By: Ericka Nimbley
Throughout my high school experience, I had the privilege of being a part of the Academy of Environmental Science. Throughout my four years of high school, I was immersed in the field of environmental science and studies, which has played a leading role in the student that I am today. I have dedicated this blog post to lessons that can be applied to a variety of subjects.
Language Arts: The environment is a critical component of language arts; it influences the way we write and the way we view things. Just like every other high school student, I had to read Romeo and Juliet and the Great Gatsby. My experience became unique when I was handed Braiding Sweetgrass and The Bees. We would write essays on the underlying themes in Of Mice and Men in addition to creating presentations on Rachel Carson. We read endless pieces by Henry David Thoreau and visualized our own Waldon Ponds as we took the classroom outside.
History: Without history, humans understanding of the environment would not exist. Heading into high school as a freshman, I questioned how history classes could intertwine with the environment. My freshman-year history class was focused on world history and the impacts of countries on the environment. It was in this class I learned about the impacts of war on the environment, an issue that I had never given much thought to before. We examined the environmental impacts of World War trenches, and the tree rings throughout different parts of the world. My sophomore and junior years focused on American history and the changes in the American landscape throughout the colonization of the United States. We examined the relations of Native Americans with their land in the 17th century to the institution of the United State’s first Earth Day in 1970. We presented projects on environmental legislation created by the United States and the benefits they have created for the nation today.
Engineering: One of my favorite classes throughout high school was my environmental engineering class in my junior year. We had several large-scale projects, including creating a sustainable everyday product through 3-D printing, constructing an entire sustainable city, and creating a demo sustainable tiny home. Constructing a sustainable city was my favorite class throughout high school; we had to discuss the logistics of water usage, walkability, housing, recreation, and more.
Art: I believe art is an accumulation of all subjects. Poetry in English class, reviewing historical pieces in History class, and 3-D printing in Engineering are all components of art. Art allows you to depict the environment through your own lens. Taking a picture of your favorite tree, painting your childhood home, and pressing flowers are all artistic opportunities available.
Sustainable Lehigh Valley demonstrates the ability to incorporate the environment into any field of an individual’s interest. Throughout the years, we have published essays, artwork, poems, etc., on people’s own perspectives of the environment and sustainability. Change starts with education; the future of the planet relies on the subjects that students are learning in school today.
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