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2014--more snow in hottest year, plus new online portfolio, free trees, bike racks, water bottle filling stations, AQ course...
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| November 2014 Volume 7 Issue 1 |
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Stay connected--follow us on twitter and share your great environmental initiatives with us!
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Pockets of cold in a warming climate
Looking for a way to reply to a climate change denier? Here's a 2:36 video clip that very clearly explains that there have always been "pockets of cold," even in a world that is getting warmer. And indeed 2014 is set to be another of the warmest years on record.
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Pockets of Cold in a Warming World
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"Understanding why one region differs from another takes an understanding about interactions among the atmosphere, the ocean and even human decisions, sometimes being climate smart can be as complex as the climate system itself." |
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| Forget November freeze, 2014 likely to be the globe's hottest year |
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NASA: Hottest September on record
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) climate monitoring chief Deke Arndt reports that this year will likely be the warmest on record. This seems counter-intuitive to people in parts of Canada and the U.S. who have had cooler than usual summers (see "Pockets of cold") above). However, the U.S. is only 2% of the world's area and the part that has been unusually cold is only 1.5%.
Why so hot worldwide?
"This heat is being driven by incredible warmth in the world's oceans, Arndt said. The six warmest months on record for the world ocean temperatures have been the last six months. Because oceans are big and slow to change that makes it more likely the world will set a yearly temperature record."
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Buffalo mega snowstorm tied to climate change?
Why is there so much snow in Buffalo if the planet is warming, the climate change skeptics ask. Turns out we need to understand "lake effect" snow which is currently increasing because of the warming great lakes. Read a very clear explanation of how this extreme weather is related to climate change--it may be a great aid to your teaching, or just to spread a little more climate change literacy around!
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New! Take a look at the School FS Home Page
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The School FS Home Page provides site specific information and special features of each school quickly and easily. Access your Tree Maps, EcoSchools Reports, Site Plans and more on one web page!
Check it out today! |
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Green Teacher Fall 2014 Issue is available now for TDSB teachers. | |
Click here for a contents summary.
To access the magazine,
click here and use these codes:
username: subscriber
password:100sbydz
Please remember!
Teachers are asked not to share the contents of this issue with educators outside of their school, as this would undermine the viability of this small, non-profit organization.
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We can all be 21st-century scientists |  | |
Great links to organizations to engage your students in citizen science are included
throughout the article. Well worth the read!
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Overview of the IPCC Report on Extreme Events (SREX)
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A concise overview of the 2014 report is not yet available. Why not take 5:13 to review the 2011 IPCC report? Nothing much has changed but nothing's getting better! See if you can persuade a colleague, friend, or family member to join you!
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Planet in Focus presents UN World Environment Day Student Film Festival 2014
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The new online portfolio: documenting your work made easier!
EcoSchools Section 1, Questions 1.1, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8
Documentation is central to the EcoSchools certification program. Like all areas of assessment, it shows our auditors where your school's strengths are, and points to areas for improvement. Equally important, clear reporting is needed from every participating EcoSchool to maintain system-wide confidence that program scoring standards are applied fairly. That is how we maintain the integrity of the program. Finally, it helps us learn where to make changes to improve the program. It benefits us all.
New this year--use the online portfolio to reduce paper consumption!
We hear a lot about the need to reduce the work associated with reporting your "evidence" of good work. Reducing the paperwork can be achieved partly by uploading your documentation to your school's online portfolio.
Use pictures more!
Reducing the amount of writing needed can be achieved by using well-captioned pictures to describe your campaigns, events, and other initiatives. Such visual displays mounted on bulletin boards could serve the dual purpose of letting the community know about your good works while providing students with focussed, curriculum-related literacy tasks through EcoSchools reporting. Well-taken, well-captioned pictures can deepen students' communications skills, demonstrate their importance to the team, build community...and yes, be worth a thousand words!
Make your life easier--start with the Portfolio Requirement Checklist!
The checklist provides a quick way to review the 16 audit requirements you need to meet. It can also help to focus your planning. And if your team is looking for fresh ideas, take a look at our annotated picture-book collection of best practices.
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Don't miss this deadline: Apply to be certified or re-certified by December 15th!
EcoSchools Section 1, Questions 1.1, 1.3
If you still haven't registered, do it NOW to be on the list for (re)certifying as an EcoSchool. It is quick and painless! All you need is a contact name, role, phone number, TDSB Outlook address, and a password that's easy for other team members to remember. If EcoSchools staff do not hear from your school by that date, you will not be eligible to have an audit and become (re)certified this school year. Please join us.
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Apply today! Free trees for our schools
EcoSchools Section 3, Question 3.3; Section 5, Question 5.5
The Large Tree Planting Program provides free trees to our schools. For long term survival it is important that these trees go to good "homes" where they will be kept healthy. Talk to your team and discuss whether you can meet the requirements to water the trees in the summer months.
All schools are eligible to apply. However, those schools with the least
number of trees and shade will be ranked higher on the list.
For more details, visit the Large Tree Program web page on FSweb.
Deadline to apply: December 19th, 2014
Questions: Contact Jenn Vetter
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Mandatory Green Bin Program to begin the week of January 12th
EcoSchools Section 2.2, Questions 2.2.1, 2.2.6, 2.2.15
Beginning in January 2015 all schools that are not already running a Green Bin Program must start participating as part of the Board's waste disposal agreement with the City of Toronto. The movement to organics recycling across the TDSB is an important opportunity that allows us to teach students best practices for sorting waste while reducing our environmental impact.
By December all schools will receive the materials needed to implement their program on a small scale. Starting the week of January 12th, 2015 all schools must start putting organic waste out for weekly collection.
Resources for the January 2015 Green Bin Program roll-out
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Waste audit resources...new video, updated guide, forms, and kit
EcoSchools Section 1, Questions 1.4, 1.6; Section 2.2, Questions 2.2.6, 2.2.13
Conducting a waste audit is an important EcoSchools activity--and for good reason! Waste audits help you identify key waste issues at your school so you can develop targeted action plans. They are also a great student leadership opportunity, and are required for EcoScho
ols certification. They can also be a lot of fun! EcoSchools has developed a number of resources to help de-mystify the waste audit process. Check them out and see how you can use an audit to help reduce waste at your school.
1) How to video: Watch this video outlining how to complete a waste audit at your school.
2) Review the revised Waste Audit Guide: Measuring Our Progress
3) Waste audit forms: Print copies can be found in the portfolio binder inserts you received during the kick-off session.
4) Waste audit kit: EcoSchools has created 7 kits to make it easier for schools to organize a waste audit. Each kit includes 7 labelled bins to sort waste into, 1 digital scale, 1 copy of the Waste Audit Guide: Measuring our Progress
If you are interested in borrowing a kit please contact Erin Wood at least 2 weeks before you plan to conduct your audit.
*Special thanks go to our OISE intern Jan Silverthorne and the staff and students at Earl Haig SS for their indispensable role in making this waste audit video possible.
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Change to recycling practice for toner and ink cartridges
EcoSchools Section 2.2, Question 2.2.7
The Computer Media Group is no longer picking up empty Ricoh toner bottles and Riso ink cartridges for recycling. It will now only pick up sorted laser, ink jet, fax, and ribbon printer cartridges. Detailed instructions are provided in our Certification Toolkit.
We need your help! Please collect and store your empty Ricoh toner bottles and Riso ink cartridges in separate boxes until we have a new system in place. Schools applying for platinum certification can expect auditors to check to see that Ricoh and Riso waste is being saved when they come to conduct audits.
Our thanks in advance to all schools for helping to set and maintain a high recycling standard!
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Updated resources and a new DIY guide
"Applies to many questions in each section--an interesting activity for your EcoClub!"
This year our guides have a new look and updated content! Full of best practices and essential tools to help with EcoSchools certification, many answers to your questions can be found in these guides. You can find all of our resources on the EcoSchools website.
The new DIY guide details the 5-Step Process for building your program, the certification process, and offers suggestions on how to prepare for your audit. A great resource for schools that are just starting out! And a great reminder for our seasoned veterans on the importance of planning, communicating, taking action, and getting ready for the audit by focusing on the look-fors. |
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Enrich your program with AQ course, water bottle filling stations, and bike racks...applications open soon!
The Environmental Legacy Fund allows us to boost schools' ability to take on projects that otherwise might not happen. This year we will offer funding for three initiatives to complement the environmental work that EcoTeams are already doing. AQ course: Encourages teachers to further develop their ecological literacy. We have partnered with OISE to offer environmental education Part 1 and 2 in the summer of 2015. TDSB teachers who complete the course will receive a $400 subsidy. Questions: Contact Pam Miller
Bike racks: Increase sustainable transportation at your school with new bike racks installed free of charge! All schools can apply, but will have to demonstrate need and evidence of prior efforts to promote sustainable transportation. Application opens January 7th.
Project Refill: Reduce waste and encourage drinking tap water by having a water bottle refill station installed free of charge! All schools can apply, but must be able to show a prior commitment to reducing plastic water bottle use in their school as well as plans for future reductions or educational campaigns. Application available December 2014.
Applications will be available soon on the EcoSchools website.
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Project Wild Thing film screening and panel discussion--November 26th, 7pm
"What might happen if a generation becomes c ompletely disconnected from the outdoors and the natural world? Earth Day Canada presents PROJECT WILD THING, a funny and refreshing documentary that looks at the increasingly fragile connection between children and nature."
A panel discussion and Q&A with the filmmakers will follow the screening of the film.
View the trailer.
When: Wednesday, November 26th at 7:00pm
Where: Daniels Spectrum Theatre, 585 Dundas St. E.
Cost: $10.
Buy tickets online or call 416-599-1991 ext. 106 to order.
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Tree Maps on FSweb now available for all schools!
EcoSchools Section 3, Questions 3.3; Section 4, Question 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6
Design Standards Coordinator Bruce Day knew years ago that  we needed to know what trees were planted on our grounds. In 2003 he linked up with the U of T Forestry department staff who saw that summer inventorying was a great learning opportunity for its graduate students. TDSB staff can access their school's tree map by visiting FSweb.
A teaching and learning opportunity...trees will never let us down
As the seasons change, we are often at a loss for outdoor winter inquiry lessons or activities. Fortunately, trees are good for studying anytime. Just one large tree on your school grounds can provide many opportunities for investigation and exploration.
Elementary: The tree inquiry chapter of Model Inquiries into Nature for Teaching Science provides opportunities for students to focus on trees and their surroundings and inquiries related to different tree parts and their functions. The chapter provides a wealth of background knowledge to support teachers as they guide student inquiries. The Numbered Forest article from Green Teacher offers a framework for mapping, identification, or the creation of outdoor challenges by using the trees as focal points or landmarks. You will find a variety of suggested activities and investigations to enrich concept learning in math, science, language and arts as well as support longer term inquiries about tree growth and changes over time.
Secondary: Investigating impacts of the urban environment on tree health, examining the value of trees and the services they supply from an economic, social, cultural or biological perspectives or correlating tree density to the quality of the urban environment can uncover unexpected connections between human activities and urban forest ecosystems.
(1) To evaluate urban tree health, check out the Tree Inventory lesson 2.3.1, in Section 2: Understanding Our Forests on the Growing Native Curriculum web page to assess tree health and overall conditions.
(3) For trees and issues of social justice consider two articles on tree cover in urban areas. "Inequality of Urban Tree Cover" presents University of California researchers' findings from examining neighbourhoods across the country with and without tree cover and are uncovering unsettling correlations between poverty, race and trees. Closer to home, the Wellesley Institute suggests that lower income neighbourhoods have fewer green spaces compared to wealthier neighbourhoods based on findings from Toronto Health. Check out Green Spaces and Active Transportation: HEIA in the 2014 Mayoral Election for the full details.
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Teaching About Invasive Species--a free copy coming to all TDSB schools
EcoSchools Section 3, Questions 3.1, 3.4; Section 4, Questions 4.2, 4.6
Invasive alien species are one  of the greatest threats to Ontario's biodiversity. They disrupt habitats and ecosystems, often crowding out native species. Their impact has never been more visible and closer to home than the invasion of the emerald ash borer that has turned lush canopies of ash trees to bare skeletons on many of our schools grounds. This dramatic and dreadful loss can become an engaging example for our students in the role of citizen scientists. Green Teacher's newest publication, Teaching About Invasive Species, offers perspectives, programs, and activities that will help you understand and teach this important topic. Articles provide many examples of students in junior to senior grades actively participating in citizen science, integrating the topic and materials into arts and physical education activities and learning about the ecology and impact of invasive species through GIS and Google Earth.
Instructional Leader Pam Miller recommends this resource for those of you who are looking for real world connections for teaching and learning about biodiversity, how people affect the environment, and how we can make a real and positive difference! Our thanks to Tim Grant and Green Teacher for providing each of our schools with a free copy. Shipping details will be provided in a bulletin in the coming weeks. |
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RBC/Evergreen Watershed Champions
For the 2014-2015 school year,  generous cash awards will recognize the best watershed education in Canada (1-$3,500 award: K-12) and for elementary (4 -$2,500 awards: Gr. K-6) and intermediate/secondary categories (4 -$2,500 awards: Gr. 7-12). What a great way to focus everyone's desire to achieve excellence!
Take a few minutes to visit the web page and examine the judging criteria to decide if your approach to water issues and watershed education will put your class or school in the running!
Materials may be submitted in English or French. For more information, email waterchamps@evergreen.ca or phone 1-888-426-3138 xH2O (426).
Abundant resources: The excellent teaching tools page includes teaching strategies, questions to get started, videos, and teacher resources. We'll keep you posted when the webinar series is announced.
*Deadline: Friday, April 17th, 2015 at 5pm
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| Resources for digging deeper |
On November 1st the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its latest synthesis report bringing together all the latest studies done by hundreds of scientists around the world on climate change science, impacts, and ways to address the issues. These reports are for government policy makers, but knowing what's left out partly explains decades of little or no action for the rest of us!
David Victor, professor of international relations at the University of California at San Diego and an author of an IPCC working group report, says "Anything that's politically contentious gets stripped out of the summary for policymakers....Every time the IPCC comes around, we have a crisper more worrisome set of messages about the trends in emissions and impacts of climate change, and then you don't see much connection between that story and what governments actually do." "That's because it's not really a scientific problem anymore. Essentially, everything that needs to be done to move the needle is political." (bold added)
Rick Mercer on science and our government
"[In Canada] pure science is no longer encouraged. We have a government that not only abolished the office of the national science advisor but they bragged about it. In Canada the only time you hear about scientists now is when they are being told to shut up or they are being shut down by a government who can't even understand what the scientists are talking about."
What reaction might a class of students, or a staffroom of colleagues, have to this 2-minute Mercer rant? The connection to Ottawa's response to climate change and emissions reductions needs no elaborating! |
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Short Environmental Film Festival
Grades K-8: Call for submissions
EcoSchools Section 4: Question 4.5; Section 5: Question 5.6
Planet in Focus invites students to make short films (max 5 min) on an environmental theme. What are your students doing to help the planet? What EcoSchools activities might they share with the world?
Films will be screened at the Art Gallery of Ontario on June 4th, 2014 for World Environment Day.
Genres: PSA, live action, drama, comedy
Submission deadline: May 1st, 2015
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Team Up For Green--help TDSB schools earn bike racks!
The TDSB and Toronto  Hydro have teamed up to help TDSB schools earn bike racks! Team Up For Green, a unique fundraising initiative which comes at no cost to families or schools, encourages Toronto Hydro customers to sign up for free programs and services (paperless billing, automatic payments and peaksaver PLUSŪ). If sign-up goals are met during the October 1st to November 30th, campaign period, the TDSB will receive $250,000 towards the purchase and installation of 500 new bike racks at schools!
I'm a Toronto Hydro customer! How can I help?
Not a Toronto Hydro customer? You can still help!
Spread the word to your family and friends! Every single sign-up raises funds for bike racks at TDSB schools. Then visit TeamUpForGreen.com and download coupons to save on energy-efficient products for your home.
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From the editor...
This issue marks the 7th anniversary of the EcoSchools newsletter. For the past seven years I have had the great fortune of working side-by-side with Eleanor Dudar on writing and producing the newsletter. Earlier this year, Eleanor retired after more than 20 years of championing the environment at our Board. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank her, on behalf of the EcoSchools staff and all of our schools, for her efforts. This newsletter is but one of the legacies that she leaves behind and I will endeavour to do it justice.
All the best,
Jenn Vetter
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