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|  | Environmental Science Program In The Ellis School Environmental Science Program, students in all divisions learn environmental science and stewardship through multiple curricular and co-curricular experiential opportunities that extend and deepen their critical thinking and classroom study. An educational partnership with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Citiparks offers Ellis students from first grade through the Upper School a hands-on, interdisciplinary program of stewardship activities at Pittsburgh’s Frick Park, a rich plant reserve near the Ellis campus. The school’s science program provides corresponding environmental science curricula in the Lower and Middle Schools, and in the Upper School students may elect an Environmental Science course with integrated experiential learning activities. Environmental externships are offered to two seniors each year. In addition, co-curricular opportunities are available for students in each division.
Seniors who complete certain components of the program in the Upper School will receive certificates in environmental studies, which will be noted on their transcripts.
The Ellis Venture Program offers environmental externships with the PPC and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for Ellis seniors, who conduct research and stewardship with experts at the two organizations.
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| Grade 1: The Habitat Explorers Program This program Introduces students to three Western Pennsylvania habitats through exploration and stewardship lessons in each habitat—woodland, meadow, and stream. Students attend six sessions of hands-on learning and inquiry at Frick Park. |
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| Grade 4: Ellis Park Stewards Program On three visits to Frick Park, students explore particular habitats and complete a stewardship project in each habitat. In this interdisciplinary program focusing on biodiversity, students make journals in their art classes and then reflect in them about their experiences. Students also create drawings and videos that, along with their journal entries, culminate in final projects. |
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| Grade 6: Local Environmental Studies Students in the sixth grade become familiar with the study site at Frick Park by identifying trees, recording observations of living and nonliving things in the area, and constructing detailed maps. In their visits to the Park, the students also work with Upper School Eco-stewards planting native wild flowers and shrubs on the site and picking up trash and debris. All of these activities are supported by prior classroom study. |
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| Grades 5 - 8: Exploring Our World: An Environmental Institute for Middle School Girls This summer program is offered by Ellis and Chatham University’s Rachel Carson Institute. For one week in June, students study various environmental themes through activities at Eden Hall, Chatham’s environmental site near Pittsburgh. |
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| Grades 9 - 12: Ellis Urban Eco-stewards Program Students focus on watersheds as they learn and write about the ways in which people, city infrastructure, and plant and animal life all interact to create health or unhealthy water systems. Through their six visits to Frick Park, students are involved in improving a watershed through hands-on stewardship activities, primarily the removal of invasive species and the planting and nurturing of native species. Students write in their journals extensively, recording observational and scientific information.
Advanced students who have completed the Eco-stewards program may serve as student instructors.
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| Grade 12: Environmental Science This senior elective science course introduces students to the principles and applications of environmental science. Students will study various areas and applications of environment science through classroom study and experiential learning activities. As environment science is inherently interdisciplinary in nature, students will be expected to draw on prior knowledge from other courses. |
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ENVIRONMENTAL CO-CURRICULAR STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS | |
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