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The Importance of Environmental Literacy

Katherine Kilgore

Arizona State University

12 September 2020
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Literacy is the foundation for all learning to take place. While we live in a diverse world,

coming to a mutual starting point for understanding is not easy. For an educator, the challenge is

personalizing instructions for students that come from a number of sociopolitical and cultural

backgrounds. In this paper we will analyze what literacy is, what disciplinary literacy is, what

environmental literacy is, why literacy is important, what students struggle with literacy and

strategies an educator can utilize in their class to help differentiate instructions to reach

understanding in a wide range of students.

Literacy, in the regard to education and this paper, is a student's ability to read, write,

communicate, and understand the English language. This includes students’ ability to

demonstrate the proper use of syntax, semantics, morphology, and phonology. Now with this age

of technology we are in, there is an added component of being able to use literacy with

technology. For example, a student must be able to use their electronic device to complete

assignments. Another example is that a student must learn how to type or text. Another layer

added to literacy is the literacy in different content areas, this is known as disciplinary literacy.

Some examples of disciplinary literacy would be the ability to read, write, communicate, listen,

and analyze information in math, history, science, English, ect.

While incorporating literacy skills in any content area other than English may seem odd,

it actually plays a huge role in every class. In a mathematics class it is essential for students to

have reading and comprehension skills in order to understand mathematical word problems. In a

history class it is crucial for students to read, and write to build an understanding about the world

we live in. In a science class, literacy is significant in things like writing observations, reading

published articles, critical thinking to find solutions, and help form the world we live in.
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Environmental literacy is a student’s knowledge, skills and field application, that allows

them to make responsible decisions that affect their natural environment and their community

now and in the future (OSU, 2020.) The health of our environment is crucial in sustaining life on

Earth. The world thrives on a healthy ecosystem despite the current state of things. We are in the

midst of a wicked problem that if left unresolved, will be the end of humans among other of

Earth’s species. Therefore there is an importance in helping students develop the skills to

understand Earth’s systems, to take on environmental issues, and to think critically to find

solutions. An environmentally literate student is an individual that has developed these skills, has

a sense of stewardship for their environment and cares enough to be an involved member in their

community.

To achieve literacy in environmental science, it is important for students to have a firm

grasp on linguistics. When a student is lacking in linguistics, sciences becomes a huge obstacle.

It is essential to be able to read, write, and understand graphs, observations, scientific articles and

much more. Students will also have to analyze information they read and determine whether it is

a credible source (Kesty, 2018.) Literacy in environmental science also includes technology. The

internet is a source of so much information in science and it is fundamental that we have literate

students to sift through what is backed by scientific analysis and what is fake and or biased. So

in order to aid in the development of an environmentally literate student it is crucial that students

are proficient in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

All students will be at various levels of literacy development. Everyone learns at a

different pace, so educators must create equity in their classrooms so that all students have an

opportunity to succeed. Students that will have a lower literacy proficiency will be students with

disabilities, migratory students, students in poverty, students surrounded by violence, forgin

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students, students who do not know English or English is their second language, students whose

survival needs are not being met. These are your students who will have trouble finding and

understanding information, have lower self esteem, and lack the motivation in school (literacy,

2020.)

In order for educators to promote literacy in their classrooms it is necessary for them to

build meaningful relationships with their students. Educators must get to know their student in

order to understand where their struggles lie. When an Educator knows their students they can

connect the class materials with the students personal lives. When students understand the

content and feel connected to it, the content can be applied to their lives, they can think critically

about the information given, and they are more likely to remember it.

Educators will have to differentiate their instruction to promote literacy in their

classrooms. Science teachers can use a variety of means to deliver information, this include

videos, text, podcasts, documentaries, etc. Educators should also implement graphic organizers

like KWL charts, venn diagrams, foldables/flippables, and webs. Teachers can include

examples of what a well/badly produced assignment looks like or what reliable sources look like.

Teachers should encourage students to write in the classroom, for science this can be

observations, reflections, summaries, and papers. Visual aids can be utilized to gain a better

understanding, some examples of visual aids in an environmental science class could be a water

table to explain watersheds or pollution, samples of tree cores or earth cores, different plant

species when talking about communities and more. Finding reading level appropriate material

for students who read at a lower grade level, or even finding audio of text will be beneficial to

students. When reading challenging text teachers can go back and explain the text again using

language that is easier to understand. Interactive notebooks have been used for a long time in
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science, it makes note taking more personalized and creative. Educators can also scaffold writing

for students when writing research papers, this will help to encourage students to be independent

writers.

Technology also opens many doors into the worlds of science and literacy. There are

plenty of literacy platforms out there to aid students who are struggling to achieve a proficient

literacy level. One platform that allows you to find articles for specific reading levels is Newsela.

Flipgrid is a video discussion platform, that allows students to have discussions through videos

instead of through text. Digital simulations can help students see complex concepts on a smaller

scale. For example a greenhouse gas simulation could show students what is happening on a

level that is invisible to the eye as well as showing the worst outcomes in a runaway greenhouse

effect. Science teachers can also use microscopes for so many things like looking at stoma or

observing communities in the microcosm. All of these technological examples give to way help

students learn, and to keep them wanting to learn.

Literacy is important throughout all of the content areas. In environmental science, where

the goal is to gain a better understanding of the world's problems and work toward viable

solutions, literacy skills are a crucial tool. It is evident that teachers need to build meaningful

relationships with their students to better differentiate instruction. Teachers can use

manipulatives, visual aids, different types of media and technology to aid their students in

developing literacy in environmental science.

Source cited

The Challenge: Causes of Low Literacy. (n.d.). Retrieved September 12, 2020, from

https://www.literacypittsburgh.org/the-challenge/
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Guidelines for Excellence K–12 Environmental Education. (2019). Retrieved September

12, 2020, from https://cdn.naaee.org/sites/default/files/eepro/products/files/k-12_ee.lr_.pdf

Integrating Literacy Strategies into Science Instruction: AMNH. (n.d.). Retrieved

September 12, 2020, from https://www.amnh.org/learn-teach/curriculum-

collections/integrating-literacy-strategies-into-science-instruction

Kesty, S. (2018, November 21). Supporting Literacy in the Science Classroom. Retrieved

September 12, 2020, from https://www.edutopia.org/article/supporting-literacy-science-

classroom

Oregon Environmental Literacy Program. (n.d.). Retrieved September 12, 2020, from

https://oelp.oregonstate.edu/oelp-plan/what-environmental-literacy

What is literacy? An investigation into definitions of English as a subject and the

relationship between English, literacy and ‘being literate’. (2013, January). Retrieved

September 9, 2020, from https://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/Images/130433-what-

is-literacy-an-investigation-into-definitions-of-english-as-a-subject-and-the-relationship-

between-english-literacy-and-being-literate-.pdf