What was tried in the classroom?
Kindergarten children were introduced to an 11 book Climate Justice themed collection. The collection was purchased from a grant and curated by myself. These Climate focused books were read and studied monthly along with an Outdoor School curriculum that focused on local environmental settings and the FOSS science curriculum. These three components when taught together brought deep learning in both local and global concerns and empowerment lessons in Climate Justice. Kids practiced their knowledge through a campus project in garbage collection as well as in a recycled item art show at the end of the year.
How’d it go?
The year was an amazing success. Kids left with knowledge and compassion as well as a plan in how to better care for their local and global environments. They better understood nature and the many ways humans need our natural settings to survive. They had fun with stories, art projects, campus clean ups and outdoor observations. I was incredibly excited and proud of the way my students responded to the new curriculum I created, inspired by the Climate Justice course offered through EathGen.
ClimeTime Training
Climate Justice League SW Cohort 22-23
Classroom
School: Centennial Elementary School
District: Olympia School District
Teacher: Laura Hendrix
Campus Cleanup
Students collected garbage around campus
Outdoor Exploration
Students used outdoor notebooks to record their observations
Campus Cleanup
Students weighed their garbage bags after cleaning up the campus
