#SchoolsForNature – During the week of 12th June RSPB, WWF, National Trust, Wildlife Trusts, Wildfowl & Wetland Trust and Woodland Trust will be leading a national celebration for schools that have taken practical action for nature this academic year. They will send them a Save our Wild Isles certificate signed by Sir David Attenborough and encourage them to celebrate what they have done with their community. Other schools can gain their own certificate, a free celebration support pack, and other resources, through the Save our Wild Isles website here.
.
Teaching toolkit – DERC’s Fran Hunt and Nicole Blum have developed a UCL toolkit on ‘Embedding sustainability into your teaching and learning’, which aims to support staff to develop educational experiences that empower and enable students to become leaders and activators in the global transition.
.
All Learners in Scotland Matter – This is the title of the final report of a national discussion on education. The report represent the viewpoints of those who responded to the call of ‘Let’s Talk Scottish Education’. It identifies themes and suggestions that had broad support in the responses. The key questions asked were what kind of education will be needed by the children and young people of Scotland in the future and how do we make that a reality? More detail here.
.
Zero Carbon Schools Programme 2023 – 2024 This programme, run by Green Schools Project, explores the causes and effects of the climate crisis, investigates schools’ carbon footprints, and enables pupils to design projects to reduce carbon emissions and inspire the wider community to take climate action. The programme is free for schools and also includes two teacher training sessions and support to involve the local community. Find out more here and start your school’s journey to zero carbon by completing this form to register an interest for the academic year 2023-24. On completion of the form you will receive full programme information and details of how to join.
.
Hope in Nature – The Wildlife Trusts will be hosting the first ever Hope is in Our Nature youth event in August this year. This will bring together 400 young people aged 16-30 from across the UK to create a supportive community who can work together to defend nature. Through workshops on craftivism, community organising, campaigning, and health and wellbeing, “Hope is in Our Nature” will empower young people to speak up about the issues facing nature that are important to them.
.
Teach the Parent – Teach the Future puts young people in the educator’s seat as they provide their parents with climate education through informal conversations. On Thursday 8th June, as part of Big Green Week and the UN’s Global Day of Parents, it want to show the impact young people can have.
.
Responsible Design – Earlier this year, Pearson announced a call to action for the future of design education. The proposal continues to evolve with contributions from teachers, industry and organisations who want to shape a reformed design curriculum and qualification. Details of the new proposal for Responsible Design and Innovation are here along with detail about how this would be achieved in the curriculum and through qualifications.
.
Derbyniad Seneddol – Teach the Future Wales|Cymru is holding a parliamentary reception at Pierhead Main Hall near the Senedd building in Cardiff on the 28th of June 2023 [12pm-1:30pm]. The reception is sponsored by Llŷr Gruffydd MS and will be an opportunity for Senedd members, young people, educators and other key stakeholders to network and collaborate on climate education in Wales.
.
Big and Green – It’s nearly Great Big Green Week. If you haven’t planned your schedule yet, now is the time. Hundreds of events have already been listed on the website, with more being added. From nature walks and beach cleans, to coffee mornings and upcycling workshops – visit the Great Big Green Week website today to start searching for events in your local area.
.
Rethinking Economics – This is an international network of students and recent graduates building a better economics for the classroom, with the support of academics. It says that Economics in universities can be narrow, uncritical and detached from the real world. It can be dogmatically taught from one perspective as if it is the only legitimate way to study the economy where there is no room for the critical discussion and debate that is essential for any student to engage with real world economic problems. With seminars focused on theory, and exams testing how well students can solve abstract equations. More detail here.
.
Kept Animals – We reported last week that Brazil has banned the export of live animals, but here in the UK, the government has withdrawn its Kept Animals Bill, which would have prohibited the same trade. Peter Kemple Hardy, UK campaigns director for World Animal Protection, said the move was …
“an abdication of responsibility by the government and betrays the promises made to the British public. Our research shows that 72% of people want to see stronger legal protections for animals. Government must ensure these promised commitments are delivered through private members bills. Failure to do so will allow the continuation of abhorrent cruelty to animals which millions of animal lovers in this country will not forgive.”
.
Do you Wishcycle – Matthew Derry, from Aston University says that if you are confused about what should and shouldn’t be recycled, then you’re not alone. And this is causing some people to ignore recycling altogether. His Conversation article is here. It has some implications for schools.
.
Green guidance – The Times reports that a coalition of more than 60 NGOs, business associations and consultancies have produced the first framework to help companies take action on climate and nature. The framework from Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) will focus on a pilot group of 17 companies, giving them guidance to measure their impact on freshwater pollution and land degradation, as well as targets to set about reducing them in line with the UN’s own targets.
.
Don’t Call then Weeds – The charity Little Green Space encourages us all to embrace the beauty of so-called weeds such as dandelions and thistles. It’s not clear whether they have a strong focus on working with schools.