Our Current Programs

Trash Tracker is a one day hands-on program where the class audits one day of school waste and create a waste management plan for their school.

Goal: improve understanding of the different types of waste and how youth can make a waste impact.

Themes:

• Climate Literacy
• STEAM skills

Program breakdown:

1) Teachers are provided with a letter to give to the janitorial staff in advance to ensure that the school’s garbage from the previous day is collected for the audit.

2) The Gaia Project leads a waste audit that covers:

A: Sorting and categorizing of waste

B: Weigh each type of waste

C:  Clean up

3) The Gaia Project inputs data to generate graphics to discuss with students

4)  Based on the data collected, with help from the Gaia Project, students develop a school-wide waste strategy

Curriculum Links: 3, 4, & 5 science

• Ask scientific questions
• Observe, question, and explore
• Working collaboratively

Goal: introduce students to energy generation and green careers through a narrative about energy use in a community

Themes:

• Energy Literacy
• Climate Literacy
• STEAM skills
• Career Planning

Program Description

1) Terms for word bank sent to teacher in advance

2) Energy related story book read to students by Gaia staff

3) Students are put into groups to represent various green careers

4) Gaia staff leads storyboard about energy use in a community

5) Throughout the story, each group of students will have a hands-on task based on their green career

6) Teacher will be left with resources to continue the conversation and follow up activities

The Gaia Project’s Energy Detective provides the opportunity to measure the electricity needed to power various devices in and around the school by using meters and other hands-on tools.

Goal:  providing an inquiry-based experience and discussion around energy use at school.

Themes:

• Energy Literacy
• Climate Literacy
• STEAM skills
• Career Planning

Program breakdown:

1) The Gaia Project leads a presentation on  renewable energy, peak hours, smart grids, and current provincial energy consumption

2) In groups, the class is asked to come up with a scientific question relating to energy consumption in their school. 

3) Using specialized equipment provided by The Gaia Project, the groups collect and analyze data related to their question.

4) Each group creates an energy management plan for their school. The Gaia Project then follows up with the teachers and gives each school a poster of their completed energy audit that includes tips to reduce energy consumption.

Curriculum Links:

• Grade 6 science- electricity
• Grade 7 science- heat
• Grade 8 science- optics, fluids, water systems

The Gaia Project’s Electrify your Ride is an outdoor, experiential program exposing students to an electric vehicle. The class leaves the program with a new knowledge of electric vehicles and how the electrification of transportation can play an important role into the future of New Brunswick.

Goal: increase understanding of the role of electric vehicles in smart grids, energy storage, and effective climate change solutions in New Brunswick.

Themes:

• Energy Literacy
• Climate Literacy
• Career Planning

Program Breakdown:

1) Introduction to electric vehicles and the various technologies involved in a smart-grid future for New Brunswick.  The class learns about the existing infrastructure and what the province will need in the future.

2) Groups are brought outside for a short ride in the back seat of an electric vehicle on school grounds. When not out at the car with their group, they are in the classroom working on a questionnaire with support material.

3) A follow-up email is sent to teachers with a link to our “Electricity Generation in New Brunswick” playlist on YouTube to support electricity curriculum outcomes.

Curriculum Links

• Grade 9 science- characteristics of electricity
• Grade 10 science- sustainability of ecosystems
• Grade 10-12 environmental science

The Gaia Project’s Sustainability in Action program is a multi visit program (3-5 weeks) that presents the opportunity to take a critical look at your school’s current level of sustainability.

Goal: empower youth to take action at school and home on sustainability issues through data-based decisions

Themes:

• Energy Literacy
• Climate Literacy
• STEAM skills
• Career Planning

Program Breakdown:

1) Initial presentation relating to program expectations and climate change is given to the class by the Program Delivery Officer.

2) In groups, the class works to tackle a sustainability issue that their school is currently facing.

3) The Program Delivery Officer helps in monitoring and tracking the sustainability issue. Results are obtained and calculated by the students.

4) Each group presents on their findings to share their discoveries regarding sustainability at their school. Emphasis is placed on how they can take concrete action with new insights into their school’s sustainability.

5) Students take action on their topic and make changes around the school where possible

Curriculum Outcomes:

• Grade 9 science- electricity
• Grade 10 science- skills:motion, sustainability of ecosystems
• Environmental Science: air and water pollution, climate change, energy resources, and current environmental issues