Energy and Environment Issues in the Classroom

September 23, 2008

Weekly Reader and General Motors have teamed up to distribute a middle school classroom curriculum, "The Energy Highway - Solutions Ahead." The lessons aim to help students understand the energy challenges that face our society today, along with some potential solutions. And to commemorate GM's 100th anniversary, the curriculum features a poster that explores noteworthy technologies of the last century as well as those of the future.

Teachers get a guide with reproducible student activities, a classroom poster, and booklets for students and parents. The lesson plans and supplemental information can also be downloaded at gm.com/education.

As interest in environmental education grows, General Motors and Weekly Reader thought it was important to educate students on alternative fuel sources and the impact energy usage has on the environment. Close to two-thirds of teachers who used this curriculum last year reported an increase in student knowledge about energy issues.

There are teacher guides, booklets, and posters available for download at GM's site. And since it's all available for free, even schools with tight budgets can easily integrate the information into their curriculum (as can homeschoolers). There are a variety of lessons from K-12, too.

GM and Weekly Reader are encouraging students to be a part of the effort to find alternative energy solutions for future generations. If your current curriculum doesn't address environmental education, programs like this can be a helpful supplement. Talk to your teachers or administrators about introducing it.

By Becky Scott
Contributing Editor