Eco-education
Eco-education is an educational approach that teaches learners about the interconnectedness of all living things and encourages sustainable, responsible ways of living in harmony with the Earth, integrating environmental knowledge, values, and sustainable actions across the whole curriculum and school life.
Eco-education builds on environmental education but is broader and more reflective. Eco-education goes beyond single lessons and instead teaches how ecosystems work and how human behaviour affects them. It encourages “systems thinking”, meaning understanding that all parts of life, social, economic, and natural, are connected. Eco-education often involves direct experiences in nature, creative exploration, and critical thinking about how to live sustainably. For example, children might explore the concepts of waste and recycling, discuss where food comes from, or consider energy use in their setting.
This approach aims to change both minds and behaviours. Children learn about ecological limits and sustainable choices. They develop practical skills for low-impact living. Eco-education encourages systems thinking, understanding how actions connect across social, economic, and environmental areas. It supports pupil-led projects and decision-making about the school’s environmental policies. It embeds sustainability into everyday learning, school culture, and community links. Typical settings include all school spaces and local environments. Activities include whole-school audits, curriculum units on sustainability, growing food, reducing waste, and partnerships with environmental groups. The school models sustainable practice and involves pupils in long-term projects.
Key benefits for children include consistent development of pro-environment habits, leadership, and systems thinking. Regular involvement in sustainable projects builds responsibility and resilience. Children learn to plan, monitor, and evaluate actions over time. Eco-education also links wellbeing with care for place and community.
- Lead a school energy or waste audit and implement small changes.
- Create a long-term food-growing project and sell produce at a school stall.
- Develop a pupil-led campaign to reduce single-use plastic in school.
Eco-education is broader than environmental education because it embeds sustainable practice across the whole school and curriculum rather than focusing mainly on discrete lessons about the environment.
For more information, why not try What is Learning Outside the Classroom?
Nottingham Education Network 