Every AACPS kindergarten class engages in the environmental literacy unit “Trees are Terrific.”  The unit incorporates 3 days of lessons with the second day being a one-day field experience at Downs Park in Pasadena, MD.  All schools are scheduled by the Environmental Literacy and Outdoor Education Office. Through engaging, hands-on activities, students investigate the life cycle of a tree and learn about forest ecology. Students participate in tree-planting either at Downs Park or school.

Every AACPS fourth grade class visits Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center in Millersville, MD, for a one-day or overnight field experience as part of their environmental literacy learning. Arlington Echo programs are linked to the science curriculum throughout the school year. Through exciting, hands-on activities, students investigate the human impact on climate, land, water and living things in the Chesapeake Bay in its watershed. They are challenged to put environmental ideals into action. 

The Water Ready Program is a comprehensive aquatic safety program for all fifth grade students in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Students learn personal water safety skills through classroom and pool instruction. Each student receives two and half hours of instruction in the pool by certified aquatic safety instructors. Lessons focus on making good choices around the water. Topics include personal water safety, use of personal flotation devices (PFDs), safe rescues of others, cold water survival techniques, hypothermia and ice safety.  

First graders kick off their school year with nine lessons in their Social Studies/Science block about Monarch butterflies. Students raise monarch caterpillars the classroom, observe their life cycle and learn about Monarch survival strategies. These activities bring the Next Generation Science Standards and environmental literacy standards to life. Students also learn map skills and other social studies content while exploring the epic North American migration of the Monarch butterfly and the impact of human activity on Monarch populations throughout their range. Students contribute to Monarch research and conservation efforts by tagging the adult Monarch butterflies before releasing them. Students also look for flowering plants in the schoolyard, which are an important resource for Monarch butterflies. Students choose from a menu of options to help Monarch butterflies.

Students apply 21st Century Skills that they acquire throughout the year–Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creativity–in a cross-disciplinary unit. As a class, they investigate an environmental issue and take action. Students investigate a variety of environmental issues such energy use or waste. They conduct background research and data collection on the issues and choose one issue to address as a class. Students propose a variety of solutions and evaluate the feasibility of each solution before pursuing one. This unit combines environmental literacy, science, social studies and math standards. Some materials for litter pickup and other projects are available to borrow!