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Hampton High School's Mental Health Monday Initiative

This month, we're proud to showcase the incredible initiative of Hampton High School students in New Brunswick who are breaking barriers and fostering crucial conversations through their monthly podcast, Mental Health Monday, which began two years ago.

In their most recent episode, they invited LSF consultant, Laura Myers, to share her thoughts on eco-anxiety, shedding light on the mental health impacts of environmental concerns.

What makes this podcast truly special is that it's entirely student-driven. From brainstorming ideas to technical support, production, recording, and editing, the students handle every aspect.

Be sure to tune in and support these remarkable voices advocating for mental health awareness. Follow their journey on Instagram @HuskygramHHS for updates and insights. Together, let's continue to break stigmas and foster a community of empathy and support.

Bring an experienced LSF facilitator right into your classroom (virtually) to model a hands-on, curriculum connected lesson, centered around sustainability for your whole class... with just a click! 

International Biodiversity Day, marked every May 22nd, is a reminder of the vibrant web of life on our planet. This year's theme, 'Be part of the Plan,' calls on teachers like you to empower students with the knowledge and tools to become stewards of biodiversity. Through engaging lessons on ecosystems, hands-on conservation projects, or fostering a love for nature in the classroom, teachers play a vital role in shaping the next generation of environmental champions.

Here are a few ideas of what you could do at your school for International Day for Biological Diversity:

Local Species Research Project or Infographic:

Assign students a research project focused on a specific local species. Encourage them to create infographics highlighting key information about the species, its role in the ecosystem, and any conservation concerns and post them around the school and on the school website.

Biodiversity Treasure Hunt: Organize a biodiversity treasure hunt on school grounds or in neighbouring parks, encouraging students of all grades to explore and identify various plant and animal species. This interactive activity fosters a connection with local biodiversity. 

Nature Journaling: Introduce nature journaling as a regular activity, encouraging students to document observations of plants, animals, and their interactions in and around the school environment. Give students an opportunity to share their observations of the local environment on morning announcements to inspire other students to slow down and observe. This practice cultivates an appreciation for the intricacies of biodiversity.

Create a Biodiversity Corner in the Library: Dedicate a section in the school library to biodiversity-themed literature, showcasing books and resources that educate students on the importance of biodiversity and conservation.



By actively participating in the International Day for Biological Diversity, schools can play a crucial role in fostering a deep appreciation for the variety of life on Earth and inspire future generations to become responsible stewards of our planet's biodiversity.

K to 6 – Meet a Plant: Up Close and Personal

Students walk through a designated area such as the schoolyard or a local park and choose a plant they wish to observe.  After carefully examining the plant, they note their observations following the guided observation process presented in class. This process helps students focus on plant characteristics as a way to enhance both their appreciation and knowledge of plant adaptations and plant diversity.

Grade 3 to 6 – Climate Change, Human Activities and Biodiversity

In this role-play activity students become part of a food web to learn that in ecosystems, living organisms interact and depend on each other others and are adaptable to specific climates and landscapes.  Students will also explore how human actions and climate change impact biodiversity and why this is important.

Grades 4 to 8 – Backyard Biodiversity

Students will get out and explore biodiversity in their own neighborhood. Using the Seek app to identify different species, students will record the name and numbers of each species they encounter and use this data to construct a bar graph to illustrate the biodiversity of their neighbourhood. 

Grades 9 to 12 – The Big Picture on Biodiversity and Climate Change                        This resource explores the relationship among biodiversity, climate change and human health. In addition to drawing attention to the importance of species diversity the resource provides both ideas and support for students to take action in their community

You can find all of these resources and more on the R4R.ca website. R4R.ca provides immediate access to more than 1800 quality classroom resources and connects teachers to lesson plans, books, videos and other materials that explore the environmental, social and economic dimensions of important issues and events unfolding in our world today.

As this school year is wrapping up, it is time to look forward to the next school year and do some Professional Development Planning. Book your professional development sessions with LSF by filling out the interest form below!

Visit our Professional Development page for upcoming workshops!

Check out some of our other resources!

Looking for more ideas for including sustainable learning in your classroom? Check out some of our other resources:

• Visit R4R for some great climate change resources (books, videos, lesson plans, games, etc.)
• Learning Inside Out is LSF's weekly collection of learning activities for grades K-12, hand-picked from our award-winning R4R database.
• Looking to get outside and connect with nature this year? Don’t forget our Step Outside guides on R4R!
• Our Climate Change Inquiry Resources: Empowering Learners in a Warming World are fully online or downloadable to bring climate change learning into your K-2, 3-6 and 7-12 classroom!
• Our Green Jobs: Adapting to our Changing Climate video series introduces students to Canadian experts who build climate resilience in their work
• Access the SFS Playbook here.

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