Environmental Programs - Where to go for green tips
There are numerous places to find green tips for your school, early childhood centre or home. Here are just a few.
Transport
The Ride2School Program aims to increase the number of students walking and riding to school. It's good for health, education, the environment and the family budget. While it’s too late for 2009 Ride2School day you have a whole year to get ready for 2010. For more information and free kits: www.bv.com.au/join-us/125/
Professional
To link up with like minded professionals working across sectors and age groups visit the Australian Association for Environmental Education’s website at www.aaee.org.au/
If you’re in early childhood and passionate about environmental education then check out ECEEN (Early Childhood Environmental Education Network) at www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/nsw_branch/eceen.html
The Gould League of NSW offers information and programs to schools. It’s an old organisation with a rich history:www.gould.nsw.edu.au
Resources
If you want your school to be greener but don’t know where to start you may be interested in ‘SCRAP’. This long running not-for-profit organisation offers schools green buys for environmentally friendly paper, water tanks, books etc. It also offers environmental education programs:www.scrapltd.com.au
The 'Implementing the Environmental Education Policy in your school' document includes detailed and useful teaching resources, lesson suggestions and worksheet materials to assist teachers and schools in supporting their students' environmental learning: www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/policies/envired/implement/index.htm
Streamwatch is a long-running water monitoring program involving schools, councils, catchment authorities, landowners and other land managers. Closely related is Waterwatch: www.waterwatch.nsw.gov.au/
Murder under the Microscope (MUM) is an online environmental game for school students in Years 5 to 10, typically children aged nine to 14 years. Students solve a fictitious eco-crime via creativity and curriculum targets: www.microscope.edu.au
A federal government portal to get your appetite whetted. Whether you’ve after resources, curriculum support, audit tools or case studies there’s a good chance you’ll find inspiration here: www.environment.gov.au/education/aussi/index.html
FOOD
Seed to Seed: Food Gardens in Schools available at www.seedsavers.net.au
This book is written for teachers, in particular primary school teachers, as a planning and educational tool and covers areas like planning, management, harvesting and seed saving
Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Garden Foundation websiteis a great tool to get you thinking (and salivating) about growing and cooking food. There are case studies and even plans of school gardens. www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au/
Utilising local government , museums and gallery workshops and programs, working in with a defined day or week like World Environment Day or Water Week and local indigenous and arts organisations offer a myriad of ways to get involved and connect your school to the environment that sustains it.
|
