|
"Lessons from the Land: Public Policy and Decision-making in
Southeast Michigan "
High school curriculum and teacher
education for science and social studies educators
"Lessons from the Land" is a high school education
program on land use planning, public policy, environmental quality,
and the future of southeast Michigan. The project provides high
school social studies and science teachers with interdisciplinary
curriculum and
professional
development to support rigorous instruction on land
use trends, water quality, public policy, and local government.
Program highlights: 2005-present | Lessons
from the Land home page |
2005:
The Washtenaw
County Department of Planning and Environment
provides seed funding for Creative Change to develop the "Lessons
from the Land" curriculum. The curriculum is based on
the County's Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and focuses on strategies
to promote a sustainable future.
|
January, 2006: Pilot teacher workshop
Creative Change receives a $15,000
grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fund
professional development and clasroom piloting for 2006.
Creative Change provided professional development to teachers
from six Washtenaw County districts. The workshop emphasized
content knowledge about local land use trends, and prepared
teachers to use the "Lessons
from the Land" curriculum. Teachers modeled activities
to use in the classroom. |
|
March-May
2006: Classroom piloting
After attending the January workshop,
the teachers piloted the "Lessons in the Land"
curriculum in civics, economics, and science courses. Download
sample lessons.
May 16,
2006: Youth Leadership Forum
Students from across the region gathered
on Tuesday, May 16th to develop an action agenda and ‘next
steps’ about the land use issues most affecting
them. Learn more about the Youth
Land Use Agenda, which focuses on redevelopment and
public transportation. Top
of page
- |
|
Fall 2006-2007:
New grants support addition of science lessons
Creative Change receives grants from
the Ann
Arbor Area Community Foundation and the James
A. and Faith Knight Foundation to support expansion of the
curriculum to science teachers. With this support, Creative Change
adds new lessons on land use and water quality, and provides a
winter 2007 workshop in partnership with the Washtenaw
Intermediate School District.
Summer-Fall 2007: Regional Expansion
A grant from the Community
Foundation for Southeast Michigan (awarded to Washtenaw County)
funds expansion of the program across the region through 2007.
The curriculum is revamped to have a regional focus, and a workshop
is held in at the Wayne
County Regional Educational Service Agency. By the fall, the
program is in 30 classrooms across the region.
2008: Institutionalizing the program
Creative Change is now working with the Washtenaw Intermediate
School District and other regional administrators to establish
Lessons from the Land as a stand-alone course.
|
