EcoSchools Newsletter | Volume 7 Issue 5 | May 2015

In this issue...get outside in June; celebrate and share your EcoSchools success stories; join Bike to School Week; Enrich your EcoSchools program--apply for free bike racks, large trees, and water refill stations; check out the PD opportunities--OAGEE Summer Institute & teachers' forestry tour and more!!

  

Stay connected--follow us on twitter and share your great environmental initiatives with us
 
ECOSCHOOLS NEWS
Pollinating Partnerships: June 3rd--Celebrating and Sharing EcoSchools Success Stories 
EcoSchools Section 5: Questions, 5.4 and 5.5

Calling all EcoSchools Teachers and Staff: Join us for a Celebration of Environmental Leadership! 
Hear your colleagues talk about the successes and challenges of environmental learning in their own classrooms, and share your own stories to inspire others. Celebrate the success stories of EcoSchools across Toronto! This year-end event is open to TDSB teachers and staff working in EcoSchools. A light dinner is provided. 

 

Co-sponsored by the TDSB EcoSchools Program and OISE's Environmental & Sustainability Education Initiative 

Educational Exhibits 3:00 -5:00pm 

Environmental organizations focused on nature-based learning will be showcasing their programs and resources.

 

Registration is limited! 

Register at: http://pollinating-partnerships2015.eventbrite.com 

When: Wednesday June 3rd, 2015 

Time: 4:30 - 6:30pm 

Where: OISE Library, University of Toronto, 252 Bloor St. West 

TTC: St. George Station 

Questions: Contact Pam Miller

ENRICH YOUR ECOSCHOOLS PROGRAM
Applications are now open for FREE bike racks, large trees, and water refill stations!
Bike Rack Program: Increase sustainable transportation at your school with new bike racks installed free of charge! All schools are eligible to apply, but will have to demonstrate need and evidence of prior efforts to promote sustainable transportation. Visit the Bike Rack Program  webpage for more details and the application form. 
Questions: Contact Kristen Evers

 

Active, Safe and Sustainable Transportation Initiative Ideas

Get ideas on how to build a program at your school that supports active, safe, and sustainable transportation among students and staff. From targeted communications to bike rodeos, there are many ways in which you can promote sustainable transportation within your school and community.

 

Large Tree Planting Program: Addresses the need for more trees in play and gathering areas, the disparity among schools with respect to the number of trees and access to shade, and the current lack of biodiversity in our TDSB urban forest. All schools are eligible to apply but those schools with the greatest need (least amount of shade/fewest trees in play/gathering areas and communities where ash trees have been ravaged by the EAB) will be ranked higher on the list. Selected schools will also have to complete a second application demonstrating the team's ability to care for the trees in the summer months during the first 2-3 years. 

Visit the Large Tree Program webpage for details and the application form. 

Questions: Contact Jenn Vetter

 

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 reduce plastic water bottle use in their school, as well as plans for future reductions or educational campaigns. Please consider submitting your application in the fall of 2015 as past actions to reduce water bottle usage are heavily weighted. Visit the Project Refill webpage for more details and the application form. Questions: Contact Jenn Vetter

 

Project Refill Initiative Ideas

This resource provides ideas on how you can create awareness within your school and implement teaching/learning components that will help to educate students about water bottle waste.

 

*Note: Schools may apply to all three programs but are only eligible to be selected for one program in a given application year.

May 25th - 29th Officially declared as Bike to School Week at the TDSB

EcoSchools Section 1, Question 1.6; Section 4, Questions 4.4; Section 5, Questions 5.2, 5.5 and 5.6


Bike to School Week is a celebration of cycling and active transportation. This year students and teachers across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) will celebrate the first-ever joint Bike to School Week, May 25th - 29th. 

To participate, visit www.biketoschoolweek.ca and register your school's event. You will also find downloadable posters to help promote your school's event and a resource list of other cycling events.

Win bike racks for your school!

TDSB schools that complete a short survey following the completion of their event will receive a certificate of participation and will be entered to win bike racks for their school. Four schools will be selected to receive bike racks based on need and the percentage of their school population that participates in the event.

 

Show us how you're celebrating!

Share your events with us! Throughout the week, tweet us @EcoSchoolsTDSB with the hashtag #biketoschool

DIGGING DEEPER
Get Outside in June!
EcoSchools Section 4: Questions, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, and 4.7

Many of you are participating in David Suzuki's 30x30 Nature Challenge or have tapped into the TDSB Outdoor Education Centre's Get Outside Month Activities found on TDSB web. Maybe you have noticed how getting outside, especially this year when the winter seemed so long, has rejuvenated you and your students.

 

May is traditionally "Get Outside Month" where schools around the globe are encouraged to take their students out onto the school grounds for learning.  School grounds enrich learning by connecting students to their community, offer opportunities to participate in stewardship, and give real-world contexts for inquiry, as well as providing physical and mental health benefits.  International School Ground Alliance,  Green Schoolyards America and the TOES Get Outside Month sites have a whole host of activities to weave into your classroom curriculum and engage students outdoors.  Below, we have highlighted some of our favourites.  With so many great ideas and benefits for learning outdoors, you will want to take your students outdoors not just in May, but all of June as well!

 

Living Schoolyard Month: Green Schoolyards America

Roots and Shoots p46   There's more to a plant than meets the eye! Use a trowel to dig up and investigate the root structure of numerous schoolyard plants.  Learn how different root structure are adapted to different soils and environments.

Make a "Create With Nature Zone" p8 Collect natural materials such as leaves, rocks, sticks, flowers, cones mud, water etc, to support creative play and construction. "Create With Nature Zones" can be used during recess with minimal supervision or can be a station in an outdoor classroom area.

Follow the Water: Make a Stormwater Map p38 and Calculating Rainwater Runoff p40 Use these two activities together to determine how many liters of rainwater fall on the school roof. Compare this to the amount of water used by the school.  Does this water flow directly into storm sewers? Could this water be rerouted to water trees and gardens? What could students do to protect and conserve water that falls on their school ground?

 

International School Grounds Month 2015 Activity Guide

The ABC Mat p18: Create student alphabet maps, for students to work on their language, spelling and observational skills.  Student collect loose parts from the school yard and place them on the square that matches the letter on their mat.

Animal Perspectives: Mapping the School Ground p21:  Students map the assets on their school ground through the lens of a living thing.  What is life like for a worm on your school yard?  What treasures and troubles would a worm experience?.  Follow up with a journal entry-modelled  from "Diary of a worm" or Worm Life Cycle p24

Robert's Little Finger p25 This activity teaches ratios and collaboration. Students work together to construct a scale model of a member of their group Mathematics

GeoCaching in your School Grounds: p20  Many educators have recognized geocaching as a valuable tool that can enhance curriculum.  Use the website at www.geocaching.com , teachers can find creative ways to incorporate teamwork, social skills, problem solving and other challenges into their lesson plans- all while getting their students outside!


Toronto Outdoor Education Schools

Any Questions: Beginning of an Inquiry

Students will spend time outside in silence using their senses to discover the environment around them.  Working in partners, students will walk about the environment, record any/all questions they have, and work together to select their three favourites. The lesson will conclude with reading one of the storybooks provided, which encourages people to get outside and be present in their environment.

 

My Urban Story

Students will create a personal narrative of a favourite spot(s) in their neighbourhood.  They will consider the places that mean the most to them, identifying the specific location, taking a digital photo of the location, and then writing a piece of poetry or prose about the site that describes the significance of the location to them as an individual.

 

Pollinators in Peril

Students will visit a local green space, school yard, or park where they will make direct observations of pollinators in action. Follow up by researching declining bee populations (colony collapse disorder) and the possible links to Neonicotinoid use in modern agriculture.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
July 6th to 10th: OAGEE Summer Institute in Toronto
EcoSchools Section 4: Questions, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and 4.7

The Ontario Association for Geographic and Environmental Education (OAGEE) Summer Institute is a 4.5 day workshop immersing geography, and science teachers, grades 6-12,  in STEM pedagogy related to urban environment climate issues, featuring hands-on activities, lectures, tours, and interactions with GIS professionals, and experts from Meteorological Services Canada (MSC) and Environment Canada.


Teachers who participate in the OAGEE Summer Institute gain:
*increased understanding of the concepts and impacts of climate modelling, urban air quality and urban heat islands
*increased understanding of how to use web based 2015 GIS data to create and analyse maps
*time and support to create specific lessons and activities to take back to their classrooms using data from the unique monitoring systems in place for the pan Am and Para Pan am games
*increased skills in ArcGIS on line and experience how this web application is used in real world situations
*connection to a network of experts in weather and climate modelling air quality, public health, GIS  and peers with whom to consult 

 

Dates: July 6th to 10th,  2015
Location: TBA, Toronto
Cost: $100.00

Complete and submit the application form
                                                                       
Teachers finish the OAGEE Summer Institute with a wealth of new knowledge about the interrelations between weather, health and the natural and built environments of Toronto and how to integrate these topics and data into their classroom using ARC GIS for trans-disciplinary STEM learning. In addition, teachers will receive a certificate identifying their participation and the knowledge and skills they acquired. 

Free teacher PD! CIF Teachers' Forestry Tour
EcoSchools Section 4: Questions, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and 4.7

The 14th annual CIF teachers' FORESTRY TOUR provides opportunities to learn about forest science, research and management in a 4 day/3 night PD experience sponsored by the Canadian Institute of ForestryMeet professionals in the field of forest science and research, as well as visit forestry operations and product mills. Hands-on sessions coupled with field trips, curriculum based activities, forestry tours, evening workshops and socials are 

included. A great chance to become more informed!  This program is only offered in English but French resources are available.

Cost: Free but space is limited to 30 teachers

Who: Teachers of any grade level

Date: Tuesday August 4th to Friday August 7th, 2015

Location: Canadian Ecology Centre, Samuel de Champlain Prov. Park, Mattawa, Ontario

Registration: Complete the form

For more information contact the Canadian Ecology Centre, at (888) 747-7577 

or email [email protected] 

OTHER UPDATES
June 1st: Toronto expands soft plastics for Blue Bin

EcoSchools Section 2.2: Questions 2.2.5 and 2.2.6


 

Starting June 1st, the City of Toronto has added the following list of plastic film materials that can be included in the Blue Bin Recycling Program:

 

* milk bags; 

* select types of bread bags;  city of to logo

* sandwich bags (e.g., re-sealable type bags); 

* bulk food bags; 

* dry cleaning bags; 

* newspaper/flyer bags; 

* diaper outer bags; 

* fresh or frozen produce bags; 

* transparent recycling bags; and 

* over-wrap from toilet paper, napkins, paper towels, water and soft drink packaging. 

 

City staff anticipate that approximately 3,500 additional tonnes of materials will be recycled and diverted from landfill under the new program.

AWARDS/CONTESTS
The Great Toronto Tree Hunt!
EcoSchools Section 4: Question 4.6

Get outside with your students and engage with our urban forest! The city of Toronto is home to over 10 million trees of various shapes, species, and sizes. Many have led fascinating lives and hold special places in our hearts. LEAF would like you to help them tell their stories!  It's easy! To nominate a tree, just take a quick snapshot or an artistic photo (of the tree only--do not include students in the photo) and provide a brief description (10 - 200 words) of why that tree is great.  Your class or EcoTeam can nominate as many trees as you'd like online in each of the five categories. One winner will be selected in each of the 5 categories--each winner will receive a cash prize of $250.00.

Online nominations are accepted until May 31st.
View the contest rules here.

TDSB Eligibility

1.  Secondary schools

Students over the age of 18, teachers and principals are eligible to apply.

2. Elementary schools

Teachers and principals are eligible to apply

Include the TDSB School name in the Nomination form under Name of Group.

The winners will be forwarded Declaration and Release Forms.  Schools must forward these forms to Business Development for review and approval. Questions: Contact Jenn Vetter.

Greenest School in Canada
Think you might have the greenest school in Canada? The Canadian Coalition for Green Schools and the Canadian Green Building Council are inviting applications to their annual competition to find "the school that truly exemplifies how sustainability can be integrally woven into the infrastructure, culture, and curriculum of a school."  Last year, Dunbarton High School in Pickering, earned the honour by demonstrating these ideas through a variety of sustainable initiatives, both within the school and in their surrounding community. 

Read a full case study about Dunbarton High School.

 

Eligibility: Schools that offer any grade from K-12 in Canada  

 

Judging criteria:

  1. Efficient use of resources and reduced environmental impact
  2. Enhanced health and learning among students, teachers and staff
  3. Emphasis on sustainability and resource-conservation education

The winning school will receive $2,000 in prize money and the title of Greenest School in Canada and will be submitted as the official Canadian entry into the Greenest School on Earth competition.

 

How to apply: Complete the submission form and email it by June 1st to be considered for the Greenest School in Canada 2015 award.

 

Questions? Contact Erin Wood or Jenn Vetter for assistance.