Green Day 2010Birley Community College, Sheffield29 June

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Green Day at Birley Community College, Sheffield

The whole of year 7 participated in Green Day at Birley Community College. These learning activities were part of a Green Week when many other environmental events were also held.

Green Day had an international feel with the school focusing on the global impact of climate change, comparing their carbon footprint with that of their partner school in Zanzibar . The school planned their event with help from the Development Education Centre (South Yorkshire) which promotes development and global perspectives of the curriculum.

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Development Education Centre (South Yorkshire)

"We have been working with Birley Community College to trial the Carbon Partners model - they are aiming to pay off their carbon debt to their partner school in Zanzibar. Green Day gave us a fantastic opportunity to get more teachers and students on board in a fun and creative way. I think Green Day will definitely become an annual event at Birley!"

Emily Clark, Development Education Centre (South Yorkshire) www.carbonpartners.org.uk

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Birley Community College

“Green Day offers a deep learning opportunity. Overall, students developed their Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) and Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS) throughout the day as well as being thoroughly engaged and inspired to take action that will make a difference locally and globally.”

Gavin Townsend, Birley Community College

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Activity one

Students calculated their school’s carbon footprint using a range of information about their buildings and behaviour that they’d gathered before the lesson.

Take a look at the activities ‘Find out your school’s footprint’ on page 11 and ‘Work out your class’s footprint’ on page 17 of the Green Day teachers’ activity kit. These will help you to do something similar at your school.

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Activity two

Students played a game of top trump cards to improve their understanding of countries around the world affected by climate change. Among other things, these cards encouraged them to compare the CO2 emissions, relative wealth and mortality rates.

To see a lesson plan and resources for this activity take a look at the Engaging Places website:

http://www.engagingplaces.org.uk/teaching+resources/art83009

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Activity three

In groups students chose one of the countries that featured in the top trumps game. They researched some key facts about the country and made a to-scale carbon footprint which represented its carbon emissions.

In turn, each group stuck their key facts and carbon footprint on to a large global map summarising their learning for the rest of the class.

To see a lesson plan and resources for this activity take a look at the Engaging Places website:

http://www.engagingplaces.org.uk/teaching+resources/art83009

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Activity four

Birley Community College has developed its own grounds to grow some fruit and vegetables. Students harvested their produce and tended the plants.

Take a look at ‘Grow your own lunch’ on page 24, ‘Bottle greenhouse’ on page 34, and ‘Design and create’ on page 41 in the Green Day teachers’ activity kit for more ideas about how to develop the environmental credentials of your school grounds.

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Activity five

In the afternoon students were treated to a talk from a Kenyan Maasai. The Maasai are traditionally nomadic pastoralists looking after herds of animals, but climate change is endangering this traditional way of life, as changing rain patterns have led to many of the cows dying.

The activities Reading photos (page 30) and Partner up (page 41) of the Green Day teacher’s activity kit will support you and your pupils to further consider the global effects of climate change.

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Image credits

All images © Ashley Bingham, A&M Photography Ltd

These images are licensed for use in non profit making organisations only. By using these images you agree to abide by copyright restrictions and use them only in the course of your normal professional work. You also agree to credit the photographer of each image you use. If you want to use any of the images in a different context then permission must be sought from CABE (in the first instance) and the photographer concerned. Contact awexler@cabe.org.uk

Thanks to staff and students at Birley Community College Sheffield