During Issue Definition, students learn about an environmental issue by planning and conducting background research and investigations. To structure this work, students focus on a driving question the teacher defines. This “big picture” question sparks curiosity and organizes student inquiry and investigations, which ultimately informs environmental actions. It should be open-ended, relevant to students’ lived experiences, and meet learning objectives.

On the Issue Definition webpage, you will find:

• An overview of the MWEE Element: Issue Definition and classroom connections
• Connection to your place with an overview of how to build local context
• Ideas for how to incorporate MWEE's into your classroom 
• NOAA Environmental Literacy Model planning pages
• An overview of MWEE issue investigation components
• An exploration of local issues in your community
• An audit tool for the Issue Definition element of your MWEE

During Outdoor Field Experiences, students explore their driving question and strengthen their connection to the natural world. Field experiences allow students to interact with their local environment and contribute to learning in ways that traditional classroom or laboratory settings may not.

On the Outdoor Field Experiences webpage, you will find: 

• An overview of the MWEE Element: Outdoor Field Experiences and classroom connections
• Connection to your place with an overview of how to build local context
• Ideas for how to incorporate MWEE's into your classroom 
• NOAA Environmental Literacy Model planning pages
• 10 tips and tricks for going outdoors with students
• An audit tool for the Outdoor Field Experiences element of your MWEE

During Synthesis and Conclusions, students reflect on each experience and investigation in relation to the issue and share their claims and conclusions with each other. Educators should plan for this to occur regularly throughout the MWEE because this learning and frequent reflection provide the foundation for developing claims and environmental action that address the driving question and connect to the environmental issue.

On the Synthesis and Conclusions webpage, you will find: 

• An overview of the MWEE Element: Synthesis and Conclusions, along with a classroom connection
• Ideas for how to incorporate MWEE's into your classroom 
• An audit tool for the Synthesis and Conclusions element of your MWEE

During the Environmental Action Project process, students identify solutions and a project directly addressing the issue within their school, neighborhood, or community. Through participation in an environmental action project, students understand that they personally have the power to bring about change by taking action to address environmental issues at the personal, community, or societal level. 

On the Environmental Action Projects webpage, you will find:

• An overview of the MWEE Element: Environmental Action Projects and classroom connections
• Connection to your place with an overview of how to build local context
• Ideas for how to incorporate MWEE's into your classroom 
• NOAA Environmental Literacy Model planning pages
• An audit tool for the Environmental Action Project element of your MWEE
• An overview of conducting a Groundswell Environmental Action Project in your school or community

In the teacher facilitation supporting practice, teachers balance facilitation, direct instruction, and coaching roles to create a student-centered learning experience where the essential elements of the MWEE come together. This supporting practice can be enhanced through collaboration with local community partners.

The MWEE is an educational framework that helps teachers meet their learning objectives in an engaging way as a built-in part of the curriculum, not as "extra" added-on lessons. To support learning integration, use the curriculum anchor to find lessons that meet your curriculum needs. 

A sustained MWEE experience takes time and is incorporated into a unit or multiple units throughout the school year. MWEEs also take effort to establish, so it is important to both celebrate your success and create a plan to ensure it continues into the future. A news blast can be sent out about your MWEE success, and students can deliver powerful testimonials about their MWEE during a student showcase or at school board meetings.

MWEEs use the local environment and community as a context for learning relevant to students’ lives. Situating the MWEE within local contexts promotes learning that is rooted in the unique culture, history, environment, economy, literature, and art of students’ schools, neighborhoods, or communities. To establish local context, identify environmental issues that are locally relevant to your students as the base for developing your MWEE. 

Designed to build a solid understanding of watersheds and nonpoint source pollution, the Communities for Clean Water lesson series covers the following topics: introduction to watersheds and water pollution, managing excess sediment, managing pathogens, and managing excess nutrients.

Groundswell partnered with WGVU and the GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute to create this series of educational videos and lesson plans about nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source pollution is one of the biggest threats to healthy lakes, streams, and rivers.

Designed to provide students with a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) centered on the Great Lakes Watershed, the Creating Meaningful Outdoor Experiences Unit guides students through the process of implementing a stewardship project within their community with an emphasis on their role in the Great Lakes Ecosystem.

Lessons were designed for students in fifth grade through high school. This unit addresses Michigan K-12 Science Standards and Michigan K-12 Social Studies Standards. Place-based examples of these standards will be supplemented with Great Lakes Literacy Principles and an emphasis on the four major focus areas of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan.

This River Rewilding Collection contains a set of units that highlight the social and economic, historic, and biological impacts of rewilding the Grand River through the Grand River Revitalization Effort. Unit 1: Grand River Restoration and Revitalization Project, Unit 2: Advanced Water Quality, and Unit 3: Grand River Social and Economic Impacts immerse students in place-based activities of the Grand River region.