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November 2012
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Volume 5 Issue 2
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Everything's connected...
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In the ecological literacy worldview every thing and every being counts--and everything is connected. It means constantly stretching our thinking--seeing from different perspectives, in different time frames, uncovering what is missing from a scenario.
We all do this connecting some of the time. As we become more ecologically literate, we make more connections on more levels. It sounds exhausting. No one can do it all the time. But once it's on our radar, gradually our thinking will more readily fall into connection-making alongside thinking in "silos". (See the "Connection-making resources" below.)
WWF has produced many short videos on this theme of interconnection. Treat yourself--take 6 minutes soon to experience the message visually! Our guess is that Because we're all connected (41 seconds) will work for even the youngest audience. Then take a look at Not Another Nature Film (5:10), a playful and serious story about the interconnections between Earth's ecosystems and people. Suitable for classroom viewing?
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Making connections vs. thinking in silos
Last week NDP environment critic Megan Leslie raised concerns in parliament that the revised Navigable Waters Protection Act will apply to fewer bodies. After Leslie pointed out that the Act's own FAQ page mentioned the environment 23 times, the page was rewritten by the following day, removing nearly all 'environment' references. Mention of the revised Environmental Assessment Act (2012) was removed because it no longer triggers assessment of approvals. But is there really no connection between protecting navigable waters and the environment? To learn more, read the Toronto Star
story, Canada scrubs NDP comments
and 'environment' from website. |
EcoSchools scoring remains the same
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Some things don't change!
In spite of the difficult work situation, the EcoSchools' scoring system and standards will remain unchanged. To guard the integrity of the program over time, what stands for achievement at any level of certification this year needs to measure up to what is required every other year. Schools wishing to maintain their present status may need to find creative solutions to continue to meet the requirements, perhaps through a variation on the activities regularly included in their programs. Others may wish to take a step back and make this a building year, so that they will start off with a strong program the following year. Whatever stage you find yourselves at, we are here to help. See the EcoSchools Program Guide for our contact information.
Please keep in touch!
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Demonstration EcoSchools 2012-13
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| WWF - Threads - We Are All Connected |  |
 Print out and pin up! These dates REPLACE the dates listed in the EcoSchools Program Guide. |
The Demonstration EcoSchool visit plunges you into the midst of professional knowledge in action and offers a chance to see with your own eyes, ask questions, and share best practices. This program includes a full day visit where you will observe an indoor and outdoor lesson with a focus on ecological literacy, tour the school to see the program "look-fors," have time to debrief, and then begin your own planning. Follow-up later is available as well!
Who should attend?
The Demonstration EcoSchool session is especially helpful if your school is just getting started, or wants to strengthen the program, or is looking for ways to deepen its ecological literacy.
Teacher release: 2 teachers/school.
EcoSchools staff will review applications and confirm your registration.
Revised Schedule
Please note changes in red:
K-6 (except where marked otherwise)
- Nov. 9 Yorkview PS(*one lesson in French)
- Nov. 27 Bellmere JPS
- Nov. 29 Silver Springs PS (K-8)
- Feb. 28 St George's JS
- March 6 Dovercourt JPS (K-8)
- April 2 Gateway PS
- April 9 Dixon Grove JMS (K-8)
- April 30 Forest Manor PS
- TBA Clinton JPS
Secondary
- March 5 Kipling CI
- March 20 Cedarbrae CI
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World population: see how we've grown!Watch the video filling up (2:33) with its vivid picture of world population growth from .3 billion people a thousand years ago to our present 7 billion. Do the graphics make this mind-boggling set of numbers easier for students to understand?
From the Certification Toolkit--mapping tools that invite connection-making:
concept-mappingUNICEF: Climate change
and children
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Vivid illustration of how climate change and children's basic rights are intertwined. What is good for children is good for the planet!
Have you checked out COOL 2.0?Step Outside Visit the Resources for Rethinking (R4R) Step Outside guide to nature's events. Published frequently, these seasonal happenings can be used to bring nature into any classroom. (Written in the Kawartha area; slight adjustment may be needed for Toronto.) |
Connection-making resources
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1) Marvel at nature's connections happening at Bendale BTI where fish are feeding plants! View the news clip
from Global TV's Green Industries series (Oct. 22) to learn about the success of this largest-in-Canada school aquaculture program. And come spring, those 300 fish will become food for keen students. Beyond systems thinking--this is nature's systems in action! Please report on your fish fry next spring. Congratulations all!
2) Upend your thinking with Michael Pollan's " A plant's-eye view" (17:29), a perspective that can jolt the way we see our relationship to nature--and the role of human consciousness in evolution!
3) Connect home and school with the Toronto Public Health department's dynamic 20/20 The Way to Clean Air energy conservation program. Resource packages will be mailed to all grade 5 teachers in November. If you wish to check out the program, visit http://www.toronto.ca/health/airquality
/2020/ecoschools.htm.
4) Connect climate change and children's rights. Help students learn about how climate change is affecting children around the world! UNICEF's 5-star rated climate change resource Climate Change, Children and Youth: Local Connections to Global Issues (Grades 9-12) is being updated to make it even more teacher-friendly, with an added focus on youth participation. To review this resource: contact Gordon Harrison at Green Learning.
5) Connect your teaching with the outdoors! To help fulfill some of curriculum expectations that ask students to observe and understand the marvels of nature, be guided by the wealth of resources in the Science and Technology department's Daily and Seasonal Change Kit for Grade 1. Book online by using Medianet. Just follow the step-by-step guide.
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Hands-on Inquiry in Science
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ACT NOW
Deadline for registering is November 9. This will fill up quickly!
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Inquiry is a critical tool for environmental education. Science and Technology is offering a 4-part PD series on inquiry-based learning (elementary) beginning November 14. Natural links to literacy and numeracy will also be addressed.
For information: See the Oct. 22 Direct Line notice.
Funding: Teaching and Learning (Science and Technology) will pay for two release days; the school or teacher (through JAM/JELI days) is responsible for covering the other two days.
Register by November 9th.
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| | Outdoor Inquiry in Science | |
ACT NOW
Deadline for registering is November 16. This will fill up quickly!
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It's worth repeating--inquiry is a critical tool for environmental education. Science and Technology is also offering a 4-part PD series on purposeful inquiry in the outdoors (for grades 1-3) beginning November 21. Using the Science kits outdoors, weaving the seasons into your curriculum, providing a context to gather and organize ideas for writing, and creating 2- and 3-dimensional art will all be explored.
For more information: See the Oct. 29th Direct Line notice.
Funding: Teaching and Learning (Science and Technology) will pay for two release days; the school or teacher (through JAM/JELI days) is responsible for covering the other two days.
Register by November 16th.
For full details and registration: Go to Key To Learn.
Contact: Annelies Groen or 416-809-2587
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| Green Teacher webinar series |
Green Teacher
| One hour sessions, led 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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Only teachers who subscribe to this newsletter through their TDSB account have access to Green Teacher (GT) magazine. If you switch to your TDSB account, you will be able to access two specially assembled lists of GT articles-with a focus on Science and Technology and elementary-only curriculum.
We have been asked to protect the small revenue stream that comes from subscribers, which is why we do not publish user name and password to non-TDSB accounts.
Contact Diana Suzuki with your address change! Diana can then send you the TDSB version of both September and October newsletters with full Green Teacher access.
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Vandana Shiva at OISE on Monday, Nov. 12
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Glance at on Vandana Shiva to sample some of her latest thinking on "seed slavery" and the threat that corporate control of Earth's seed supply represents! | 
Here's an opportunity to hear this internationally acclaimed environmentalist, educator, author, and activist who has inspired millions. She will talk about "Ecological Feminism and Earth Democracy: Occupying Life/The Seed."
Monday, November 12, 2012
Getting tickets: Sponsored by OISE's Centre for Women's Studies in Education, this event is FREE. Go to the Centre's office at OISE (Room 2-225, 252 Bloor St. W. Mon-Thurs, 12-3pm), or at Wonderworks (79a Harbord St, Mon-Fri 10:30 am-7pm, Sat 10:30 am-6pm, Sun 12-5pm, www.gowonderworks.com).
Limit 3 per person. Act now! First come, first-served.
Ticket holders must arrive by 6:30 pm, after which doors will be opened to all.
Location: Auditorium, 252 Bloor St W (OISE), Toronto (wheelchair accessible)
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Celebrate! Holidays of the Global Village
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"Water: Where Does It Come From?" UN World Environment Day International Children's Painting Competition Without water, there will be no life on Earth--plant, animal, or human. Here's a special opportunity for students (age 6-14 on June 5, World Environment Day 2013) to create paintings that express their thoughts and feelings about water as the source of all life on Earth! What ways can we help to ensure a healthy, secure, and sustainable water supply for all communities? Rules: here. Entry deadline: March 1, 2013. E-mail: Daiva.Kacenauskaite@unep.org
|  This playful musical journey explores the many winter holidays and festivities that are part of multicultural Toronto life. Come to experience (and sing!) some of the songs of Bodhi Day (Buddhist), Carnival (Quebec), Chanukah, Chinese New Year, Christmas, Diwali, Eid, Indigenous traditions, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, and Winter Solstice. Performances by Chris McKhool and special guests Suba Sankaran, Aviva Chernick, Shannon Thunderbird, Maryem Hassan Tollar, Ernie Tollar, Jordan Klapman, and more! Where: St George the Martyr Anglican Church, 197 John Street N (in Gage Park), Toronto When: Saturday, November 24, 1:00pm Cost: Free Monetary donations and non-perishable food items are greatly appreciated! Funds raised will be donated to Arts Can Circle, with food going to the Daily Bread Food Bank.
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Free recycling presentations
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What is the Orange Drop program?
Go to makethedrop.ca to learn more!
Get your class sets of 2012
Recycling Calendars now
While the calendars will soon be out of date, the information in them is not. This resource might be a great way to build literacy skills and ecological literacy knowledge at the same time! Take a look
at the scavenger hunt developed in 2010 by Smithfield PS Green Raiders with teacher Denise Oliver. Let us know if
you find ways to make it even better!
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Stewardship Ontario has hired environmental educator Liz Rice to present a limited number of free Blue Box recycling and "Orange Drop" presentations (about stewardship and how to safely dispose of hazardous waste).
Please note: This free blue box recycling presentation will be generic, unlike the interactive "Recycling in Toronto" presentations that Liz offers for $100.
Both free presentations are for Grade 2+ and delivered in either classroom or assembly-style.
For more information about these and other eco presentations: contact Liz Rice at me@lizrice.ca or
416-275-7059
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Classroom "Energy Diet Challenge"
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Launch date: February 4, 2013. More details to come |
Add curriculum-based energy challenges to re-charge your teaching and allow your class to be a part of National Geographic's Classroom Energy Diet Challenge. With each completed challenge, the class earns points and a corresponding badge. More challenges = more points = educating and inspiring others to save energy...and prizes!
Sign up for the Energy Diet by: January 20, 2013
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Funding Opportunities for Schools
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NO IDLING signs for schools
Please note:
You must talk to your caretaker to arrange for sign installation. This added cost is also covered by the school.
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Toyota Evergreen Learning Grounds School Ground Greening Grants deadline November 16, 2012
Canadian Wildlife Federation Habitat 2020 deadline November 30, 2012
TD Friends of the Environment Foundation deadline December 15, 2012
Majesta "Trees of Knowledge" Outdoor Classroom Competition deadline Jan 13, 2013
Thanks to Ontario EcoSchools for assembling this information.
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From the editors' desk...
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Special thanks to our co-op student Akash Patel for his work on re-designing this e-newsletter. We hope it makes it easier to read!
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Staying connected
This year schools are in our thoughts even more than usual, if that is possible! The team reports that people attending the kick-offs are showing remarkable resilience even though the work situation remains difficult. Whether or not you are at a school where EcoSchools is proceeding "almost as usual," we never doubt your commitment to its values. To whatever extent you are able to use the environment as a context for framing classroom learning, you will be meeting many of the expectations of Section 4: Improve Student Achievement through Ecological Literacy. For resources that can shine a light on how connecting your curriculum to the environment can enrich student learning, check out our past issues where we will soon add an annotated list of content for quick references.
Best wishes
Eleanor Dudar, Jenn Vetter and Diana Suzuki
P.S. Have a happy and waste-free as possible Hallowe'en!
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