Sustainable Future Schools Youth Forum for Classes Across Canada
Welcome “Sustainable Future Schools” Youth Forum Participants! This page is your home base for all the events, materials & links that are part of this Forum.
Please reach out to jenn@LSF-LST.ca if you have any questions or feedback!
Student Workshops
Complete any 4 (or more!) of the following workshops with your students to receive your $500 Action Project grant!
Get Started!
- Watch the Recording of the Kickoff Event w/ Port Elgin Students (Thurs Oct 14 at 1PM (EST)
Live Workshops:
Remember, all live workshops are recorded so you can catch up if you miss one! Note: All workshop times are listed in Eastern time.
Workshop Description: This workshop will address how food systems can be used to reach the 17 Sustainable Development Goals for Canada and beyond. The workshop dives deeper and explores, how food is a powerful tool that can help Canada promote health, justice, and sustainability for all Canadians.
Learn more about Food Secure Canada
Workshop Description: This session relates directly to SDG #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities by building resilience to extreme weather events, such as flooding.
Materials/Prep: This student handout (digital or printed) and internet-enable devices for students.
Learn more about Green Learning
- Watch the workshop recording
- Learn more about Flood:Ed – hands on learning about flooding
Workshop Description: BTCEA’s Water is Life workshop deepens students’ understanding of climate change, its impacts, solutions and climate justice, and how it interconnects to water. We make connections to the Sustainable Development Goals and Indigenous perspectives. Students will gain an understanding of individual and collective action, systems change and be guided in taking a measurable sustainability action.
Follow up Resources:
Learn more about Be The Change Earth Alliance
Workshop Description: The Anishinaabe Ceremony known as “Water Walking” highlights the power of Indigenous intellectual, historical, cultural, physical, and spiritual traditions. Learn how you can enter into a relationship with the Water through an Indigenous lens under the umbrella of Indigenous nationhood, sovereignty, inter-cultural relationships, truths, and reconciliations.
Materials/Prep: If available, students can read the book “The Water Walker” by Joanne Robertson
Workshop Description: This workshop identifies the seven types of pollinators in Canada, their unique features, and important role they play in our ecosystems. I highlighted why pollinators are under threat and how we can create suitable habitats by providing food, water, shelter and incorporate earth-friendly gardening practices in our schoolyards to support biodiversity.
Supporting Resources
- Pollinators- busy doing what?
- Which Pollinator Are you?
- Pollinator Poster
- Wild About Bees Poster
- How to Make the Perfect Pollinator Garden
Conservation Projects
Workshop Description: So you’ve participated in the workshops and learned about all kinds of sustainability issues… Now what? Our Action Project Planning workshop will show you what an Action Project looks like and help you consider your interests and skills, your sphere of influence, and the root causes of the issue so you can take on the best Action Project ever!
Materials/Prep:
- Please print this worksheet (double-sided) – 1 copy per student
- Internet-enabled devices for Kahoot
- Watch the workshop recording
- Play the Kahoot in your class
Next Steps:
Pre-Recorded Workshops:
Available anytime!
Workshop Description: In this session students will explore how we capture and use the wind to generate electrical energy, how wind energy is being used across the country, and how students can support the transition to renewable energies.
Materials/Prep:
- Educator Guide
- Handout (use fillable PDF or print)
- Exit Ticket (use fillable PDF or print)
Workshop Description: In this session, students will explore a circular economic model in relation to the problem of plastic waste in the environment. Through examination of the Plastic Problem and technological solutions to plastic waste, students will feel empowered to address this complex issue and close the loop on plastic.
Materials/Prep:
- Educator Guide
- Handout (use fillable PDF or print)
Workshop Description:
This interactive workshop will explore climate change impacts and solutions through the Climate Atlas of Canada, an engaging online tool for students, researchers, decision-makers, and communities. As an example, we will look at the health impacts of climate change and students will have the opportunity to participate in a “treasure hunt” to find the answers on the site themselves.
Materials/Prep:
- Writing utensil & paper
- Internet-enabled device – 1 per student or shared
Workshop Description:
Students will learn to code a short program in Scratch that will allow them to create a “Choose your own climate adventure” game. They will code questions and answers, animate, and interactions with the program that will help them better understand how the littlest changes in their actions can have an impact. The learning is accessible to all ages and skill levels. This workshop is broken down into two 30-minute recordings.
Materials/Prep:
- Computer/Tablet
- Create a free Scratch account at scratch.mit.edu/join
Supported by:
Teacher Professional Development Sessions
- Weds, Sep 29 – Professional Development Session #1: Watch the Recording | View the Slides
- Weds, Oct 6 – Professional Development Session #2: Watch the Recording | View the Slides
Feedback Form
We encourage students & teachers to offer feedback on each workshop using our form!
Action Project Grant
Completed all your workshops? Time to request your $500 Action Project grant!
Additional Resources
- Learn more about LSF’s Sustainable Future Schools Program
- Find over 1700 curriculum-connected, SDG connected lesson plans, books, activities and more on R4R.ca
- Empowering Learners in a Warming World climate change inquiry guide
- Engaging Students in Sustainable Action Projects guide
- Action Project inspiration on Our Canada Project
