A curriculum project has grown out of a desire to bring these ideas and the tremendous examples set by the documentary’s subjects to the classroom, where they can inspire new generations of thinkers and doers.

The curriculum is in its final stages of preparation and testing. We anticipate release later on in the year through our website and other distributors.

Language and Themes
For the purposes of the curriculum, the use of the word “urban” in many unit titles and language, does not refer to just city centers, but to the greater metropolitan areas-cities, suburbs and exurbs alike-where 80 percent of Americans now live. Throughout the curriculum, there is a focus on connecting the 20 themes presented. This is to say that none of these topics exist in a vacuum, and none can be tackled without affecting or seeking to deal with any of the others. This multi-disciplinary approach to sustainability education is what will enable teachers to truly instruct their students about the web of life in which humans exist and how that web must be repaired. The key to sustainability is not only understanding the importance of the pieces, but fully comprehending the effects that each topic has on the others. Though information is presented in discrete themes, the connections between these issues is constantly being reinforced and explored.

Topics and Standards
The units presented in this curriculum will correspond to national standards in learning for science and social studies, as outlined by the NSTA and NCSS. In addition to the science and social studies standards addressed throughout the curriculum, there will also be a wide variety of cross-curricular activities, with a focus on literature, math and art tie-ins. Two separate indexes will help teachers evaluate activities: Teachers can look for an activity by topic, and see which standards it satisfies; or teachers can seek out the standards first, to find activities that will satisfy them. See the Curriculum Topic Outline for a more detailed look at the topics that will be covered.

Curriculum Overview and Use
The Edens Lost & Found curriculum will be approximately 200 to 250 pages in length and initially geared toward a high school audience (grades 9 through 12). The intention is to upgrade the material for undergraduate and community use. It will be divided into the following 20 topics (see below), all of which are discussed in the Edens Lost & Found book and documentary series. Each topic will be covered in approximately 10-15 pages, depending on the subject matter. Extension activities and reproducibles are provided and can be used by teachers year after year.

Activity Lengths and Ranges
Activity lengths will be varied and flexible. This will allow teachers to pick and choose activities that correspond not only to the topic being covered and standards needing to be met, but also to work with the time they have available. Some activities can be done in as little as 20 minutes, while other, lengthier extension activities may carry on over several weeks. Many activities are done in the classroom, while others take students and teachers beyond their classroom and into their communities where they can see the change that their learning can affect.

Activities range from reading comprehension and graph interpretation to in-class experiments and topical debates. Teachers do not need to be environmental experts to use the curriculum and can choose to what extent they wish to incorporate these lessons into their yearly plan. The completed curriculum will also include objectives and time needed for each activity, as well as standards satisfied. There is enough here for a year’s worth of educational activities-for someone teaching an environmental education class, for example-or teachers can simply pick and choose what works for them and the time they have available to them. It is also important to note that a school that has this curriculum on hand can offer activities to social studies and language arts teachers who might be looking to expand their repertoire. Our team of teacher consultants are currently reviewing all materials and trying them out in classroom settings. Their feedback is one of the many keys to the success of the Edens Lost & Found curriculum.