This resource is designed for general educational use. The lesson plans, worksheets, and resources section are available as tools to help educators teach about sustainability and sustainable design.

All lesson plans and worksheets can be easily adapted to most grades and age groups. Collectively, worksheets, lesson plans, and resources help to reinforce the learning experienced through the East Clayton Virtual Walking Tour or the East Clayton Drainage Simulator. These resources also encourage students to expand their knowledge about sustainability and sustainable design through further exploration of global case studies and sustainability networks. Please note that the worksheets and lesson plans are not designed to be used together however they do compliment one another.

What is sustainability?

Living today – as if we mean to stay.

Why does it matter?

It can be summed up as connections. We can do nothing and hope for the best. We can go on living and ignoring the sustainable options in front of us every day. We can close our eyes to some of the negative effects the world is experiencing and the changing face of our globe or we can take action by making sustainable choices. We can choose to live in a way that does the least damage to the earth and preserve those connections. If we turn a blind eye to what is happening we eventually create new problems for ourselves and for the rest of the planet too.

How about an example?

As a culture, we are in love with our cars. We use them all the time to go everywhere, even when we could travel a different way. All those emissions are causing problems - for us, for our lungs, for the atmosphere and for the planet. So, despite the positive reasons why we choose to drive eventually show up as new problems for us – directly and indirectly.

What's our role?

Some people are choosing more sustainable actions because it helps the Earth. But, sometimes we all need a little boost to get started or keep going. That is why having information and guidelines can help us do the right things. But, even with help, the choices to sustainability are in our hands. We can contribute through daily individual choices and through community groups to help define and protect what matters to our communities today and tomorrow.