Clean Toronto Together! April 22 |
|
|
We acknowledge that we are hosted on the lands of the Mississaugas of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Wendat. We also recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis & Inuit peoples.
|
|
Welcome to the April 2022 issue of the TDSB EcoSchools newsletter!
Inside you will find valuable information on...
Fashion Impacts Challenge: Clothes-Minded
Organize a clothes drive, make money & win a prize!
Clean Toronto Together
Ryerson Citytrees Survey
For Our Kids Toronto
Youth Climate Action Grants
League for Green Leaders
Upcoming Webinars
Environmental Education AQ Spring Session
|
|
Fashion Impacts Challenge: Clothes-Minded |
|
Climate leadership, social justice and environmental stewardship - all rolled into one school-wide digital program. |
This year’s FIC: Clothes-Minded provides an opportunity for students to develop social justice and environmental stewardship through our curriculum based and experiential learning program. The challenge offers students a leadership role within their school community, while addressing issues within the fashion industry such as: diversity, sustainability, equity and more.
|
|
|
In teams, students will critically analyze an issue within the fashion industry, and build a sustainable solution based on their research. Teams have until May 16th to submit their solutions.
This is a fully digital program ($200) that can be done in your own time.
It includes:
- Industry webinars (pre recorded) on the topics of Greenwashing, Circularity and Social Justice
- Resource toolkit and guide for teachers along with rubrics
- Chance to pitch your team’s solution to win $1,000 prize at our Fashion Impact Youth Summit on May 27th; free attendance at the Summit even if your team is not pitching
- Opportunity to participate in our @myclothesmyworld social/environmental focused social media campaigns on Instagram
This is a school-wide challenge led by teachers & student leaders for those in grades 6-12. So one fee means every classroom in your school can participate!
|
|
TDSB EcoSchools will sponsor 10 schools (7 spots left!) to participate in the challenge (a $200 value). Complete this form to get registered - first-come-first-served. Any classes or teams at your school can participate. |
|
Hold a Clothes Drive and Make Money! |
|
TDSB vendor Recycling Rewards takes your old clothes |
|
Host a Clothing Drive with Recycling Rewards and generate funds for your school as well as helping the environment by diverting unwanted textiles away from landfill sites. Check out the list of acceptable items.
|
|
Clean Toronto Together - April 22 |
|
On Friday, April 22nd at 2:00 p.m. students, staff, and parents from across Toronto are encouraged to help rejuvenate our city’s green spaces by picking up litter in their schoolyard, neighbourhood park, or local community.
Register your school today (deadline April 15th) and celebrate Earth Day by joining over 500 schools who are helping to keep our City clean and green! You'll be amazed at what we can accomplish in as little as 20 minutes! (Note: Schools may opt to do their clean-up event at any time). Parents are always welcome to participate with the school. Families can also join Toronto’s annual spring cleanup events on Saturday, April 23rd and Sunday, April 24th.
|
For EcoSchools, this activity works perfectly for the Community Clean-up action in the ECA!
|
|
|
Citytrees Schoolyard Survey |
|
How can technology support place-based environmental education (PBEE) during emergency and non-emergency teaching? |
We are reaching out to let you know about an opportunity for teachers to co-develop and trial Ryerson University’s Citytrees Schoolyard Project. This project aims to facilitate place-based environmental education (PBEE) using innovative and open access technology.
This pilot project incorporates virtual and real-world experiences with schoolyard and neighbourhood trees. The goal is to determine whether or not technology can help remove barriers to place-based environmental education during emergency (remote) and non-emergency (in-person) teaching.
Are you an Ontario-based K-12 teacher? Are you excited to learn more, and possibly have your class participate? If so, please click to complete a short survey (takes about 4 minutes; please submit by April 14) and we will reach out to you with more details about participation.
This study is being conducted by Ryerson University in partnership with several school boards across Ontario. The study is funded by the Research Council of Canada. This study has been approved by the Ryerson University Research Ethics Board, REB 2019-003, and participating Ontario school boards.
|
|
|
Let’s Talk! Schoolyard Climate Conversations.
Schoolyard Climate Conversations (SCCs) are an initiative of For Our Kids (FOK) Toronto, a group of parents, caregivers and kid champions committed to building a more just and sustainable for future generations.
With the goal of supporting school community climate action, the SCCs have been developed to support the Toronto District School Board’s new Youth Climate Action Guide, which provides resources for student-led climate justice initiatives, and the goals of TransformTO – the City of Toronto’s climate action plan.
Recognizing that today’s youth are experiencing growing rates of anxiety related to climate change, SCCs aim to help adults to better understand climate change and how they can support young people in taking action. By providing resources and tools for making connections with local groups and organizations, SCCs are aimed at building community in and around our schools, nurturing resilience, and building more equitable and sustainable neighbourhoods.
Currently, For Our Kids is providing SCCs online. A full SCC is a 90-minute presentation and discussion. For Our Kids can also provide a 20 minute presentation to your school advisory council. To learn more and get involved go to our website or email us at toronto@forourkids.ca.
|
|
Youth Climate Action Grants |
|
The City of Toronto's Youth Climate Action Grants provide funding support for students who want to take an active role in advocating for climate action in their schools and communities.
Highlights:
- Up to $1,000 is available per project
- $50,000 in grant funding available in 2022
- Available to TDSB student-led groups
- Student-led groups are made up of 2 or more students (Kindergarten through Grade 12)
- Projects must also have a TDSB staff member who will serve as your supervisor
|
|
Wondering how to better engage students in climate education but short on time and resources? This Earth Day, bring the League for Green Leaders program to your classroom and build student agency on climate action - for free!
League for Green Leaders is an engaging online climate action competition for students in grades 3-8. It’s easy to implement, self-guided, and no-prep required which make it attractive to teachers internationally, including the US and Canada. Sign up today so students can engage with gamified, fun daily hands-on activities, and learn from building virtual ecosystems and competing with children around the world to reduce carbon footprint.
Those participating in the EcoSchools Canada program can submit your group's participation and actions using the Create Your Own Action Card.
|
|
Environmental Racism
Part 2: Monday April 4, 2022 4-5pm
What is environmental racism? Who does it affect? Why is it important to our teaching in the TDSB? Join Outdoor Learning Coordinator Sylvia Denton Carryl, TDSB teacher Aleeya Ali and Outdoor Educator Stefanie Hall in conversation to learn about and discover how to engage students in advocating for environmental equity. Teachers will have the opportunity to use ArcGIS to explore the impact of environmental racism on their local community. This webinar has two parts which build on the learning from one to another; it is recommended that participants register for both if possible.
|
|
Counting on Nature: Taking Math Outside
Monday May 2, 2022 4-5pm
The sun is shining, the birds are singing - who wants to stay inside to learn in May?! Join TDSB educators Laura Thompson, Rachel Wagner, Wesley Craine, and Stefanie Hall from the Toronto Outdoor Education Schools (TOES) team as they share innovative ideas for taking math learning outside. This webinar will introduce K-12 educators how to connect math to nature-based learning in schoolyards, local parks and neighbourhoods, creating new pathways to support math learning for your students.
|
|
Environmental Education AQ's |
|
Want to take climate action with your students? Looking to connect with other educators dedicated to environmental learning?
Join our Additional Qualification course in Environmental Education at OISE!
Part 1 provides an engaging introduction to teaching and ‘learning in, about, and for the environment’ for elementary and secondary teachers through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, workshops, guest speakers, and nature-based learning.
Part 2 takes your learning of environmental education to the next level. You will be collaborating with other elementary and secondary teachers to explore the connections between systems-thinking, eco-justice, and eco-identity in relation to environmental education, sustainability and ecoliteracy.
Each course features 12 modules of collaborative and independent professional learning, access to a rich set of resources, and many opportunities for collaborative learning and networking.
|
|
The best part? The TDSB's Sustainability Office subsidizes the cost of these courses for its teachers and ECEs ($400 in savings!)
Spring Session 2022
April to June: EE Part 1 & 2, Online
Summer Session 2022
July: EE Part 1 & 2, Delivery TBD
|
|
Additional Dates in April
|
|
Follow TDSB EcoSchools on Twitter and Instagram:
|
|
|
Be sure to use @EcoSchoolsTDSB on Twitter and @TDSBecoschools Instagram
with your environmental projects and outdoor activities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
