This week's LIO focuses on the UN Climate Change Conference COP 30, which takes place from November 10th to 21st and brings together world governments and other interested parties to assess progress in dealing with climate change. 

Climate change is increasingly affecting human health, species distribution and the ability of the earth's ecosystem to sustain our

economic, social and environmental needs. How we deal with the climate emergency is a crucial discussion that teachers and students should be actively engaged in. LSF and the Canadian Teachers' Federation, with support from the Ivey Foundation, launched a video competition to hear from students and educators from all across Canada about the importance of climate change education and the steps they are taking to make a difference in their schools and community.

LSF also invited high school students from across Canada to share their perspectives on climate change education. Students were asked: "If you had the opportunity to tell decision-makers one thing about your perspectives on climate change education, what would you say?" Hear what they had to say!

This week, we invite you to view the videos and explore some of the suggested activities with your students. Create your own video showing what you and your students are doing at school to tackle climate change. Share your videos with us at instagram.com/lsf_lst/

Reducing your Carbon Footprint 

Grades K-3

The students at Sunshine Academy have been hard at work raising awareness and taking meaningful climate action! 🌱 Watch their tree-planting video and hear from students as they share why taking climate action matters both locally and globally.



Activities

• Read Sandy’s Incredible Shrinking Footprint. Discuss how Sandy’s efforts affect others around the world. Create a carbon footprint poster or a collage of reused, recycled and natural materials like in the book representing a way you can shrink your footprint
• Have older students complete the carbon footprint worksheet to understand where emissions come from in their daily lives. Have younger students trace their foot and draw their footprint reducing solutions
• Get outdoors and play Racing for Resources students learn how they can make responsible choices with the natural resources

What are you doing about Climate Change?

Grades 4-6

Rosedale students are showing that every action counts! 🌿 As they say, “A small change in one place can create a greater change throughout the world.” Watch their project video and discover how simple it can be to take local climate action.

Activities

• Become acquainted with the concept of reusing and create your own reusable bags using old clothing items
• Write letters to your principal, city councillor, or member of parliament about a transportation issue that the students would like to see change. Some examples include requesting more bike racks so that more students can bike to school or creating a carpool lane at the school drop-off zone
• Words with Strings has students collaborate on climate solutions.This activity teaches students that we must work together to take action on climate change

Climate Change Strikes, Leadership and Campaigns

Grades 7-8

Harbourview has been hard at work transitioning into an eco-friendly school. Watch the quick video Harbourview students put together to see what schools across Canada are doing for climate action. What can you do for the planet?

Activities

• Create an anti-idling campaign at your school and make students and parents aware of your school's no-idling zone
• Get outside and play Climate Balloons to learn how the North American lifestyle contributes to climate change and threatens the survival of those living in the developing world
• Try your hand at Climate Change Dodgeball, a great introduction activity before a climate change discussion

Renewable Energy, Eco Design and Sustainable Fashion

Grades 9-12

Watch how the students at Seven Oaks Met School are taking action toward sustainability.

Their “Strut for Solar” fashion show features creative outfits made from recycled materials, with all funds raised supporting the installation of solar panels at their school.

Activities

• Complete the You Are What You Wear lesson plan to calculate the distance your clothes have travelled. Have students calculate the distance of the clothes they are wearing
• Have students investigate buildings or homes in their area that are "off the grid." Using the Off the Grid lesson plan students learn and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of renewable and non-renewable energy sources
• Have students design an eco-friendly home as a class. The concept of the lesson plan is to design an eco-friendly home and calculate what it would cost and which way would be the most cost efficient. As a class, map the first floor of one of the homes designed on the gym floor or outdoors, design an obstacle-course styled activity based on doing household movements for classmates to promote exercise

Eco Clubs and Single Use Plastic

Grades 9-12

Meet Bashshar, a Grade 11 student with a passion for the environment. Listen as he shares the local climate action projects he’s led to promote environmental and climate awareness in his community.

Activities

• Eco-Groups are a great way to take environmental education beyond the classroom and inspire youth to take action and connect with their passions. Here are some suggestions on how to successfully support an Eco-Group at your school
• Watch It's not me, it’s you and pledge to go zero waste and give up single-use plastics
• Calculate your personal plastic consumption, then use suggested tips to help break free from single-use plastics!

About Learning Inside Out

Above you will find a selection of activities, broken down by various grade levels. These guides will be released biweekly and archived on our Learning Inside Out page, so you can always access the full catalogue.

Some of the activities have been modified from resources on our R4R database, simplified and adapted for both outdoor learning in the school yard or at-home as needed. The activity descriptions above should contain all the information and links that you need!

We want this guide to work for you, so your feedback is invaluable to us.

Please complete the feedback form below, or email us at info@LSF-LST.ca.

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