Classroom Earth Success Stories

How to integrate environmental education with photography and technology

Scott Olson, a 12-year teacher in the Tonasket School District in Tonasket, Wash., developed a photo point monitoring project for his high school students after being inspired by a wildlife manager from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Photo point monitoring is a tool used to quickly and effectively document changes in vegetation, soil and other landscape features by periodically photographing the landscape. The wildlife manager, who regularly visited Olson’s classroom, came upon historic photographs of local landscapes and suggested Olson use the photographs to conduct photo point monitoring.

Olson ran with it and soon had his students engaged in an exciting learning experience that allowed them to incorporate numerous subject areas and learn in an outdoor setting.

Every year for the past six years, the 2,300 students at La Mirada High School in Los Angeles County, Calif. celebrate an energy-themed National Environmental Education Week and Earth Day event. Science students display renewable energy and environmental projects while state agencies, including the California Coastal Commission. The school choir and jazz band perform and students play a variety of eco-themed games.

La Mirada Spanish teacher Norma Williamson coordinates the event. She is passionate about environmental education and uses it to help her students understand the environment through hands-on learning.