. Looking Ahead (visioning)

  5. Monitoring Sustainability (indicators)

  6. Sustainability Service Projects

  7. Information Technology Connections

GRADE LEVEL: secondary

SUGGESTED COURSES: Environmental Education, Sociology, Urban/Community Studies, Local/Global Studies, Civics, Geography

NUMBER OF PAGES: 68

TIME FRAME: 3 weeks

APPROXIMATE PRICE:

COMMENTS: Provides a good overview of the global sustainable community/development movement. Student-centered activities.

Resources

B. Earth Matters: Studies for Our Global Future. Pamela Wasserman, ed. Zero Population Growth, 1400 16th Street, NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20036. (202) 332-2200. 2nd ed. 1998.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Population Dynamics      
Climate Change             
Air Pollution           
Water Resources      
Deforestation        
Food and Hunger      
Waste Disposal           		 Wildlife Endangerment
Energy Issues
Rich and Poor
Population and Economics
The World's Women
Finding Solutions
Resources

GRADE LEVEL: 9-12

SUGGESTED COURSES: social studies, US history, world history/cultures, economics, environmental studies, biology/life sciences, math, language arts, family life education

NUMBER OF PAGES: 207

TIME FRAME: 1 to several periods/activity

APPROXIMATE PRICE: $20

COMMENTS: Thirty-four teacher friendly activities contain student readings, a wide variety of interactive learning strategies, and suggested resources for additional research on the range of topics.

ISBN: 0-945219-15-6

Resources

C. The Environment: Opposing Viewpoints. A.E. Sadler, Ed., Greenhaven Press, Inc., PO Box 289009, San Diego, CA 92198-9009. 1996.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  1. Is There an Environmental Crisis?

  2. How Serious Is Air and Water Pollution?

  3. Is the American Lifestyle Bad for the Environment?

  4. Is Ecological Conservation Bad for the Economy?

  5. How Should the Environment Be Protected?

GRADE LEVEL: 9-12

SUGGESTED COURSES: US history, social studies, environmental studies

NUMBER OF PAGES: 216

TIME FRAME: variable

APPROXIMATE PRICE: $14

COMMENTS: Chapter 5 contains an article by Paul Hawken, "Redesigning Industry for Sustainability Will Protect the Environment," which argues, "businesses will not be able to fulfill their social contract with the environment or society until the system in which they operate undergoes a fundamental change...that brings commerce and governance into alignment with the natural world..." The opposing view by Bennett Karp, a systems engineer in the telecommunications industry, entitled "Sustainable Development is Impracticable," argues "that the measures proposed to achieve sustainability endanger individual liberties and threaten to transform capitalist society into one of government-imposed socialism." As in all of the "opposing viewpoints" series, we recommend the teacher help students identify several perspectives to avoid a false choice between extreme points on any continuum of thought on complex issues.

ISBN: 1-56510-396-3

Resources

D. Feeding a Hungry World: Focus on Rice in Asia and the Pacific. Gary Mukai, Heidi Ballard & Ann Ishimaru. Stanford Program on International & Corss-Cultural Education, Stanford University, 300 Lasuen Street, Stanford CA 94305-5013. (800) 578-1114. 1995.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Unit Introduction
Rice in Asia and the Pacific
The Historical and Cultural Importance of Rice
Population Growth and Rice
Technology and Rice
Biodiversity in Rice Production
Rice Policy and the Stages of Agricultural Development
International Rice Summit

GRADE LEVEL: 7-12

SUGGESTED COURSES: World history/cultures, geography, environmental studies

NUMBER OF PAGES: 189

TIME FRAME: 2-3 periods/lesson

APPROXIMATE PRICE: $65

COMMENTS: The unit's purposes are to introduce students to the diversity of rice culture and rice-based farming systems in Asia and the Pacific, focusing on 6 countries (Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines & Thailand), and to help students develop skills to prepare for the needs of the future global population. Contains rich variety of readings, charts, maps, simulations.

Resources

E. Global Resources: Opposing Viewpoints. Charles P. Cozic, Ed., Greenhaven Press, Inc., PO Box 289009, San Diego, CA 92198-9009. 1998.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  1. Are Global Resources Being Depleted?

  2. What Agriculural Policies Should Be Pursued?

  3. What Energy Sources Should Be Pursued?

  4. How Can Global Resources Be Protected?

GRADE LEVEL: 9-12

SUGGESTED COURSES: World history/cultures/ geography

NUMBER OF PAGES: 189

TIME FRAME: variable

APPROXIMATE PRICE: $14

COMMENTS: The global resources addressed include global oil reserves, food supplies, rainforest destruction, organic farming, livestock agriculture, genetically engineered foods, solar, wind, nuclear and oil power sources, electric vehicles and bikes. The approaches to protecting global resources are limited to the issue of economic growth and behavior of companies. As in all of the "opposing viewpoints" series, we recommend the teacher help students identify several perspectives to avoid a false choice between extreme points on any continuum of thought on complex issues.

ISBN: 1-56510-672-5

Resources

F. Global Warming: Opposing Viewpoints. Tamara L. Roleff, Ed., Greenhaven Press, Inc., PO Box 289009, San Diego, CA 92198-9009. 1997.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  1. Does Global Warming Pose a Serious Threat?

  2. What Causes Global Warming?

  3. What Will Be the Effects of Global Warming?

  4. Should Measures Be Taken to Combat Global Warming?

  5. How Can the Rain Forests Be Preserved?

GRADE LEVEL: 9-12

SUGGESTED COURSES: World history/cultures/ geography, environmental studies. earth science

NUMBER OF PAGES: 192

TIME FRAME: variable

APPROXIMATE PRICE: $14

COMMENTS: In addition to the "what is the problem, its causes, effects, and possible solutions?" treatment in the first four chapters, chapter 5 offers several strategies for preserving the rain forest, including improved international initiatives, political pressure, regulating logging, sustainable development, pharmaceutical discoveries, and ecotourism. This offers a good example of providing students with more than either-or choices on a complex issue.

ISBN: 1-56510-511-7

Resources

G. Going Places, Making Choices: Transportation & The Environment. National 4-H Council, 7100 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. (301) 961-2800. 1999. Also available in electronic format at www.fourhcouncil.edu/yy/GPMC/main.html.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

introduction, resources & reference
Unit 1: cruise through history
Unit 2: natural resources and energy use
Unit 3: sweating over climate change (air pollution & climate change)
Unit 4: land use (leaving our imprint on the earth)
Unit 5: a matter of choice

GRADE LEVEL: 9-12

SUGGESTED COURSES: earth science, environmental studies, US history, geography, social studies, math, language arts

NUMBER OF PAGES: 116

TIME FRAME: 1 hr. to several weeks for projects

APPROXIMATE PRICE: free through David Carrier at 4-H

COMMENTS: These visually attractive, activity-based units are written for use by both clubs and classes. They contain substantive background readings, websites, interpreting timelines and graphics, interviews, community surveys, and culminate in a community service project regarding alternative transportation.

Resources

H. Growing Greener Cities: Environmental Education Guide. American Forests, PO Box 2000, Washington DC 20013, (202) 955-4500, 1994.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  1. What is a tree?

  2. The value of trees and forests

  3. Welcome to the urban forest

  4. Energy, the environment, and you

  5. Grow a greener city

GRADE LEVEL: middle & secondary

SUGGESTED COURSES: environmental education, biology, sociology, US History, urban studies

NUMBER OF PAGES: 60

TIME FRAME: 27-30 periods

APPROXIMATE PRICE: $14

COMMENTS: Contains 13 hands-on activities and is meant as a companion to another publication, Growing Greener Cities: A Tree Planting Handbook ($8). The connections between the environment, energy and personal use are the most relevant sections for Standard 6.6. Can be ordered from their website at http://www.amfor.org.

Resources

I. Making Global Connections in the Middle School: Lessons on the Environment, Development & Equity. William Luderer, Ed., Global Learning, Inc., 1018 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union, NJ 07083. 1994.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  1. Fair Is Fair

  2. Sustainable Development: the Ecosystem Approach

  3. Development Comes of Age

  4. Our Common Future

  5. What's in a Name?

  6. Values and Sustainable Development

  7. How Is Sustainable Development Like a Seed?

  8. Cultural Assumptions and Sustainable Development

  9. Africa and the Industrial Revolution

  10. The Quality of Life and Sustainable Development

  11. Decisions for a "Developing" Country

  12. An Analytical Framework for Sustainable Development

GRADE LEVEL: 6-9

SUGGESTED COURSES: world history/cultures/geography

NUMBER OF PAGES: 87

TIME FRAME: 1-2 periods/lesson

APPROXIMATE PRICE: $15

COMMENTS: These lessons creatively address higher order thinking skills.

ISBN: 0928630-02-1

Resources

J. The Paper Trail: Connecting Economic and Natural Systems. Winifred Armstrong & Margaret Mansfield. American Forum for Global Education, 120 Wall St., NY, NY 10005. (212) 624-1412.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  1. Connecting Human and Natural Systems

  2. Introducing Systems Thinking

  3. Linking Life-Cycle Analysis to "5R's" and to Sustainability (reduce, reuse, recycle, redesign, regenerate)

  4. The Beginning of the School Paper Trail

  5. Once the Paper Leaves the School, Where Does It Go?

  6. Following the Paper Trail: Creating Markets

  7. Following the Paper Trail: Paper Manufacturing

  8. Following the Paper Trail: Forest Management

  9. Global Ecological Impacts of Forestry and Paper

  10. Introduction to Feedback Loops: Exploring the Links Between Systems Thinking and Cause and Effect Cycles

  11. Applying Feedback Loops to the Paper Trail

  12. Looking at the Big Picture: Sharing Concept Maps

  13. Accounting for the Impacts of the Paper Trail: An Introduction to Full Cost Accounting

  14. Applying Systems Thinking to Real Life Stories

  15. Applying Systems Thinking to Our Own Lives: Sharing Responses to the "Big Questions"

  16. From Systems Thinking to Sustainable Communities

  17. How Ecological Economics is Creating New Jobs and Work

  18. Suggested Project

GRADE LEVEL: secondary

SUGGESTED COURSES: Economics, Ecology, Geography, US History

NUMBER OF PAGES: 225

TIME FRAME: 20 periods

APPROXIMATE PRICE: $25

COMMENTS: This comprehensive unit on ecological economics addresses the environment-economics indicators in great depth and breadth. The theoretical frameworks, including systems thinking, are well blended with numerous practical hands-on activities. The choice of paper as the central topic is both interesting and informative because we all use so much of it! The equity pole of sustainability, however, receives only incidental treatment.

ISBN: 0-944675-64-6

Resources

K. People and the Planet: Lessons for a Sustainable Future. Pamela Wasserman. Zero Population Growth, Inc., 1400 16th Street, NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20036. (202) 332-2200. 1996.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Understanding Population Dynamics
People, Resources and the Environment
Issues for the Global Family
You and Your Community

GRADE LEVEL: 5-10

SUGGESTED COURSES: environmental studies, global studies, science, social studies, math, language arts, family life education

NUMBER OF PAGES: 186

TIME FRAME:

APPROXIMATE PRICE: $20

COMMENTS: These 30 hands-on activities contain role-playing simulations, science labs, graph/chart creation and analysis, concept mapping, word problem solving, library research, event planning, debate and reading comprehension. Of special interest to this Pocket Guide is Part 2, which explores the relationship between population and resource consumption trends and the collective impact these trends have on the health of different ecosystems.

ISBN: 0-945219-12-1

Resources

L. A Sustainable Development Curriculum Framework for World History & Cultures. Global Learning, Inc., 1018 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union, NJ 07083. 1994.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  1. Sustainable Development & World History/ Cultures

  2. Philosophy & Student Learning Objectives

  3. Methods for Infusing Sustainable Development

  4. Sample Lessons:
    What's in a Name?
    Values & Sustainable Development
    Introduction to Sustainable Development
    Cultural Assumptions & Sustainable Development
    Africa & the Industrial Revolution
    Worldviews of Development
    The Quality of Life & Sustainable Development
    Decisions for a "Developing" Nation

  5. Analytical Framework for Sustainable Development

  6. Annotated List of Existing Lessons

  7. Sample Course Outlines:
    World History, World Cultures, Global Studies

  8. Resource Lists:
    Audiovisuals, Bibliography,
    Free Publications, Organizations

  9. Social Participation Skills: A Guide to Action

  10. Test Questions

  11. Background Readings

GRADE LEVEL: 9-12

SUGGESTED COURSES: world history/cultures/ geography, global studies

NUMBER OF PAGES: 272

TIME FRAME: 1-3 periods/activity

APPROXIMATE PRICE: $4 shipping & handling

COMMENTS: This overview of sustainable development and educational resources is useful not only for teachers and students, but also for curriculum developers.

ISBN: 0928630-00-5

Resources

M. Sustaining the Future: Activities for Environmental Education in US History. Global Learning, Inc., 1018 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union, NJ 07083. 1995.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  1. Problem Solving: A Generic Model

  2. What Is Sustainable Development? The Chair

  3. How Is Sustainable Development Like a Seed?

  4. Early Encounters: Inevitable Conflict between English Settlers & Native Americans?

  5. The Belief in Self-Sufficiency: Living off the Environment

  6. Choices for Development: Hamilton vs. Jefferson

  7. The Hudson River and the Erie Canal

  8. Slave Spirituals and the American Spirit

  9. How Does War Impact on the Environment?

  10. The Mining Frontier: Boom and Bust

  11. Environmental Impacts of the Transcontinental Railroad

  12. Energy Transitions and US History

  13. Save the Earth! But How? Four Perspectives

  14. The Grapes of Wrath: A Study in Contrasts

  15.  How Do the Preparations for War Impact on the Environment? The Case of Picatinny Arsenal

  16. Contributions of Major Religions/Philosophies to a Universal Environmental Ethic

  17. Nuclear Threat at Home: The Cold War's Lethal Leftovers

  18. Business and the Environment

  19. Save the Earth II! - Researching Environmental Organizations

  20. Model Senate Hearing on Sustainability

GRADE LEVEL: 9-12

SUGGESTED COURSES: US History

NUMBER OF PAGES: 250

TIME FRAME: 1-3 periods/lesson

APPROXIMATE PRICE: $25

COMMENTS: The challenge of an over-crowded curriculum is addressed by the selection of many topics in US History that teachers are likely to teach already. A sustainability perspective is provided by these lessons.

ISBN: 0928630-03-X

Resources

N. Teacher's Guide to World Resources: Exploring Sustainable Communities. Mary Paden, ed. (World Resources Institute). Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., 4050 Westmark Dr., Dubuque IA 52002, 1997.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  1. Change: A Look at Your Community

  2. Vision: What Could Your Community Be?

  3. Major Trends in World Cities

  4. Tales of Two Cities: Case Studies (Jakarta & Detroit)

  5. Principles of Sustainability

  6. Moving Toward Sustainable Communities: Five Case Studies (Portland, OR; Guatemala City; Cali, Colombia & the Bronx; Minneapolis; Chattanooga)

  7. New Visions

GRADE LEVEL: secondary

SUGGESTED COURSES: U.S. History, World History/Cultures, Civics/Government, Geography, Global Studies, Environmental Science, Communication Arts, Math, Modern Issues/Events, Sociology, Urban/Community Studies

NUMBER OF PAGES: 77

TIME FRAME: 7-10 periods

APPROXIMATE PRICE: 

COMMENTS: This data-rich material starts and concludes with students' visioning their own sustainable community, but is supplemented with substantive handouts, transparency masters, enrichment activities, and additional resource suggestions.

ISBN: 0-7872-3648-9

Resources

O. 21st Century Earth: Opposing Viewpoints. Oliver W. Markley & Walter R. McCuan, Eds., Greenhaven Press, Inc., PO Box 289009, San Diego, CA 92198-9009. 1996.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  1. How Will Demographic Trends Affect Humanity?

  2. What Will Be the Impacts of New Technologies?

  3. How Will Trends Affect the Global Ecology?

  4. What Will Be the Future of International Relations?

  5. What Are Projected Trends and Wild Cards?

GRADE LEVEL: 9-12

SUGGESTED COURSES: world history/cultures/ geography, future studies, international relations

NUMBER OF PAGES: 288

TIME FRAME: variable

APPROXIMATE PRICE: $14

COMMENTS: In addition to a variety of topics that relate to sustainability, chapter 3 contains two readings that are explicitly pro and con "sustainable development."

ISBN: 1-56510-414-5

Resources

P. Water Resources Education Initiative Poster Series. U.S. Geological Survey-Branch of Information Services, Box 25286, Denver Federal Center, Denver CO 80225. 888-275-8747.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Available posters:

Water: The Resource That Gets Used & Used & Used for Everything!
How Do We Treat Our Wastewater?
Wetlands: Water, Wildlife, Plants, & People!
Ground Water: The Hidden Resource!
Water Quality: Potential Sources of Pollution
Navigation: Traveling the Water Highway

GRADE LEVEL: sets for K-2, 3-5, 6-8

SUGGESTED COURSES: science, social studies

NUMBER OF PAGES: size = 22"x35"

PRICE: Free

COMMENTS: Drawn in a cartoon format, the reverse sides of the color posters contain educational activities. The black-&-white posters are intended for coloring by children in K-2.

Resources

Q. Where Are the Gardens in the Garden State? Middle School Lessons on Sustainable Agriculture and Farmland Preservation. Loris Chen. Global Learning, Inc., 1018 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union, NJ 07083. 1998.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  1. Where are the people, and why are they there?

  2. Where will the people be?

  3. How dense is dense?

  4. What's a big county?

  5. What's growing in the Garden State?

  6. Where are the farms?

  7. How are soils, bedrock and farms related?

  8. What puts the green in Garden State farming?

  9. Why are farmlands on the edge in New Jersey?

  10. Can agriculture be sustained in New Jersey?

  11. Should state government help preserve farmland?

  12. Can we find common ground?

GRADE LEVEL: 6-9

SUGGESTED COURSES: science, social studies, math, language arts

NUMBER OF PAGES: 86

TIME FRAME:

APPROXIMATE PRICE: $4 shipping & handling

COMMENTS: This unit was developed as an interdisciplinary unit based on study skills for seventh graders. Lessons can also be selected individually.

ISBN: 0928630-04-8

Resources

R. Why Is There Hunger In Africa? Nature Pleads "Not Guilty." Jane Boston & Stephen Commins. Stanford Program on International & Corss-Cultural Education, Stanford University, 300 Lasuen Street, Stanford CA 94305-5013. (800) 578-1114. 1995.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

unit introduction
teacher preparation
orientation activities
     Hunger in a World Full of Food
     Hunger in an African Context: A Case Study
activity one: how does conflict affect hunger?
activity two: hunger and local communities
activity three: hunger and government policies
activity four: what is the relationship between the natural environment
     and hunger?
activity five: how do population growth and hunger relate?
activity six: how do foreign aid and structural adjustment policies
     affect hunger?
closing activity: the web of hunger
references

GRADE LEVEL: 7-12

SUGGESTED COURSES: world history/cultures, geography, environmental studies

NUMBER OF PAGES: 130

TIME FRAME: 10-14 class periods

APPROXIMATE PRICE: $35

COMMENTS: As reflected in the table of contents, this unit affords a sophisticated analysis of the complex issue of hunger in Africa, set in a global context. The pedagogy is based on group work organized around a central question with a variety of primary sources utilized. The materials combine a group project, which reinforces the students' interdependence, and an individual report, which holds students individually accountable.

Resources

 
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