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Environmental Issues Instruction (eii)

Preparing PreK-14 teachers to teach environmental issues

About Upper Iowa University’s eii Program

Environmental Issues Instruction (eii) is an affordable, graduate-level professional development program that helps PreK–14 educators teach about environmental issues.

Participants complete an in-person, hands-on summer workshop, followed by a virtual update session via Zoom.

UIU has been Iowa’s home for eii education since 2010. eii lessons and activities are high quality and rooted in an established, research-based model and aligns with Iowa academic standards.

Contact Information

Dr. Barbara Ehlers

eii Director
Science Education Grants Manager

[email protected]
(563) 920-3815
B.A., Wartburg College
M.A., University of Northern Iowa
Ed. D., University of Northern Iowa

2025-2027 eii Workshops

Environmental Issues Instruction (EII) and Upper Iowa University present “Learning and Living in a Changing Climate” Workshops — To be held in 2025-2027

“Learning and Living In A Changing Climate” is an interdisciplinary, undergraduate or graduate level college credit course for all teachers PreK-14 and other environmental educators.

Workshop III

  • In-Person Workshop Dates: June 4, 2026
  • Location: Caroll, IA
  • Zoom Update Session: TBD

This workshop is full, but if you wish to put your name on a waiting list, send an email to: Dr. Barbara Ehlers at [email protected]

Workshop IV

  • In-Person Workshop Dates: October 24, 2026
  • Location: West Burlington, IA
  • Zoom Update Session: TBD

This workshop is full, but if you wish to put your name on a waiting list, send an email to: Dr. Barbara Ehlers at [email protected]

2025-2027 eii Workshop Details

Costs

2025-2027 eii Registration Fees: eii Workshops are now free for teachers.

This is made possible by support from granting agencies

Curriculum

Course: EDU 461/561: Environmental Issues Instruction: Learning and Living in a Changing Climate

Two hours of undergraduate or graduate credit from Upper Iowa University

Course Expectations:
  • Attend two sessions-initial and update:
  • Modeling of instructional levels
  • Sharing the teaching experience
  • Develop and teach unit between initial and update sessions
  • Give evidence of student action
  • Administer student assessment (pre-post)
  • Prepare written report of experience

Issue: How has our climate changed?

The eii Model

eii Teaching Model

Instructional Model:

  • I – Issue Analysis
  • II – Ecological Foundations
  • III – Energy Issues
  • IV – Responsible Environmental Action
Circular diagram illustrating four levels of environmental inquiry. Level I: 'What is an issue?' Level II: 'What knowledge base is needed to understand the environmental problem?' Level III: 'What are the issues?' Level IV: 'What is the plan for responsible environmental action?' Arrows form a clockwise loop indicating a continuous cycle.

eii Teaching Model Diagram

The Eii model utilizes:
  • Next Generation Science Standards
  • STEM-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
  • Project-Based Teaching and Learning
  • Framework for K-12 Science Cross-Cutting Concepts
  • Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning
  • Iowa Core Characteristics of Effective Instruction
  • Differentiated Instruction
  • The Learning Cycle/5E’s
Thematic Integration of:
  • Environmental Education
  • Science
  • Technology
  • Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Reading
  • Social Studies
  • Language Arts
  • Fine Arts
  • Physical Education

Previous Workshop Themes

2021-2023

  • Nourishing Our Water and Soil Through Sustainable Agriculture

2018-2020

  • Water Connects Us All

2016-17

  • Food, Farming, and Climate Change

2015-16

  • Soil: The Earth Beneath Our Feet

2014-15

  • Energy Systems of the Prairie

2013-14 

  • Preserving and Protecting Our Water Resources

2012-13

  • Wildlife of Prairie Roadsides

2011-12

  • Rain, Runoff, and Rivers: Understanding Watersheds

Prior Years

  • Tropical Rain Forest
  • Global Climate Change
  • Polar Issues
  • Solid Waste Management
  • Feeding the World
  • Ecological Foundations Enhancement
  • Preserving Biodiversity: Endangered Species
  • Valuing Our Wetlands
  • Urban Wetlands
  • Exploring Climate Change
  • Climate Change: Weather, Climate, and Me
  • Feeding the World in a Changing Climate (REDI)
  • Species Loss in a Changing Climate (TEDI)
  • Biomes in a Changing Climate (TEDI+)
  • Forests in a Changing Climate (TEDI III)
  • Iowa’s Tropical Birds
  • Iowa’s Roadside Prairies
  • Iowa’s Roadside Native Communities: Savanna
  • Iowa’s Roadside Native Communities: Wet Prairies
  • Investigating Iowa Prairies
An eii participant notices a large insect while doing field work in a prairie

Support for eii

eii’s affordable registration fee is made possible by funding support from the following granting angencies:

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Iowa Resource Enhancement and Protection – Conservation Education Program (REAP-CEP)
  • Upper Iowa University

Meet the Team

barb-ehlers-21

Dr. Barb Ehlers

Eii Director
Science Education Grants Manager
Upper Iowa University

(563) 920-3815

Cathryn-Carney

Cathryn Carney

Eii Associate Director
Science Teacher
Boyden-Hull High School

Jeff-Monteith

Jeff Monteith

Eii Associate Director
K-12 Extended Learning Program Teacher
New Hampton Schools, New Hampton, Iowa

Headshot of Paul Skrade

Dr. Paul Skrade

Eii Instructor
Associate Professor of Biology
Upper Iowa University

Upper Iowa University
Fayette, Iowa
800-553-4150
[email protected]
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