Essential Questions of Sustainability (EQS)
Real-World Learning
SEEQS strives to create a seamless link between academic content and real-world application through project-based learning. As a fundamental part of the SEEQS experience, all students participate in an interdisciplinary, project-based course designed around examining an Essential Question of Sustainability (EQS).
Each Essential Question of Sustainability course:
Creates a real-world context to apply disciplinary knowledge and skills
Focuses on interconnections between humans and the environment
Engages community members as partners in learning
Empowers students to choose the focus of their project
Motivates students through authentic project exhibitions
Is constantly evolving, guided by the interests, desires, and expertise of students and teachers
(What is an Essential Question?)
Based on Understanding By Design by McTighe and Wiggins, an Essential Question is relevant, timeless, and broad in scope. An Essential Question has no simple answer but opens up new avenues of inquiry in which students can explore and apply knowledge from all content areas.
As an example, the Essential Question "What do our waters need from us?" might lead to projects involving:
History of Hawaii's agriculture and water use
Freshwater resource availability and waste treatment
Transportation and ownership of drinking water
Ocean acidification and ecosystem health
Learn from current students what our Essential Questions of Sustainability are for 2022-2023!
EQS Camp
Each EQS Course kicks off with a series of field studies, guest experts, and deepening understanding with community partners whose work relates to the Essential Question. Through this experience, students develop background knowledge and begin to focus on specific aspects of the broad Essential Question, pursuing their interests and learning in a real-world context
EQS camp days can look very different depending on the course, but here is an example schedule!
The Structure of EQS
During daily two-hour blocks, an interdisciplinary team of teachers engages with students to investigate the essential question. These blocks can be used in various ways, including student-directed projects, teacher-led tutorials and mini-lessons, community outings, guest visits, and focused project work time.
Public Project Exhibitions
Each semester culminates with EQS project exhibitions to an authentic audience that includes SEEQS students, parents, teachers, community members, and experts.
For example, in EQS ChangeMakers, SEEQers examined the essential question, “How can service lead to change?” and for their exhibition, they facilitated a series of workshops teaching community members how to get involved in various forms of volunteer work.
EQS Courses 2024-25
See below for a gallery of our current EQS course offerings and essential questions!
EQS Food Systems: Why does what we eat matter?
EQS Off the Grid: How can we sustainably live "off the grid"?
EQS Oceans Rising: How can we create a sustainable future for the ocean?
EQS Our Moku: How can knowing our place help to sustain it?
EQS Housing Insecurity: What will it take to house everyone in Hawaiʻi?
EQS Conservation: How do reciprocity and conservation sustain ecosystems?
Education for Sustainability
To plan and assess the meaningful work students do in EQS courses, teachers use the Education for Sustainability standards published by the Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education. These standards and performance indicators represent the key skills and understandings that will prepare young people to participate in, and lead, the shift toward a sustainable future. Click here to view the EfS Standards and Performance Indicators.
Our EQS Community Partners
SEEQS has had the immense privilege of working with many different people and organizations around Oʻahu. See below for a list of many (but not all!) of our community partners and worksites.
Organizations:
Aloha Tree Alliance
Bishop Museum
Department of Land and Natural Resources
Hawaiʻi Foodbank
Hawaiʻi Humane Society
Hawaiʻi State Art Museum
Honolulu Theatre for Youth
Hoʻoulu ʻĀina
Institute for Human Services
Kahuku Farms
Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi
Kualoa Ranch
The Maʻi Movement
Maʻo Organic Farms
Paepae o Heʻeia
808 Cleanups
Worksites:
Camp Pālehua
Foster Botanical Garden
Heʻeia State Park
Kaʻala Farm
Kalihi Valley
Ka Papa Loʻi ʻo Kānewai
Kuliʻouʻou Ridge
Nā Mea Kūpono
Nuʻuanu Pali
Queen Liliʻuokalani Botanical Garden
Waiheʻe Tunnel
Waikalua Loko Iʻa
Share Your Expertise!
Interested in working with us? We invite community members and organizations involved in related issues to contact us if you'd like to work with our EQS courses or talk with our students!