While thinking about projects for students, I couldn't help but remember an article by Julian Stodd on 12 Modes of Innovation
and how it is never enough to only discuss environmental issues in classrooms, but also to give students the opportunity to actually come up with their solutions and options of how best to tackle environmental problems.
One major issue affecting our planet is how climate change is affecting farming and food waste.
In a season when many celebrations will be taking place, it is worth pausing and considering how much food is wasted in some parts of the world:
One possible activity for learners, is for them to use Tricider and share their ideas and how they would tackle food waste in their countries/neighbourhoods.
Tricider is very simple to use as you can see in the video below:
Tricider is one possible way for a class to begin brainstorming, sharing and developing what Stodd refers to as sustainability and breakthrough. It doesn't matter how frugal a solution may be; what is important is that students are given time to think through possible solutions to an ever growing problem around the world. Other tools could be a Padlet, a video, a comic or cartoon, a podcast, a Flipgrid - there are choices for all and for levels of learners.
Whatever tool students are suggested to use for their project, it is worth remembering that it is not so much the tool itself which is stressing the learning, but the activity of identifying a problem, analyzing it from their perspective and together in their groups/pairs, finding possible solutions. Throughout this process students are evaluating, reflecting and thinking critically about the issue at hand.
And in many ways, offering responsibility to solve environmental problems which have been created by others and which are now left in their present and future.
Further Suggestions:
Debate Hub
Debate Graph
Persuasion Map
Climate Change and Our Environment
Extreme Event Materials - Earthquake, Flood, Hurricane
By 2030 we could throw away more than 2 billion tonnes of food
WWF report: Mass wildlife loss caused by human consumption
5 Tips for Teaching Kids About Sustainable Living
Our food system is broken. Here are 3 ways to fix it
Billions of pounds of pumpkin will go to the landfill after Halloween
USING PUMPKINS AS A PROP TO TALK ABOUT FOOD WASTE
Food Waste
Global Flood Map
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