MEECS (Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Support) is a state-specific environmental education curriculum support funded and managed by EGLE to help students learn about Michigan's economy and environment through inquiry oriented, data-based lessons in Science and Social Studies.
MEECS lesson collections apply to grades 3-12 and can be used individually, adopted into a school's multi-year science curricula, or combined to form the basis for an integrated science course. Since their development, MEECS lessons have been field tested by over 200 Michigan classrooms and have reached roughly 8,000 educators and 400,000 Michigan students.
Lessons are available online at GoOpen Michigan. In addition, Grand Valley State University and the Public Broadcasting Service have partnered with MEECS to create online support modules for second edition MEECS collections. The online support videos also demonstrate MEECS lessons being used in classrooms with students and can be used as virtual professional development for the lessons. MEECS Support on PBS Learning Media
MEECS was originally aligned to the Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations for Science and Social Studies. In 2013, a crosswalk alignment to Michigan’s Next Generation Science Standards was developed. Download the MEECS NextGen Crosswalk
In 2023, EGLE released updated versions of the Ecosystems & Biodiversity and Water Quality collections to better align with the structure and content of the Michigan Science Standards (Next Generation Science Standards).
Explore interactive lessons and geospatial tools to support MEECS at the new
Middle/High School
Explore the health effects of air pollutants and examine current Michigan air quality issues. Lessons utilize hands-on activities to provide students with a broad understanding of air quality. The lessons in the unit consist of a core set of activities with enhancements and extensions focusing primarily on outdoor air quality. There are a variety of activities for the classroom, computer laboratory, and the outdoors. The activities are aligned to the Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations in Science and Social Studies. Environmental education principles are also addressed. (Last revised 2012)
Middle/High School
The MEECS Climate Change collection has been updated to better support Michigan Science Standards (NGSS) and Michigan Social Studies Standards (C3 Framework). Lessons focus on the physical nature of climate; causes, analysis, and climate modeling; and an overall exploration of the mechanisms of Earth’s energy budget. The effects of climate change are examined at the global and local scales, and special emphasis is placed on climate change as it pertains to Michigan's Great Lakes. The collection culminates in an examination of how students can act to address climate change in their own communities. (Last revised 2023)Middle School
The Ecosystems & Biodiversity Collection is designed for use in grades 6-8. These lessons provide students with a better understanding of ecosystems by examining how organisms interact within their environment. MEECS Ecosystems & Biodiversity uses a Michigan context to provide students with a solid foundation in understanding basic ecological principals, as well as the importance of biodiversity as it relates to Michigan's environment, economy, and society. (last revised 2023)
Middle/High School
The Energy Resources Unit has been designed for use in many grade levels from upper elementary through middle school. The unit investigates a broad array of topics such as electricity generation, renewable and nonrenewable energy resources, energy conservation, and sustainability through eight lessons. Students keep an Energy Use Diary, compare Michigan and U.S. per capita energy consumption to energy use in other countries, and calculate their energy footprint. (Last revised 2016)
Grade 3
Explore how land is used in Michigan and how human activities can have an impact. Students will investigate the relationships between land usage, energy resources, and the economy. The activities are designed to help teachers meet some of the 3rd grade science and social studies Grade Level Content Expectations as well as the Michigan Science Standards. (Last revised 2012)
Grades 4-Middle School
The MEECS Land Use Unit will help students observe and analyze land use and land use planning challenges our society faces; the unit will also engage them in considering some of the possible solutions to these challenges. The unit is designed for grades 4 - 6 and supports Michigan Content Standards aligned science and social studies curricula. Lessons and activities can be adapted for other grades as well as for non-formal education programs. (last revised 2012)
High School
Water Quality 3rd edition is targeted for use with high school students. Through a series of case studies, students explore concepts relating to groundwater and surface water quality, direct and indirect water use, Michigan watersheds and Great Lakes issues, nutrient enrichment, aquatic invasive species, environmental contamination and cleanup, and more. Case studies are interdisciplinary and designed to be usable in a variety of high school level science, math, and social studies courses. (last revised 2023)
Version 2.0 (2012) for middle school students is also still available.
