New Perspectives in Science Education
Teens As Environmental Change Agents and Teachers: Young People Develop And Implement Innovative Educational Strategies To Address Issues of Plastics and Environmental Sustainability
Anne Stevenson, University of Minnesota Extension Department of Youth Development/ 4-H (United States)
Abstract
Young people are keenly aware of and deeply concerned about the impacts of plastic pollution. They play a critical role as positive change agents in developing solutions to address urgent environmental challenges. We have authored five levels of research-based curriculum resources for youth in grades K-12 (ages 5-18) and will highlight civic engagement tools and models we use to equip teenagers to turn passion into action for the planet. The 4-H Sustainable Polymers suite of research-based curriculum was authored in a partnership between the National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for Sustainable Polymers and 4-H, the largest youth development organization in the U.S. (All available as free downloads at: 4hpolymers.org). Curricula can be delivered by teen or adult educators in classrooms or informal STEM programs. Topics include reducing consumption and waste, sustainable polymers/bio-based plastics, recycling, and materials science. The author will highlight two of the 4-H Sustainable Polymers curriculum: Confronting the Plastic Crisis and Teen Science Change Agents, a guide for civic engagement around a chosen environmental issue, adaptable for use with all ages. Teens are effective teachers of younger youth and an often untapped resource of educators. We will share our teens-as-teachers model in which teens (ages 12-19) teach younger youth (ages 5-11) in both virtual and in-person educational settings using hands-on learning. Experiential learning methods used in the curriculum have been shown to be effective at building both science content knowledge and civic engagement skills in young people. Our work and curriculum support the UN Sustainable Development Goals 12- Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, and Goal 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. Acknowledgement: This work is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Center for Sustainable Polymers CHE-1901635.
Keywords: environmental sustainability, curriculum design, bioplastics, teens as teachers, plastic pollution
References: [1] C. Ripberger, and L.B. Blalock, From Kickoff to Handoff: Coaching Teens to Tackle STEM Literacy. The Journal of Extension, 53(6), Article 8. 2015. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.53.06.08
