Our Place
An Eco-Teaching Educational Course on Practical Environmental Management for Primary
Schools from Groundwork,
Foreword
Welcome to the Course, designed for teachers
in Primary schools.
There are two main objectives of the course:
the first objective is to provide you with sufficient education and training to
enable you to introduce a basic environmental system into your school.
· The second objective is to
give you real examples and ways of teaching environmental awareness to your
children and introduce them to an understanding of how environmental issues
affect their lives at home, in school, in the community and in the world around
them.
The course is a mixture of information and practice,
interspersed by contributions by practitioners.
The programme consists of six sessions and
Groundwork staff are always ready to help you in any
way possible to make the project a success.
We hope you find the Course both valuable and
enjoyable.
Our Place
An Eco-Teaching Educational Course on
Practical Environmental Management for Primary Schools
Introduction
The importance of environmental issues in providing us all with a good quality of life is recognised by everyone.
Schools need to understand the key issues and how to involve pupils through the curriculum.
Schools need support in obtaining and interpreting the available information, understanding the educational benefits and implications for the school, and directly involving pupils in meaningful and motivating projects.
Our recent research based on national and local responses to environmental issues shows that the most acceptable point to introduce the subject is around Key stage 2 and so the programme is designed around this age group. (see Appendix 1)
Project Aims
To provide teachers with information and ways to introduce environmental systems into the school
To provide real examples of good practice and ways to teach environmental issues to pupils
To make links with and enrich National curriculum subjects and teach problem solving, and thinking skills
Project Approach
The project is based on a modular course of six sessions related to environmental issues and their implementation.
The general pattern is to follow up an information session with practical work in the school.
The course is custom made for the participating schools, since the school based projects will be developed by the school in co-operation with Groundwork Trust staff.
An Eco-Teaching Educational Course
Course Content
Session 1 Introduction
The Course aims and objectives
What do we mean by the environment?
Why should we bother with the environment?
What can we do about the environment?
Examples of school Projects
Links with the National Curriculum
Group discussion on ways forward
Session 2 School Projects
Visit to each school to introduce:
Agenda 21
Case studies in: Energy, Water, Electricity, Waste
How selected Case studies could be adapted to the school
Draft a project for the school
Who will involved - teachers, pupils, administrators, support staff; parents, companies, environmental organisations?
What links will be made with the Curriculum
When will the project be carried out?
What will be the extent of the project?
What are the fmancial and materials costs?
Setting up an environmental school audit
Session 3
Feedback from teachers
Learning and teaching styles
Problem solving processes
Information and Resources
Monitoring the project
The next phase of school projects
Projects into Practice
Session 4 Delivery of School Projects
Groundwork staff assisting with the delivery of the projects in schools
Session 5 Review of all school Projects
Presentation by schools on the current status of their own projects
Shared opportunities and problems
Help required to complete the School Audit
Help required to.complete the school project
Session 6 Review for each school
Review back in each school to see whether the aims of the Project were realised
What further help do schools require
Please note: Groundwork staff will be available to help outside these advertised sessions with expertise and materials
Our Place
An Eco-Teaching Educational Course on Practical Environmental Management for Primary Schools
Benefits to pupils
Encouraging pupils to increase their understanding of environmental issues through a whole school approach
Creating individual responsibility to environmental issues at school and in the wider community
Raising educational achievement through enrichment of National Curriculum subjects
Gaining practical experience in managing their whole school impact in their home, school and community
Studying environmental topics such as energy efficiency, waste minimisation, transport and water
Developing new skills, including, measuring, reporting, evaluating and auditing
Raising pupils self esteem and aspirations though practical, enjoyable and motivating project work
Using the complementary processes of problem solving and thinking skills.
Developing the information technology skills
Our Place
An Eco-Teaching Educational Course
Benefits to Schools
Enrichment of National curriculum subjects
Development of thinking and problem solving skills
Developing a range of teaching and learning styles
Cost saving on environmental areas including energy, water and waste
Knowledge of environmental legislation
Links with external organisations
Involvement in a 'National First' project
Good publicity for the school
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