This document describes the sustainable curriculum developed and implemented at Rochester School in Colombia. The curriculum was developed in two approaches - the first was to integrate sustainable strategies into educational goals for a new K-12 program. A tool called "Construyendo el Curriculo Ambiental" was created. The second approach involved answering questions about priorities, users, teacher roles, strategies by grade, and integrating areas based on sustainability. The curriculum covers topics like water, energy, waste, landscaping, and more. It utilizes the school as a "living textbook" with hands-on projects. The program has received several awards and the school serves as an educational model for other schools and universities.

1. Sustainable Educational Infrastructure in
Colombia as Transforming Society Tool:
Rochester School Study Case
Liliana Medina Campos
MSc – LEED AP BD+C

3. R o c h e s t e r S c h o o l

6. Sustainable Curriculum
First Approach
To integrate the implemented sustainable strategies in order
to define the main educational goals for a New Sustainable
K‐12 curriculum.
To implement a curriculum enhancing school’s use as a living
text book.
To develop first tool : “Construyendo el Curriculo Ambiental
– Colegio Rochester” (Building Environmental Curriculum –
Rochester School) .

7. What is it necessary to design
the environmental
curriculum?
Building Building
Environmental
Curriculum

8.  NAAEE (North American Association of Environmental
Education) guideline’s evaluation
 Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
 Colombian Educational Ministry guideline
Sustainable Curriculum
Second Approach

9.  Which environmental problems must be a priority?
 Which priorities are based on general community
requirements?
 Who are the final users?
 Which are the teacher’s roles regarding integrated
and transversal projects?
 Which implemented strategy will be useful for each
grade?
 How will teachers enhance knowledge strategies
on each grade?
 How will all areas be integrated based on one
sustainable strategy?
 How many hours should be considered for
each topic?
Main questions

10. Learning Area Environmental Topic School Tool Grade
Water Water Footprint
Tertiary Waste Water
System
Water Efficiency
All grades
Energy
Ethical and
sustainable use of
Energy
PV and Sun panels;
efficient lighting
design.
All grades
Landscaping
Native species /
biodiversity/ecology
topics
Sustainable Landscape All grades
Waste Recycling
Organic (compost and
vermiculture) Non‐
organic (recyclables)
General food organic
waste from cafeteria
and snack bar.
Recyclables
All grades
Urban Agriculture Food Security
Composting and
Orchards
All grades
Biodiversity and
Conservation
Rochester School as
Habitat
School as Natural
Corridor
All grades
Indoor Environmental
Quality
Air Quality and Health
Classrooms / IEQ
implementation
9‐12 grades
Sustainable Education - Curriculum

11. Water Footprint:
How to reduce their water footprint, water quality,
water bodies’ preservation and reduction
of pollution.
Senior students explaining TWWTS to pre-school students
and decorating exterior walls

12. Water Footprint:
Senior students explaining TWWTS to 5th grade students

13. W a t e r F o o t p r i n t
W a t e r S a v i n g s c o m p a r e d t o b a s e l i n e
S a v i n g g o a l
B e n c h m a r k

14. W a s t e R e c y c l i n g
Organic recyclables
Composting and vermiculture.
Inorganic Recyclables
 Acoustical isolation using Tetra Pak.
 Cardboard and recycled paper are used to make recycling
paper and chairs.
 Plastic bottles are used for greenhouses construction,
insects traps and orchards.
 Learning about biodiesel, soap, glycerine and antibacterial
gel preparation from used kitchen oil.

15. Senior students working
on composting system

16. Senior students working
on composting system

17. Chair made with recovered cardboard

18. Students on recycling
segregation in-situ

19. Learning about biodiesel, soap, glycerine and antibacterial
gel preparation from used kitchen oil.

20. Inorganic Recyclables
Inorganic Recyclables (kg)
Year
InorganicRecyclablesSegregationIn-Situ(kg)

21. E t h i c a l a n d s u s t a i n a b l e u s e o f E n e r g y
Renewable energy & Photosynthesis
Climate Change

22. Rochester School Board’s President, Eng. MSc. Juan Pablo Aljure on Climate
Change, Energy Efficiency and Education Conference – Colombian Energy Ministry

23. Energy Consumption
E n e r g y S a v i n g s c o m p a r e d t o b a s e l i n e
S a v i n g g o a l

24. Urban Agriculture
Composting for orchards
Vegetal physiology
Aromatic plants crops

26. L a n d s c a p i n g - B i o d i v e r s i t y a n d C o n s e r v a t i o n :
Native reforestation program of the Chia municipality

27. L a n d s c a p i n g - B i o d i v e r s i t y a n d C o n s e r v a t i o n :
Andean Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) habitat and preservation
Colombian National Natural Park Agency and Rochester School Alliance

28. L a n d s c a p i n g - B i o d i v e r s i t y a n d C o n s e r v a t i o n :
Andean Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) habitat and preservation

29. L a n d s c a p i n g - B i o d i v e r s i t y a n d C o n s e r v a t i o n :
Dinamic Ibook developed by Rochester School’s

30. L a n d s c a p i n g - B i o d i v e r s i t y a n d C o n s e r v a t i o n :
Rochester School as natural corridor as native opossum (Didelphis sp).

31. Rochester School as education tool for K-12 and University Programs
LEED & Green Building post-graduate
students (Construction phase)

32. R o c h e s t e r S c h o o l a s e d u c a t i o n t o o l f o r K - 1 2
a n d U n i v e r s i t y P r o g r a m s
LEED
& Green Building
post-graduate students

34. R o c h e s t e r S c h o o l A w a r d s a n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l E v e n t s
Kimberly Clark Foundation – Ekco- Awards recognition for Exceptional
Places to Work in 2013

35. R o c h e s t e r S c h o o l A w a r d s a n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l E v e n t s
BIBO-WWF in 2014 as “Academy – Best Environmental Practices”

36. Winners attending Dr. Nawal Al Hosani (Zayed Awards) visit
http://projectgreenchallenge.com/Winners/daily_winner/2014-10-16
http://ecowatch.com/2014/12/05/winners-eco-lifestyle-challenge/
“ G r e e n P r o j e c t C h a l l e n g e - 2 0 1 4 ” f i r s t p l a c e

37. “ G r e e n A p p l e D a y o f S e r v i c e ”

38. “ G r e e n A p p l e D a y o f S e r v i c e ”

39. “ E c o S u m m i t - O u r C h o i c e T u r n i n g G r e e n ” i n C o l o m b i a

40. 12th grade Final Projects. Environmental and Social Topics
Evolution (2009 – 2015)

41. Rochester School as Living Text Book
(IBook developed by Rochester School in July, 2015)
Sustainable Curriculum
Tools for teaching

42. W e h o l d t h e f u t u r e i n o u r h a n d s , t o g e t h e r , w e m u s t e n s u r e t h a t o u r
g r a n d c h i l d r e n w i l l n o t h a v e t o a s k w h y w e f a i l e d t o d o t h e r i g h t
t h i n g , a n d l e t t h e m s u f f e r t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s .
Ban ki-Moon
Rochester School
pre-school students
2015-…..