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The Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI) Curriculum

Famed naturalist John Muir captured the vital importance of education about the environment when he said, "Tug on anything at all and you'll find it connected to everything else in the universe." Imagine the possibilities if that understanding began, for students, as early as Kindergarten and continued through high school. With the Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI) Curriculum, that vision is well on the way to becoming a reality.

Field-tested in Kindergarten to 12th grade classrooms from San Diego to California's North Coast, the 85 EEI Curriculum units cover selected academic content standards in both Science and History-Social Science. Each EEI Curriculum unit is designed to teach one or more standards to mastery.

The State Board of Education (SBE) unanimously approved all 85 EEI Curriculum units. With SBE’s stamp of approval, the 85 EEI  curriculum units are now available for use in California's classrooms.

The Teacher’s Editions of the EEI Curriculum are password protected. To obtain the password to open these documents please complete the web form below.

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EEI Curriculum Units

Kindergarten | 1st Grade | 2nd Grade | 3rd Grade | 4th Grade | 5th Grade | 6th Grade | 7th Grade | 8th Grade | 10th Grade | 11th Grade | 12th Grade | Biology | Earth Science

Background Information

Highlights of the EEI Curriculum

• The first environment based curriculum approved by the California State Board of Education.
• Teaches students about their relationship with the environment and how humans interact with natural systems.
• Teaches select California academic standards to mastery.
• Does not place an extra burden on teachers.
• Makes use of, and works well with, adopted California Department of Education instructional materials.
• Includes “Extension and Unit Resources” pages  with  ideas and links to community resources, including environmental education providers, businesses, and/or agencies.

Learning Objectives for the 85 EEI Curriculum Units

Please review the final list of Learning Objectives for all 85 California EEI Curriculum units (PDF) that will be used in EEI Units.

Model Curriculum Plan

The Model Curriculum Plan (PDF, 1 MB) outlines the proposed methodology, scope, and sequence for the EEI Curriculum pursuant to the law’s requirements.

During the development of the Model Curriculum Plan, input was solicited from state agencies, education organizations, business groups, universities, and environmental organizations.

In addition, an Educator Needs Assessment was sent to 10,000 teachers and numerous focus group meetings and discussion sessions were conducted to gather information regarding design elements for the EEI Curriculum. Design alternatives were developed as a result of these meetings.

The results of the Educator Needs Assessment indicated that teachers would require the EEI Curriculum to address grade and discipline-specific standards. In response, the Model Curriculum was designed to fit with teachers' existing lesson plans without increasing instructional content. Each lesson may stand alone or be used in combination with other units. It provides a scope and sequence for teaching the EP&Cs through a learning continuum from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The Model Curriculum Plan was reviewed by State of California environmental organizations, Curriculum and Supplemental Materials Commission liaison, EEI Education Partnership, and educational entities. 

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