Integrating the Concept of Sustainable Development with Science Education in China: Content Focused on Soil Pollution and Human Health

Biology – a discipline that studies the phenomena, laws, and applications of life – is crucial in solving overpopulation, resource crisis, and the deterioration of ecological environments. This chapter explores how to incorporate the concept of sustainable development into biology classes, based on a holistic approach to content and a pluralistic approach to teaching. The class developed in this study focused on the real-life occurrence of soil pollution and redevelopment of the Dongfang Chemical Plant in Beijing, China. The students’ cognitive mainline in the class was composed of: (1) What is soil pollution? (2) Why should we focus on soil safety? (3) How to resolve soil pollution? Based on inquiry activities, we created a class with relevant learning content for the students that enabled them to research, conduct data analysis, draw scientific conclusions, offer reasonable suggestions and ideas, contribute to environmental knowledge, and thoroughly understand the significance and function of environmental protection. Finally, the study refines the idea of integrating the concept of sustainable development with science education, i.e., extracting the content of sustainable development from real life, paying attention to the comprehensiveness and connectivity of the class content, and considering the students’ core literacy, as well as their application and transfer of knowledge related to sustainable development.