At-home learning resources from Learning for a Sustainable Future
WELCOME TO WEEK 4!
Happy Earth Week!
Every year on April 22, people all around the world celebrate Earth Day. This year is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day!

The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action —an enormous global issue, but one with many opportunities for action and change.

This week's activities foster a love for the earth, a connection to nature, and calls to action. The resources below were chosen to introduce climate action with age-appropriate activities that aim to equip students with tools and information to feel empowered to make a change.
About Learning Inside Out

Below you will find a selection of activities, broken down by various grade levels. These guides will be released weekly and archived on our  Learning Inside Out page , so you can always access the full catalogue.

All activities have been modified from resources on our R4R database, simplified and adapted for at-home learning as needed. The activity descriptions below should contain all the information and links that you need!

If you'd like to view the full original resource on R4R, including curriculum connections for every province/territory, click the activity title.

We want this guide to work for you, so your feedback is invaluable to us.
Use the feedback button at the bottom of this Guide, or email us at  info@LSF-LST.ca .

Hot Topic
Week 4: Earth Day - Focus on Climate Action
SDG #13 is Climate Action, which makes it a perfect fit for Earth Day 2020! Targets for Goal 13 include better plans for climate change mitigation, increased resilience to climate-related hazards, and improved education and awareness of the issue.

Fighting climate change starts with developing a love for the planet, especially for the younger grades. This week's activities are focused on learning about our earth and taking action to protect it!
All Grades
E arth Day Videos
Celebrate Earth Day with these short and fun videos for all age levels that will demonstrate the importance of this global celebration and show students how they can make a difference!

These activities connect our youngest learners to the natural world. Each activity allows kids to experience nature in their own back yard, or even from inside their home. The only materials you will need are: access to a window or any outdoor space, writing utensils and something to take photos with!

There is one activity for each day of the week , plus some additional puzzles/games you can do with your kids:
Remember to respect the physical distancing practices in place in your area while exploring outdoor activities!
What did you think of the Stay Connected to Nature activities?
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In this book ( available as a free PDF ), we follow the adventures of Anita and her friends Simon and Denis as they learn about climate change and its impacts. Together with their teacher, they go on an adventure to Greenland and the Maldives and learn that climate change affects the entire world, from the tropics to the poles.




After reading the book:
  • discuss how we can help solve climate change by reducing our carbon footprint
  • write a list of small steps you can take to reduce your ecological footprint at home
  • trace your foot and draw your footprint-reducing solutions (example here)
  • Bonus: calculate your ecological footprint by using this calculator (free, but email address or Facebook login required)
What do you think of the "What in the World is Happening to Our Climate?" activity?
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Grades 3-6
Climate Kids is an interactive platform that encourages children to participate in the fight against climate change using a series of games, activities and quizzes.

  • Try My Climate Actions to discover the actions you can take, according to your habits!
  • See how much you already know about climate change with the Climate Science Brain Buster! 
  • Discuss with your friends and family what you can do together to be part of the solution.
  • Create your own superhero and its renewable energy superpower with My Energy Superhero
What do you think of the Climate Kids activities?
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This video portrays Alec Loorz, a remarkable teenager who crusades against climate change. He spearheaded his own "iMatter" campaign and other climate change education initiatives and gotten his whole community involved! Alec exemplifies how youth can make a difference, and watching this film will inspire and motivate students to become more involved in caring for our planet.

Before watching the video , encourage kids to talk, write or think about the following questions:
  • What is your understanding of climate change?
  • Depending on the response, maybe take some time to do some research about this issue and have a general understanding before learning about the fight against it! 
  • What role do you think that young people play in the fight against climate change?
  • How does thinking and talking about climate change make you feel?
 
After watching:
  • How does seeing these amazing teenagers take action inspire you? 
  • Does it change your perspective of kids’ role or responsibility in the climate crisis? 
  • It is important to know how your community will be affected by change. Alec’s community, Ventura, would be directly affected by the sea level rise—what might happen to your community? 
  • What are some ways in which you can educate yourself, your family or your community and be a part of the fight against global warming?
How did you find the Kids vs Global Warming activity?
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Grades 9-12
This powerful story connects students to the effects of climate change and more specifically to the plight of environmental refugees. Set in 2028, an eight-year-old Caribbean boy, displaced by global warming, fends for himself in a hostile Northern metropolis and forms an unexpected friendship with an Inuk ice carver.


The video is supported by  a detailed lesson plan  that helps students explore the link between the the lives of the two persons who are the focus of the video and global warming.

Note: the link to The Tsunami & Cherry Blossoms Video in the preparation questions and suggestions for this lesson is broken. You can find the trailer here .
What did you think of the That Which Once Was activity?
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Virtual connection is more important than ever—share your learning with us using #LearningInsideOut and don't forget to tag LSF!
Let us know how this helped your learning & teaching from home experience and what you'd like to see more of by filling out our brief feedback form!
Please share widely with any parents and teachers in your life!
Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF) is a Canadian charity with over 25 years of experience working within the education system. Our Resources for Rethinking (R4R) database is an award-winning collection of resources that are peer-reviewed by certified teachers and connected to curriculum in all provinces and territories. R4R is recommended on many Ministry of Education websites.
Learning for a Sustainable Future
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