Every Climate Action Counts: Take Part in Global Climate Change Week at Your School! October 19-23
Oct 16, 2020
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Global Climate Change Week is an international event held every October that aims to encourage academic communities to contribute more in the race to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. It’s open-ended framework encourages universities to hold voluntary activities to raise awareness, inspire behaviour changes and tackle political transformation of climate policy.
But who says climate change action is just for grown-ups? Why not involve your students and host your own Climate Change Week at your school!
Don’t know where to start?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. At The Gaia Project, our mission is to empower students to take action on climate change through education. To make things easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of practical, hands-on activities for any classroom!
For even more actions you and your students can take to make your classroom more sustainable, check out our 50 Classroom Climate Actions scratch as-you-go poster! Go to www.thegaiaproject.ca, click on Teachers and find it as a DIY resource under elementary, middle or high school.
Climate What?
Greenhouse Effect Experiment (K-6)
What is the greenhouse effect and how does it affect me? This simple experiment can help students get a better understanding of the effects of trapped heat in our atmosphere.
Do I have an impact on the environment? Help your students answer this question by calculating their ecological footprint using this tool.
Empower your students by investigating your school’s ecological footprint! Sustainability in Action is a hands-on, inquiry-based program in which students take action on a sustainability issue at school. Climate Change Action Week would be a perfect time to launch one!
What a Waste!
Collect, measure and find solutions to reduce your school’s waste footprint. You may not be able complete this during Global Climate Change Week, but you could sign up for a Trash Tracker program for your school!
We often think about reducing, reusing and recycling when thinking about waste, but sometimes people forget about the most important one, REFUSE! Get your students thinking about packaging in this activity.
Food for Thought
What kind of food grows naturally in your region? Research local farms, markets and food processing plants to find out. You could even ask your students to share their favorite local food traditions or recipes!
How does food produce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs)? Learn about your food’s journey before it arrives on your plate.
Lights on or off?
Bring in an energy expert (virtually!) (K-10)
New Brunswick is home to a variety of renewable energy companies and organizations focused on the environment and energy efficiency. Consider reaching out to any of them to learn more and provide presentations to students. The Gaia Project can also help your students learn more about energy!
Looking to introduce energy topics to your students? Wondering how electricity is generated here in New-Brunswick? The Gaia Project’s Energy Engineers package contains videos, activities, quizzes and more to help your students learn about today’s energy landscape while imagining what tomorrow could look like!
Take a deep dive into our human interactions with energy! Students become Energy Detectives as they investigate energy use around the school and work to reduce your school’s energy footprint! Request a project as soon as possible to get it in time for Global Climate Change Week!
We’re All in This Together
Climate change event or discussion (K-10)
Organize or participate in a school-wide/virtual climate strike to show your support for climate action! Invite (virtually!) local leaders and experts to teach students about climate change and help answer their questions.
Writing to your local community/political leaders is a great way to improve your writing abilities, and take climate action by voicing your opinion.
Feeling overwhelmed?
Keep it simple. Just bring your students outside! There have been proven benefits to learning outside, like improved mental and physical health, strengthened connections to nature, lower levels of problem behavior and the list goes on. Spending time outdoors is the first step to appreciating our environment and finding the will to fight for it! Check out New Brunswick based Great Minds Think Outside for professional learning opportunities.
What now?
Time to start planning for Climate Change Week happening Oct 19-23! Don’t forget to share your climate actions with us!
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Author: Guylaine Doucet Ferguson, Program Delivery Officer with The Gaia Project