The role of waste reduction and recycling is included in many aspects of the curriculum. In both social studies and science, students learn about renewable and non-renewable resources.

In the ninth grade, students learn about energy, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle and water cycle in a required environmental biology course that incorporates sustainability concepts throughout the units.

At the elementary level, social studies lessons have been folded into the third grade social studies curriculum as part of a unit on government and citizen responsibility. Science activities include studying trees and soil, documenting the amount of waste reduction, learning about cycles involved in composting and how plants grow in separate mediums.

The sixth grade science curriculum on plant growth and ecosystems covers many of these topics and integrates waste reduction and recycling concepts throughout the extensive unit of study.

The district is currently involved in a thorough science curriculum review process.  The Washington State Science Grade Level Expectations and the Washington State Environmental Education Guidelines are guides for this work.  A goal of this review is to meaningfully incorporate our sustainability program into our core curriculum in order to ensure that all students learn skills and concepts related to waste reduction, recycling, and environmental responsibility.