Abstract
This research is a case study analyzing a practice of “education for sustainable development (ESD)” at a school. Observing the three-year-long practice of the integrated learning class, the author positions this project as a case of ESD in practice. The research reveals that involvement in the ESD practice has resulted in a relatively higher motivation to participate in the environmental programs and to improve the local community among students, and teachers and parents are convinced that the educational capacity of the local community is getting higher. The research also points out that the educational support scheme of Ushiku-city as well as the curriculum organization of Kamiya elementary school should constitute a good model case for structuring the ESD practice. On the other hand some ESD-specific challenges are identified, which include the systematization of educational contents related to “sustainability,” re-studying the concept of “development,” the way to approach “education” in partnership discussion. Marking a first footprint in the ESD case study by building on the result of theoretical research is the contribution and originality of this research
