Climate Change Where I Live
With Climate Change Where I Live (CCWIL), students conduct inquiries into climate change in their community or watershed — explore the mitigation and adaptation measures required to address the impacts — and take action…
- CCWIL is a comprehensive Student Inquiry.
- CCWIL is tailored to core high school curricula in Science, Geography / Social Studies, World Studies, Environmental Resource Management, Religious Studies and others.
- GreenLearning provides all that students need to successfully complete their inquiry — a wealth of local and other resource materials.
- CCWIL fosters informed and positive student action…
- from leading a student virtual town hall with the Government of Ontario
- to tracking their personal actions to reduce their carbon footprint in our Take Action App
- “A truly stimulating educational opportunity.” World Studies Teacher, Toronto.
“Investigating issues around climate change locally and in a guided format is a very important learning opportunity for students.” Science Teacher, Bancroft. - CCWIL develops a deeper understanding of the issues and solutions — the best of 21st century education.
National Youth Climate Engagement Project
Engage your students in a national dialogue on climate solutions!
GreenLearning found twenty-five high school classes from across Canada to participate in a national youth inquiry and dialogue on climate solutions. This innovative program built on the success of our Ontario Student Dialogue and gave youth a voice in creating a low-carbon and prosperous Canada.
Students conducted inquiries into climate change in their communities, supported by GreenLearning resources and experts. It engaged them in authentic learning and inquiry, starting in their communities. They then meet in regional virtual seminars, collaborating with other students to synthesize their findings. In a virtual town hall, students presented their findings to government leaders.
This initiative was well suited to science, geography, world issues, religious studies, environmental resource management, and more. GreenLearning also provided professional development, resources for students to conduct their inquiry, and free access to tech support for all virtual events.
GreenLearning found twenty-five high school classes from across Canada to participate in a national youth inquiry and dialogue on climate solutions. This innovative program built on the success of our Ontario Student Dialogue and gave youth a voice in creating a low-carbon and prosperous Canada.
Students conducted inquiries into climate change in their communities, supported by GreenLearning resources and experts. It engaged them in authentic learning and inquiry, starting in their communities. They then meet in regional virtual seminars, collaborating with other students to synthesize their findings. In a virtual town hall, students presented their findings to government leaders.
This initiative was well suited to science, geography, world issues, religious studies, environmental resource management, and more. GreenLearning also provided professional development, resources for students to conduct their inquiry, and free access to tech support for all virtual events.
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Climate Change Where I Live was developed by GreenLearning in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Centre for Global Education and TakingITGlobal. Click below to learn more.
Resources
CURRICULUM
CONNECTIONS
Suitable for grades 9 - 12, for more information download the curriculum connections below:
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
- Learners will use inquiry methods to example impacts of climate change where they live
- Discover the implications of climate change on their recreational areas, municipalities, watersheds, and other aspects of life
- Investigate various topics surrounding the effects of climate change and present their findings to the class
- Collaborate amongst peers to develop their own focus question(s) and inquiry plan for various topics in climate change
APPLICABLE UNITED NATIONS’ SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Spiral Inquiry Model
Before you dive into an inquiry, we invite our learners to first explore GreenLearning’s Spiral Inquiry Model to understand all the steps required to conduct an inquiry.
Length of Time: 3 hours
Monitoring Ecosystems
This activity provides two important activity modes, the first being a background reading, the second, an exercise in summarizing and analyzing environmental data. The backgrounder provides essential foundational knowledge about the main topic (environmental monitoring). The activity that follows tests learners’ comprehension of the ideas in the backgrounder and allows them to apply this understanding using a realistic example
Length of Time: 1.5 hours to build + 3 weeks to observe
Ecosystem in a Bottle
This activity encourages learners to observe an ecosystem by having them observe and investigate a class bottle biosphere. The investigation will allow students to make connections between the bottle and the Earth as a whole unit and ecosystem. The lesson is not dependent upon success in creating a thriving bottle, as a dying bottle may create more discussion than a successful one.
Length of Time: 2.5 hours
Ecosystem Benefits
The watershed activity challenges learners to visualize and ecosystem through a special representation, namely a map. By examining information about a local or familiar landmark, this activity also enables learners to transfer their theoretical understanding of ecosystem services and benefits to the real world in which they live.
Length of Time: 1 hour
Energy Flows
Learners will be re-enacting energy flow through a simplified ecosystem by assuming roles, moving around, and passing cards from person to person. This will reinforce several important ideas in ecology in a way that will appeal to learners who respond well to physical interactivity
Length of Time: 1 hour
The Carbon Cycle
Learners are introduced to terminology along with background information on the carbon cycle, then they will read a story about the life of a carbon atom as it is passed from one form to another.
Length of Time: 1 hour
The Nitrogen Cycle
This activity provides an introduction to terminology along with background information, then provides practice activities in which students identify some transformations that occur in the “lifetimes” of nitrogen molecules.
Length of Time: 1 hour
The Water Cycle
This activity provides an introduction to terminology along with background information, then provides practice activities in which learners identify some transformations that occur in the “lifetimes” of water molecules.
Length of Time: 1 hours
Relationships and Interactions
Learners will learn about the potential types of relationships that may be found in communities. Using the Species cards, they will sort information into various types of groups.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Natural Disturbances
This activity is designed to give a quick overview of the central topic, disturbance in ecosystems.
Length of Time: 3 hours
Enough is Enough
This activity is designed to help learners quickly grasp several key concepts related to ecological populations.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Succession
Once learners are acquainted with a variety of types of ecosystems and the general factors of which they are composed, both biotic and abiotic, this activity will provide the opportunity to predict what may happen should the conditions in an area change.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Sensible Science
This activity gives learners knowledge as to how to plan, analyze, and troubleshoot their scientific investigations by giving them some experience whereby they practice their analytical skills on a variety of recorded experiments.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Making Good Decisions
This activity will utilize personal thoughts and points of view to construct meaning and knowledge through taking on the role of another person.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Our Ecological Footprint
This activity will help learners become aware of the interconnectedness of personal lifestyle and its impact on the environment.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Creating Change
Learners will investigate and consider a variety of actions that may have an impact on the environment.
Length of Time: 45 - 60 minutes
Meet the Co-Author
Complete a guided reading of Sila and the Land with the co-author Ariana Roundpoint and explore the creative process that went into writing this book with co-author Ariana Roundpoint.
Length of Time: 45 - 60 minutes
Choices and Consequences
Learners will be able to identify positive and negative consequences of different choices, while understanding that small choices can have large consequences.
Length of Time: 2 - 4 hours
Climate Justice and Action Through Art
Learners are provided an opportunity to create art, think critically about elements of art, and connect art to a local and global context. The activities can be done in multiple sessions, but need to be done together.
Climate Change Where I Live Inquiries
Length of Time: 3 hours
Monitoring Ecosystems
This activity provides two important activity modes, the first being a background reading, the second, an exercise in summarizing and analyzing environmental data. The backgrounder provides essential foundational knowledge about the main topic (environmental monitoring). The activity that follows tests learners’ comprehension of the ideas in the backgrounder and allows them to apply this understanding using a realistic example
Length of Time: 1.5 hours to build + 3 weeks to observe
Ecosystem in a Bottle
This activity encourages learners to observe an ecosystem by having them observe and investigate a class bottle biosphere. The investigation will allow students to make connections between the bottle and the Earth as a whole unit and ecosystem. The lesson is not dependent upon success in creating a thriving bottle, as a dying bottle may create more discussion than a successful one.
Length of Time: 2.5 hours
Ecosystem Benefits
The watershed activity challenges learners to visualize and ecosystem through a special representation, namely a map. By examining information about a local or familiar landmark, this activity also enables learners to transfer their theoretical understanding of ecosystem services and benefits to the real world in which they live.
Length of Time: 1 hour
Energy Flows
Learners will be re-enacting energy flow through a simplified ecosystem by assuming roles, moving around, and passing cards from person to person. This will reinforce several important ideas in ecology in a way that will appeal to learners who respond well to physical interactivity
Length of Time: 1 hour
The Carbon Cycle
Learners are introduced to terminology along with background information on the carbon cycle, then they will read a story about the life of a carbon atom as it is passed from one form to another.
Length of Time: 1 hour
The Nitrogen Cycle
This activity provides an introduction to terminology along with background information, then provides practice activities in which students identify some transformations that occur in the “lifetimes” of nitrogen molecules.
Length of Time: 1 hour
The Water Cycle
This activity provides an introduction to terminology along with background information, then provides practice activities in which learners identify some transformations that occur in the “lifetimes” of water molecules.
Length of Time: 1 hours
Relationships and Interactions
Learners will learn about the potential types of relationships that may be found in communities. Using the Species cards, they will sort information into various types of groups.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Natural Disturbances
This activity is designed to give a quick overview of the central topic, disturbance in ecosystems.
Length of Time: 3 hours
Enough is Enough
This activity is designed to help learners quickly grasp several key concepts related to ecological populations.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Succession
Once learners are acquainted with a variety of types of ecosystems and the general factors of which they are composed, both biotic and abiotic, this activity will provide the opportunity to predict what may happen should the conditions in an area change.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Sensible Science
This activity gives learners knowledge as to how to plan, analyze, and troubleshoot their scientific investigations by giving them some experience whereby they practice their analytical skills on a variety of recorded experiments.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Making Good Decisions
This activity will utilize personal thoughts and points of view to construct meaning and knowledge through taking on the role of another person.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Our Ecological Footprint
This activity will help learners become aware of the interconnectedness of personal lifestyle and its impact on the environment.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Creating Change
Learners will investigate and consider a variety of actions that may have an impact on the environment.
Length of Time: 45 - 60 minutes
Meet the Co-Author
Complete a guided reading of Sila and the Land with the co-author Ariana Roundpoint and explore the creative process that went into writing this book with co-author Ariana Roundpoint.
Length of Time: 45 - 60 minutes
Choices and Consequences
Learners will be able to identify positive and negative consequences of different choices, while understanding that small choices can have large consequences.
Length of Time: 2 - 4 hours
Climate Justice and Action Through Art
Learners are provided an opportunity to create art, think critically about elements of art, and connect art to a local and global context. The activities can be done in multiple sessions, but need to be done together.
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