www.ontarioecoschools.org

Environmental education in Ontario

Environmental education in Ontario—2009

Vision for

environmental education

in Ontario

Ontario’s education system will prepare students with the knowledge,

skills, perspectives, and practices they need to be environmentally

responsible citizens. responsible citizens.

Students will understand our fundamental connections to each other and

to the world around us through our relationship to food, water, energy, air,

and land, and our interaction with all living things.

The education system will provide opportunities within the classroom and

the community for students to engage in actions that deepen this

understanding.

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/curriculumcouncil/shapingSchools.pdf

The Bondar Report

32 recommendations endorsed by the

Ministry of Education

Ontario EcoSchools is aligned with and supports all the recommendations

Ontario EcoSchools helps schools:

• promote ecological literacy for all students• promote ecological literacy for all students

• establish environmentally sound operational

practices

• develop a process for continual improvement in

environmental education and operational practices

• incorporate environmental education into the

school planning process

• benchmark their environmental practices, assess

their progress and be recognized through certification

18 Public boards

13 Catholic boards

Boards using EcoSchools resources

(2008-09)

+Keewatin Patricia (Kenora, Dryden, etc)

School Ground Greening

Energy Conservation

EcoSchools helps students develop ecological literacy while engaged in

Waste Minimization Ecological Literacy

EcoSchools helps students develop ecological literacy while engaged in practices to become environmentally responsible citizens.

Energy Conservation

Waste Minimization – Waste Audit

Students assessing the contents of the bag

Students weighing garbage

School Ground Greening

Planning/ Designing

Planting/ Implementing Maintaining

Ecological Literacy

• Goal, Role, Audience, Scenario, Performance

• Students research an issue, • Students research an issue, develop a perspective and complete a product or performance task

• Sample plans for Gr. 2, 4/5, 7, Gr. 10 Science and Gr. 12 Chemistry

www.ecoschools.ca

EcoSchools Resources

GuidesCurriculum

Certification

• Prioritize student engagement

• Focus initiatives

• Practical, do-able

Program Guides

• Practical, do-able

• Board-wide or school wide

• Adaptable to board’s capacity, priorities, policies

Introduction to EcoSchools and the

EcoSchools Resources

EcoSchools and the Five-Step Process Guide

Five-Step Process

Energy Conservation Guide

ResourcesEcoSchools Resources

Guide

10 Energy Conservation Guidelines

(1) Lights are turned OFF when not required

Example Energy Conservation Guideline

when not required

How electricty is used in schools

28%

1Auxiliary

Lights off makes a difference!

45%

17%

10%

1

2

3

4

Lighting

Auxiliary motors

Auxiliary equipment

Space cooling

Source: Energy Management Program Review for Toronto DSB, p.14, June 2006

Example Energy Conservation Guideline

(2) Computer monitors are turned OFF when not in useturned OFF when not in use

• Wherever there is a light on, energy is being usedFor example, the computer monitor is still using energy if:– you can see the screen saver OR– if there is a light glowing anywhere on the monitor

How can I know that energy is being used?

• Wherever there is heat, energy is being usedFor example, if an electrical cord has a converter built in and it is warm to touch then energy is being used

Excerpt from The Power of One; see www.ontarioecoschools.org Forms & Templates

If 1000 computers were on continuously the electricity consumed would cost $84,884 annually.

If monitors were turned off whenever they are not in use, overall power consumption could be cut by 50%.

--Aladaco Consulting for Halton DSB, 2006

Energy Conservation:

Guidelines and EcoReviews

� One EcoReview for the whole school (snapshot)

� Reflects Energy Conservation guidelines (board specific or Ontario version)

� Assesses behaviour & practices in the school…board…province

What is an EcoReview?

school…board…province

� Key element of Ontario EcoSchools Certification

� Active student inquiry with staff supervision/input

� Informs the Action Plan

Energy Conservation Action Plan

Or use your board’s School Improvement Plan templat e

Waste Minimization

EcoSchools Resources

Waste Minimization

Reuse• 4 guidelines

Reduce

Waste Minimization Guidelines

Reduce• 3 guidelines

Recycle• 3 guidelines

(8) Recycle all paper

Example of a Waste Minimization

Guideline

(8) Recycle all paper products using a paper recycling system set up in all offices and classrooms.

Waste Minimization:

Guidelines and EcoReviews

Waste Minimization Action Plan

• Grade 1-12

• Complements EcoSchools Guides

EcoSchools Resources

Curriculum

Guides

• Updated with revised Gr. 1-8 Science and Tech expectations

• Provides reasons why Waste Minimization and Energy Conservation Guidelines are important

Ecological Literacy

• What is ecological literacy?

It is understanding

– how the environment works

– how our society and economy (human systems) depend on clean air, water, soil, etc. (natural systems)

– how human interactions with the environment can have both positive and negative impacts on people and the natural world

Stronger links to the environment result in educati onal results that show such evidence as:

"Reading and mathematics scores improved. Students performed better in science and social studies; stu dents

Advancing Education Through

Environmental Literacy

performed better in science and social studies; stu dents developed their ability to transfer their knowledge from familiar to unfamiliar contexts …”

Excerpt from National Environmental Education and Training Foundation report; Glenn, 2000

The primary results related to using the environment as an integrating context included:

• higher scores on standardized measures of academic achievement in reading, writing, math, science, and social

Closing the Achievement Gap

achievement in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies

• reduced discipline and classroom management problems

• increased student engagement and enthusiasm for learning

• greater pride and ownership in students' accomplishments

www.seer.orgExcerpt from Lieberman & Hoody, 1998

• Students develop ecological literacy while engaged in practices that reinforce their learning

• School community works together to be environmentally responsible at school…and hopefully take those practices home

Benefits of using EcoSchools

home

• Board-wide guidelines are developed and implemented to conserve energy use and minimize waste, saving money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

• Certification offers an opportunity for schools to benchmark their environmental practices, assess their progress and be recognized for their achievements

Halton District School Board

• ~ 500 students; Gr. 6-8

• Green team meets every Wed. at lunch

Case Study: EJ James Public School

at lunch

• Approximately 15 people on the team

• Custodian and principal are supportive of the team but don’t attend every meeting

• Litterless lunches• Habitat restoration in nearby creek• Litter pickup in park across the street

Environmental Initiatives in place before

using EcoSchools

• Full Green Team meeting w/principal & custodian• Students completed Energy & Waste EcoReviews

Using EcoSchools to focus the efforts of

the Green Team

Student participation• Students work in pairs with walkabout worksheets• Energy and Waste reviews completed at the same time• EJ James’ student took 45 minutes to complete• Staff supervisor present

Completing the EcoReview

Staff Participation• Staff advisor/principal/caretaker involved in answering

many of the questions• Opportunity for awareness raising• Staff questions were completed in about 45 minutes

• Total time for Waste and Energy EcoReviews = 1.5hrs

Walkabout Worksheet

EcoReview

• Draft an Action Plan

• Principal and Green Team meet

• Implement Action Plan

Next Steps…

• Gather Certification documentation

• Complete Final EcoReview

• Certified Silver Ontario EcoSchool

• Assesses behaviour in 4 pillars +

• Emphasis on school-wide engagement given students’ sphere of influence

EcoSchools Resources: Certification

sphere of influence

• Culminating assessment reflecting school’s achievement using the EcoSchools program

Part I. Teamwork

& Leadership& Leadership

Part II. Energy

ConservationConservation

Part III. Waste

MinimizationMinimization

Reduce!

Part IV. School

Ground GreeningGround Greening

Part V. Curriculum Part V. Curriculum

Part VI. Environmental

Stewardship & the

school communityschool community

All EcoSchools Certification—boards

2003-2008

25

30

Participating boards

0

5

10

15

20

2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09

Participating boards

estimated

All EcoSchools Certification— schools

2003-2008

600

700

800

900

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09

Ont EcoSchools

TDSB EcoSchools

estimated