What's the Big Idea
Provided by: Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation|Published on: May 2, 2024|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Type: Activity - Classroom
Subjects: Social Studies, Biology
Authors: Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation
Location: Earth
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- These activities encourage students to identify the big ideas of sustainability from a poster, think about them on a deeper level, and apply these ideas to their surroundings.
- Students will complete an indoor activity that involves categorizing things into the various ideas, an outdoor activity where they walk around their neighborhood or school to identify things, and a classroom discussion that reflects on the big ideas of sustainability.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The poster that's embedded in this resource encourages students to take an active role in making their communities more eco-friendly.
- These activities are interactive and include going outside.
Additional Prerequisites
- There is no link for the big idea picture cards or the slideshow, so the teacher must create these items.
- The outdoor activity requires groups of 4-6 students.
- It may be helpful if students already have a basic understanding of sustainability and why it's important.
Differentiation
- For some classes, a walk around campus may be more manageable than a neighborhood walk.
- These activities can accompany a brainstorming session where students consider how they can advocate for increased sustainability within their community.
- These activities can support a lesson on sustainable energy sources, why they're important, and how much they're being utilized around the world.
- These activities can enhance a classroom discussion on the obstacles that keep societies from becoming more sustainable, and how these obstacles can be overcome.
With this resource, students will learn about sustainability within their environment and community. The lesson touches on ideas of equity, balance, and the idea that all parts of a community are connected. Climate justice and climate solutions are not mentioned specifically but can easily be woven into the conversation because many of the concepts and ideas overlap with sustainability. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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