If I spent enough time with the tiniest creature - even a caterpillar- I would never have to prepare a sermon, so full of God is every creature.

Meister Eckhart.

Environmental Studies (formerly Earth Literacy)

tWhen we began doing these workbooks we gave them the title of Earth Literacy, now however, as a result of a further year's work on them, developing and extending the material we have given them the title Environmental Studies. The basic thrust of the material is the same; environmental awareness and care for our Earth home.

What these Environmental Studies Workbooks aim to do is to highlight the connections between everything in life, showing how everything is connected to eveything else and how consequently, there are huge implications for life in the lifestyle choices we make.
Becoming earth literate is so important now at this particular time in our history, as we are faced with a massive global environmental crisis. In our view, we can no longer only consider human needs in our teaching and learning practices.

What is happening to Earth and the environment matters to people as it is impacting on our daily lives. People are suffering from higher food prices, poor local water supplies, ill health etc., and are only too aware that something needs to be done both individually and collectively.

Teaching literacy is an opportunity to, not only teach the rudiments of reading, writing and numeracy, but to also raise awareness of how the lifestyle choices we make affect all of life, both now and for future generations. Hence, these Environmental Studies Workbooks with Lesson Plans and suggestions for how it can be taught as an integral part of Adult Basic Education.

Not only will students learn to read and write but they will be educated on important life issues and that is inclusive learning. This means that through education we are engaging with the most important issues and questions of our time i.e. the survival and protection of life itself.