Butterfly mural from Frog Town, Los Angeles
Sparking Environmental Interest

Sparking Environmental Interest

To help meet the educational needs of students in Title I schools, we at UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (IoES) designed the GreenSparks program which provides engaging Next Generation Science Standard (NGSS) environmental lesson plans and high-production quality videos to schools in need.  Our mission is to introduce exciting and pertinent environment and sustainability concepts to students, topics likely not prioritized in Title I schools, while simultaneously supplementing teachers’ curricula.

We are able to field test lesson ideas with local, underserved Title I Los Angeles high schools thanks to a charitable contribution from Boeing. With their support, we are able to generate teaching modules and accompanying videos that address a wide range of environmental themes, including climate change, clean meat, water consumption, habitat restoration, environmental justice, and more.

After guest teaching and field-testing at local schools, we will distribute free lesson plans and accompanying videos through our partner educational organizations nationwide and host the modules on our website for anybody’s benefit. Teachers, get ready!

The GreenShorts film festival was an exciting component of the GreenSparks program in which students were encouraged to exercise their creative muscles and make short films reflecting their environmental interests.

The GreenSparks initiative raises awareness and creates hope for a more green future by enthralling today’s kids about the wonders of the environment.

Learn Science

Educational Videos

Curriculum Modules on Environmental Science

After field-testing various topics live in-class, our GreenSparks curricula are well on their way!  We are drafting environmental curricula aligned with national Next Generation Science Standards. Modules will include NGSS-aligned lesson plans and accompanying short videos to inform and engage classrooms across the country.

All material will be distributed to the National Science Teachers Association, TenStrands, and the Los Angeles Unified School District. Additionally it will be housed on our website, free and accessible to anyone with internet access.

Downloadable lesson plans include:

  • Climate Acceleration
  • Environmental Justice
  • Habitat Restoration
  • Water Usage

Lesson Plans

GreenShorts