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Available in four versions.
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Teachers must take
part in a teacher
training session.
Full day Saturday workshops are held spring and fall.
For more information or to register, click here.
Changing Currents
begins in April 2011.
Register now!
New: Students can
now also conduct 4 chemical/physical tests:
dissolved oxygen, temperature, Ph, and turbidity alongside the biological monitoring. Also, extra assignments created by teachers for more ways to incorporate Changing Currents into your classroom program are now available.
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Some facts about Toronto's drinking water | | |
The City of Toronto
takes drinking water samples every four to six hours to confirm the absence of bacteria. Tests are conducted on more substances than required by regulation.
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Spring Community Clean-up Events
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It's time to begin planning for
spring clean-up
of school yards, neighbourhoods,
and nearby parks.
From a TDSB computer
click here to register your clean-up event and reserve gloves (one per student) and large bags. Register early. Check Direct Line for updates.
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Green Teacher webinar series
One hour sessions,
lead by innovative and experienced educators. Each session features
a 20-30 minute presentation, and
30-40 minutes to ask questions of the presenter.
For a list of upcoming events and to register
click here
.
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EcoSchools--supporting learning in the 21st century
During her seven years on the job, EcoSchools Specialist Mary Lovett has experienced many changes in schools' response to the EcoSchools program. A big difference is in the quality of teamwork: it's no longer merely given lip service. "Even over the last year I see a big shift. We always say that a school can only approach a "deeper green" through getting everyone on board. This belief is now becoming a reality! Teams are stronger and more productive. More team members are taking part in making decisions. More gets done because responsibility is shared. Campaigns that are developed largely by students seem to have greater staying power with their opportunities for creativity, leadership, and good group work." These surely are experiences that can help our students thrive in the increasingly interdependent world they will face |
New this year: Early Bird Certification !
If you haven't applied to become a certified EcoSchool for this year, please do so soon. Early Bird special: Apply by April 8th and you can have your certification audit visit earlier, avoiding the crowded end-of-year pressure. Please contact Wendy Abbot to be an Early Bird! To apply, simply go to ecoschools.ca and click on Apply Online.
Not applying for Early Bird? The deadline for certification is April 30th.
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TDSB Earth Hour--Friday March 25th, 2011 2:00-3:00pm
EcoSchools Section 1: Question 1.6; Section 4: Questions 4.3, 4.5; Section 5: Questions 5.5, 5.7
Schools and offices are again challenged to use as little electricity as possible during the TDSB Earth Hour. And if you can go beyond the hour, all the better!
Earth Hour is an especially good candidate for a student-run environmental campaign about energy conservation and slowing climate change. Its sharp focus allows you to undertake as little or as much
awareness and action building as your school is ready for. It's a wonderfully inclusive campaign--the youngest child can take part.
Teachers can jump in to lead an Earth Hour Electricity Walk supported by the newly created EcoSchools lesson plan and PowerPoint presentation available at ecoschools.ca/Earth Hour 2011. Also included on the website are four versions of the 2011 TDSB Earth Hour poster/checklist, school stories and activities from last year. This poster serves as an organizing tool for classroom or school-wide campaigns.
Additional resources are available at both the global Earth Hour site, and the Canadian one.
Last year TDSB schools and offices decreased their electricity use by an impressive 23%. Can we do more this year?
The global Earth Hour occurs on Saturday, March 26th between 8:30-9:30 p.m. |
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EcoSpark: FREE high quality local environmental education programs!
EcoSchools Section 4: Questions 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5
Wattwize is a two-part workshop facilitated by EcoSpark staff at your school for grades 5-12. Students will do an energy audit of classroom appliances using watt metres. In the second workshop students will create a conservation. Click here for details, including how to get your own webpage on EcoSpark's website and be eligible for a cash prize! |
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Changing Currents helps students explore the health of their local stream or river. Students will learn about water quality monitoring through an in-stream assessment (hip waders provided!). In-class resources and teacher training provided. FREE. Grades 8-12. For more information or to register click here.
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Reflecting on the physical impacts of the virtual world
I-pad. Myspace. Youtube. Email. Is this universe as weightless as it seems?
Electronic communication seems like some ethereal activity with no impact on the environment. However, it is a very material and energy intensive human activity. Computers, data transmission, and servers all require metals and plastic for their manufacture, electricity to run, and result in toxic waste at the end of their life cycle.
Some of the hype associated with this industry deserves a closer look. Consider having your students check out the websites below to explore the impact of the virtual world on the real world. And let us know what happens!
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The path to sustainability: Another TDSB purchasing department breakthrough!
Contractors wanting to bid on a construction job at the TDSB can now
receive the tender documents electronically. This switch to a paperless operation will save paper--and of course, trees!
The environmental and economic benefits go way beyond saving paper. Purchasing Assistant Manager Facilities Contracts Dave Wells explains: "The contractors, anywhere from 8 to 27 in number per job, no longer have to drive to our office to pick up the tender documents. This savings in fuel and emissions would be substantial, considering where they drive from, and usually in a truck."
Congratulations!! In an organization as big as the TDSB, these seemingly simple changes take a lot of time and effort. Well done! |
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Water: The Exhibition
 EcoSchools Section 4: Questions 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6
Developed by the American Museum of Natural History in New York with enhanced Canadian content from the ROM, this exhibition takes visitors on a journey around the world to examine both the scientific and cultural importance of water. Using hands-on activities, live animals and multi-media displays this newly opened exhibit demonstrates the importance of water and what we can do to protect it. For a listing of the lectures and programs about water,
click here and go to pages 6 and 7.
School tours take place weekdays at 9:30am through to 11am. For school rates and a selection of online resources to help bring water related curriculum into the classroom click here.
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World Water Day--March 22
In 1993 the UN designated March 22 as World Water Day. Held annually World Water Day focuses attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Each year a specific aspect of freshwater is highlighted. This years theme is Water for Cities: Responding to the Urban Challenge.
For more information and campaign materials click here.
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May 9th-13th is STEP's first ever Bike Week...and the Bike Summit at the Toronto Brickworks!
EcoSchools Section 1: Questions 1.6; Section 5, Question 5.5
The TDSB's Students of Toronto for Environmental Progress (STEP) is organizing a resource-packed Bike Week dedicated to promoting biking at your school.
Thursday, May 12th is the Bike Summit at the Toronto Brick Works, with workshops, lunch, a bike bazaar, and a guided bike ride along the beautiful Don Valley bike trails.
Contact Erin Wood to receive the registration form. |
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Around the town
April is Nature Month at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). Check out its Friday night 6-8 pm lecture series (free with admission) revealing "nature--hidden in plain sight--in the city." Click here and go to page 11.
April 9th--Edward Burtynsky's OIL opens at the ROM. Fifty-three beautiful and provocative large-format photos explore "the highly-debated effects of oil extraction, the culture of oil, and the ultimate end of the oil industry around the world." For more information click here.
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From the editor's desk...
March is a favoured month. Not only does it have the welcome Break,
but it concludes with one of the most exuberant and successful global
environmental awareness campaigns ever! Earth Hour 2010 was the biggest yet, with 128 countries taking part. I love visiting the Earth Hour sites--check out the creativity bundled into the Virtual Light Switch or the Virtual Lantern-making activity on the global site, where you are also invited to share your activity and be part of a global EcoTeam working toward the same goal. The Canadian site offers downloadable posters, web banners, the Earth Hour clock, a special school participation page, and more. We look forward to hearing about the wonderful creativity that we know will once again spill out of schools and offices as you take part in this global movement for change.
On behalf of the team, very best wishes for a refreshing March Break!
Eleanor Dudar EcoSchools Specialist |
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