Empowering, Engaging, and a Joy to Teach
Seeds to Solutions instructional materials are free, solutions-oriented lesson plans and student materials for grades K–12 on California environmental issues. Developed in response to teacher and community demand, Seeds to Solutions lessons empower students to address real-world environmental issues, from food waste to water use to wildfire management. Age-appropriate, solutions-focused, and trauma-informed, Seeds to Solutions instructional materials prepare students to be environmentally literate, engaged community members.
Why Seeds to Solutions?
- Includes everything needed to teach the topic and guide student investigations
- Aligns with California standards and Environmental Principles and Concepts
- Transforms classroom learning into discussions that go beyond school
- Empowers students to explore environmental solutions with confidence
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What Teachers Are Saying
“They’ve never thought about stuff like this before, and now they’re sharing it. One girl said this was the only class that she went home and talked to her parents about.”
“When you’re out in the workforce, you’re trying to solve problems that don’t have a clear, immediate answer. So doing stuff like this helps give students practice.”
“I am so amazed and impressed by the depth of resources that you embedded in the teacher guide. This is really well put together.”
“This did a great job of piquing students’ interest and sparking opposing points of view, which created lively discussions on the topic.”
In the News
“We want to give kids confidence to deal with the challenges that the environment presents to us now and in the future,” San Mateo County Office of Education Superintendent Nancy Magee explained. Having a strong knowledge base can also support students’ mental health, lessen climate anxiety and improve academic engagement. Read more
Who We Are
Seeds to Solutions instructional materials were developed through a unique and diverse partnership of community organizations, experts in science and traditional ecological knowledge, educators, youth leaders, and curriculum-development specialists.
Instructional Model
Seeds to Solutions lesson plans use the Storyline Instructional Model. Students engage in sense-making as they work together to explore questions and understand real-world phenomena. This sparks students’ curiosity and teaches them how to think, not what to think.
Thank You to Our Funders
Seeds to Solutions instructional materials were developed using funds provided by the California Department of Education through Assembly Bill 130, Chapter 44, Statutes of 2021 Section 151(a). Additional support was provided by the Cisco Foundation, First Republic Bank Foundation, S.H. Cowell Foundation, and Ten Strands for the development of these materials.