Teaching Tips, Activity Ideas and Resources
New - Play your Part online teaching toolkit Teachers of citizenship, drama, geography and PSHE lessons now have a fabulous new on-line resource to bring sustainable communities to life in the classroom. The Play Your Part toolkit is a young person friendly resource developed to introduce the findings of the Egan Review to pupils. The Play your Part toolkit is an invaluable online active citizenship toolkit supporting teachers to encourage pupils to play an active role in community projects. It includes ideas, resources, activities and teaching aids designed to raise awareness of sustainable communities, inspire young people to play a part in improving their communities and develop the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to devise and run successful citizenship projects. Click here to visit the site which has four main areas:
You can see some of the work submitted by schools in the Our Place 2020 competition by clicking here. You can see more by visiting our photo gallery. Click here. The resources will also provide you with an ambundance of display material - for your classroom. We hope you find it useful and if you find other resources, or come up with ideas that work with your pupils, please share them with us and we'll spread the word. Just email us at info@ebcltd.org.uk
Click here to visit the recycling page. Click here to visit the energy page. Click here to see what information Masterclass Mentors have been sharing with schools in Tyne and Wear. We're watching the media, too, to see the latest news and research documents on sustainability issues. Click here to visit the special Sustainable Communities news page. Webmaster's Note We've gathered this information from various resources - mainly on the internet. We've used sites identified by key organisations including the DfCSF and DTI however we wish to point out that the views contained in these resources are not necessarily those of EBC, nor any of its partners.
Microsoft is giving people the opportunity to learn more about the environment and green issues. The MSN Environment site has news stories and features covering topics such as petrol prices and rare birds. It also has a range of video eco tips with presenters including Joanna Lumley. People can use a special calculator to view their carbon impact and water usage and view 2D and 3D maps of the planet to see which areas are most affected by global warming, animal extinction and pollution. The Green community message boards allow users to share environmentally friendly hints and tips with others and the Take Action section lets people find out about green events and activities in their local area. Peter Bale, executive producer at Microsoft UK, said: “People are becoming increasingly concerned about the environment and are looking for ways they can help out and become part of the solution rather than the problem. “The channel is a fun and engaging way to help them stay on top of hot issues and learn more about what they can do to make a difference.”
Resistant Materials in our Environment English Nature has produced a completed teaching pack covering all aspects of resistant materials, complete with teachers notes. Download them by clicking the links below.
Carbon Footprinting
You have to register first - logo ontowww.thebiggreenswitch.co.uk - and registered on the home page, then you you can access loads of information including the on-line carbon footprint calcuator. You also receive a weekly e-newsletter which takes you straight to the site. On the site you will find loads of information including lots of stuff on jobs and careers as well as links to other useful sites.
The Academy for Sustainable Communities has a wealth of information on all aspects of sustainable communities. Here we focus on three documents around the careers available for young people and skills needed. To find out more log onto: www.ascskills.org.uk
Sustainable Shopping
Here we feature a full scheme of work with lesson plans which should interest even the most disenchanted learner..... it's all about shopping and how rethinking our retail habits can make a difference.... and it won't cost you a penny!
It's Only Natural Geography Project The Our Place 2020 has huge potential to link into the National Curriculum across a number of subject areas, including geography and science. We found this complete geography project called its It's Only Natural, with well thought our resources linked to both subject areas, via weblinks to the DTI. The are aimed at 11-16-year-olds. Log onto www.berr.gov.uk and then use the site search tool for 'renewables'. It's based on an imaginery community and provides pupils with the opportunity to problem solve, research and come up with innovative solutions to the issues facing the community and its people..... developing many of the generic skills identified in the Egan Review. Protecting the Planet
Here's a game to play which gives pupils an insight into the issues of deforestation. It's called Timber. Climate Change
For an insight into the issues around climate change visit www.wwf.org.uk You'll find lots of useful resources. Here's one for you to start with.
Grasping of Climate is the name of a special guidebook for teachers created through an EU project that finished in 2005. It includes inspirational ideas and activities from each of the partner countries, ie Sweden, France and the UK. Click here to download it. You can find it throuhg this link: http://www.nef.org.uk/greenschool/greenteacher.htm where you will also find downloadable presentations called:
Architecture and Design We all recognise now that developing sustainable communities is a worldwide aim. The climate might be different in one part of the world to another, but many of the issuesare the same. We found a useful website in Australia which is packed with resources which would be eqaully relevant to schools in the North East region. It's designed for teachers and here we feature one booklet as a taster. it looks at how you design an energy smart home. For more information log onto: www.teachsustainability.com.au
On our travels we also found this useful leaflet on eco-design covering all aspects of design, including packaging, from the United Nations - www.unep.org
You can see what else Mentors have been sharing with schools in Tyne and Wear by visiting the special Masterclass Mentors page on our website. Click here
Reducing the environmental cost of transport is recognised as a vital element in creating sustainable, healthy communities.
The site is also linked to an United Nations initative. We've downloaded just one comic for you to have a taste. Click here for a preview..... You might also like to look at a leaflet which focusses on some of the key issues around sustainable transport. Just click on the link:
Nurturing sustainable communities is about more than well designed buildings and green spaces. Central to the whole issue are the people who live in these communities. We found these two documents which you may find useful in getting pupils to think about the key issues of community cohesiono and inclusion. They're from the Academy for Susdtasinable Communities website - www.ascskills.org.uk
The influence of neighbourhood deprivation on people's attachment to places You might also like to read their report Citizen Centred Government which reviews the opportunities and challenges of citizen-centred governance. Click here for the summary report or log onto http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/housing/2229.asp for the full report Water, Water ........ Looking for an activity to bring home to younmg people the need to reduce the amount of water we waste. Click on our link below for a couple of worksheets to whet their appetite.
We found them on and American website - www.wateruseitwisely.com
Many schools now run their own garden or allotment schemes - and others may use their participation in Our Place 2020 to explore the potential for 'growing their own'. We visited the Duchy Originals Organic Gardening for Schools website - www.gardenorganic.org.uk/schools_organic_network and found an extensive range of easy-to-understand leaflets to help get you started. All leaflets are designed to be three folds - print them out, copy them back-to-back and then fold them in two places.
To give your pupils an insight into the international perspective of sustainable communities, you could log onto Oxfam (www.oxfam.org.uk/education) where you'll find lots of useful resources about global citizenship. We've included a few here for you.
Share and Share alike
Unit 22 BIC, Wearfield, Sunderland Enterprise Park (East), Sunderland, SR5 2TA Phone: (0191) 5166411 Fax: (0191) 5166412, Email info@ebcltd.org.uk Alternative email: educationbusiness@hotmail.com |
Microsoft launches environment site to promote eco awareness
The government has just launched its new ActonCo2 camapaign - backed by regular TV advertisements. The campaign is aimed at helping consumerswith advice on how to reduce their CO2 emissions. There's also an interactive tool to help your pupils work out their own carbon footprints. To find out more log onto: 
Sustainable Communities Careers Information 
Friends of the Earth have produce a wide range of colourful and informative booklets, backed up by lesson plans, as well as activity booklets on a range of topics linked to sustainability. They all clearly show the links to the National Curriculum for various age ranges. To find out more logo onto: 
Google Earth users can now see how the world may look as a result of 
Two of our Masterclass Mentors -
Michelle Docherty and Ali Rowe of Eversheads - gave us this useful Government document about 
Transport
We found a fun, informative site - 
There's a huge range of resources available for both primary and secondary school pupils through BP's Educational Services. They look at various subjects including carbon footprinting and climate change. Ther are various free CDs, posters, etc on offer. We've downloaded a taster for you here - 
Don't Forget the People
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published an interesting research document 
Organic Gardening
Local Action - Global Impact 
Closer to home, why not explore the impact food sharing can have through the Fareshare scheme. FareShare is the national charity that works with the food and drink industry to redistribute quality food and other related support services to a community food network of organisations working with disadvantaged people. 
