"Be part of a movement for change. We can. We will. Will you?"  

These words are WWF's video invitation to take part in the global Earth Hour on Saturday March 31st, 8:30-9:30 pm. The Great Big Crunch on Thursday, March 8th invites students to partake in a Canada-wide simultaneous snack by eating an apple--one that is as locally grown as possible, to link healthy eating and a healthy environment. This year's UN World Water Day on Thursday, March 22nd focuses on water and food security. Any of these campaigns can become a means to enliven students' learning and help them to see its relevance to real-world issues. Such a list would be incomplete without a mention of March Break--another very big reason that March is special to teachers and students alike!

Wendy Abbot would say that April is special too! Let us know you want to be (re)certified before April 27th! Go online now and begin your application. 

 EcoSchools Section 1: Question 1.6; Section 4: Questions 4.3, 4.5; Section 5: Questions 5.5, 5.7

Earth Hour global organizers now encourage us to "go beyond the hour," which as EcoSchools you already do. The hour demonstrates, however briefly, that we're all in this together. It acts as a simple reminder of how much we rely on electricity. And asks us where we can cut back. Every kilowatt of electricity saved means fewer climate-changing greenhouse gases produced! Our own TDSB Earth Hour occurs Friday, March 30th from 2:00-3:00 pm. Last year we reduced electricity use during our in-school Earth Hour by a record 29.9%. Can we go even lower this year?  

Connections to curriculum abound (gr.5 conservation of energy and resources, gr.6 electricity and conservation, gr. 9 electricity and the environment, gr.10 climate change). In past years, both elementary and secondary schools have reported on the silence in school that often comes with observing Earth Hour. For those who stay indoors, halting the incessant electric buzz seems to open a space for quiet concentration and reflection. Earth Hour encourages some teachers to take learning outdoors, with a neighbourhood walk or a more focused electricity walk. (Thanks to Esther Ashby and Steve Bibla for sharing these ideas!) Even those somewhat reluctant to go outside find that it makes sense to do so during Earth Hour, where the light doesn't cost a cent and the Earth is right beneath their feet.

Earth Hour 2012

Can Earth Hour promo videos  

provide engaging content for a media studies lesson? Earth Hour is now in its sixth year. A body of very short videos gives us a glimpse of different approaches to delivering Earth Hour's message. The very first Earth Hour campaign was designed by WWF Australia working with Leo Burnett, one of the world's biggest advertising firms. Many opportunities for different learning styles to be addressed--and engaging, topical, fun as well. The longer I sit with them, the more I see!

Here's a selection (most are 1 minute or less). We've included a couple of foreign language choices as well to remind us that Earth Hour happens everywhere!

 Earth Hour 2008 Australia - a visual history - 5:13 

Earth Hour 2009: Vote Earth - 31 sec

Earth Hour 2011 Australia - 60 sec

Earth Hour 2011 - 30 sec   

Earth Hour 2010 Belgium: The Dark Side Saves the Planet - 41 sec

Getting ready for Earth Hour - 60 sec

Earth Hour 2011 Azerbaijan Commercial - 46 sec 

Earth Hour 2011 Tijuana, Mexico - 1:46

Earth Hour 2010: Earth Hour Candle (a Leo Burnett ad) - 31sec  

Earth Hour 2008 - 43 sec
You've never seen a light switched off this way! Will appeal to the youngest audience!

WWF Canada 2007: The World Has Changed -You Can Too - 1:01
An "edgy" video for high school students 

Written at a Grade 5 reading level, Toronto Public Health's 20/20 The Way to Clean Air program is available to teachers and students of all grades.

To register your classroom call 416-338-8070 or go to the website. You will receive a 20/20 Planner for each student, a copy of the 20/20 TDSB Teacher's Guide, a colourful poster and stickers.

Click here for a quick glance at a one page summary of the 13 lessons or download the entire, beautifully designed resource. 

This workshop can prepare teachers to fulfill all Section 4 expectations.  

The Biodiversity Education and Awareness Network, in partnership with Learning for a Sustainable Future invites K-6 educators to submit applications to attend this exciting PD opportunitiy. The workshop will focus on exploring events in nature and using them to learn about biodiversity while addressing curriculum expectations through integration and inquiry. Participants will receive copies of Natural Curiosity and Connecting the Dots: Key Strategies for Environmental Education.  

Where: Belfountain PS 

When: May 4, 2012

EcoSchools Section 4: Questions 4.5, 4.6; Section 5: Question 5.7  

The 2012 TSS conference Water Issues: Acting for Change continues the school's proud tradition of examining current issues and offering models for making positive change. This year's conference will focus on local, national, and international issues that relate to water's use, access, and commodification. Each participant will attend 4 interactive workshops out of 10 being offered. To date, presenters from the Toronto Environmental Alliance, Protestbarrick, the Water Brothers, Stop the Mega-quarry, Toronto's Lost Rivers, Ecologos, and the David Suzuki Foundation have been invited to take part.  

To read about what you can expect from these sessions and for ongoing developments as more presenters are confirmed, check out their website! 

When: Thursday, April 26, 9:45 am - 2:00 pm

Who might attend? Secondary environmental clubs, social justice committees and similar student groups from schools across the city as well as individual classes are welcome.

Attendance limit: 200 

To register: Contact mark.fischer@tdsb.on.ca.

Act NOW to be part of this dynamic environmental education and social activism event.

 
In 1993 the UN designated March 22nd as World Water Day. Held annually, World Water Day focuses attention on the importance of fresh water and advocating for the sustainable management of fresh water resources. Each year a specific aspect of water is highlighted. This year's focus reminds us of the vital relationship between water and food security.  

For more information and campaign materials click here. 

Also check out Learning for a Sustainable Future's Resources for Rethinking classroom resource database. Bring World Water Day into your classroom with their top picks: Give Water a Hand, Quest for Clean Shorelines, and Water for All.

Join renowned environmentalist, primatologist, and humanitarian Dr. Jane Goodall for an evening of inspiration. The new documentary Jane's Journey traces her voyage from her days as a young girl with a dream of studying animals in Africa to becoming one of the world's foremost environmentalists. Dr. Goodall will introduce the film and take part in a Q&A and book signing. 

1st screening:

Bloor Cinema, March 22, 7pm

Purchase tickets    

2nd screening:

Ontario Science Centre, March 23, 7pm
Purchase tickets

For more information on this or other upcoming events visit janegoodall.ca.  

Irene, Emily, and Nicole along with their teacher Mrs. Reiken have supplied our readers with a vivid account of their adventure-filled day at the Evergreen Brick Works on February 2nd. Click here to read how their day became very special indeed, and led to several questioning looks as they returned home on the subway at day's end. We attach the conference program outline. We think it could provide a keen EcoTeam with ideas-starters for adapting some of these activities for a division-wide or school-wide environmental celebration, indoors and out. Let us know if it works!

Both Earth Hour and Spring tell us to "Get going! Keep growing!" We love Earth Hour because it offers so much flexibility, involving just as much awareness and action as your school is ready for, implicating as much or as little curriculum as seems suitable to your needs. Its inherent simplicity makes it ideal for students to do the preparation, be it for days or weeks in advance. And it's a wonderfully inclusive campaign--the youngest child can take part. We look forward to hearing about your plans--any time! And do send photos--even in the dark! And of course everybody loves Spring. Will it lure you and your students to take your learning outdoors? We'd love to hear of any successful ventures you undertake. Will somebody write to us? 

Best wishes for a March Break that takes you away from the daily routines long enough that you can bounce back into action at your school just in time for Spring!

The EcoSchools Communication Team
Eleanor Dudar, Jenn Vetter, and Diana Suzuki