Last updated: August, 2010
A 5 Step journey through the world of ESD Resources
how to use this page.....
who's this for?
This page is for anyone with an interest in sustainability education. Some sections will be more relevant to certain ages or interests, but hopefully there wil be something of use to everyone...
why was it created?
Having the right resources to hand isn't always easy - there's a wealth of information out there! This is an attempt to sift through what's available, to make it more manageable...
what are the 5 sections about?
The page is set out like a journey. It begins with planning the first steps and includes advice on what to do if you get lost...
Enjoy the journey!
1
STEP 1 - why should I start this journey?
Just inspiring... 8 resources to make you think/take action...
1. We Are What We Do WAWWD follows Gandhi's advice "Be the change you want to see in the world". They try to inspire, enthuse and amuse people to make personal changes and improve their worlds. Practical action and human-scale life-affirming philosophy... http://www.wearewhatwedo.org/.
They also have pages specifically for schools and educational groups at: http://schools.wearewhatwedo.org/
2. If the World Were 100 People..
fascinating statistics: http://www.100people.org/statistics_100stats.php?section=statistics
..or you can watch a short film: http://www.100people.org/video_trailer.php
3. Linking children around the world.How to make international links between schools. A short film (8 minutes) that explains the Global Schools Partnerships schemehttp://www.ethical.tv/node/699
4. Oxfam's Cool Planet http://www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/kidsweb/
5. I Count: Your step-by-step guide to climate bliss Old-style media - a book (yes, print on paper!). Just £3 buys you 16 steps for "climate bliss". Details from Penguin (or buy locally...) :http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141030258,00.html
6. A message from Africa..? - a short film about how a school in Tanzania adapted to be truly sustainable in its environment. Something we might all learn from..?http://www.teachers.tv/video/12110
7. Who Will Save Us? A picture-book about a group of young penguins discovering how humans are changing the world. A cutesy book about defenceless animals or something much deeper..? £5.99 Details: www.rebeccamorch.co.uk
8. "12 things you can do to tackle Climate Change" This list from oneworld.net is a great starting point for children and adults...http://tiki.oneworld.net/global_warming/climate9.html
9, 10, 11 etc! Over to you..! This selection has been compiled by Steve Harrold, but what inspires you?... What else should be here? Let Steve know...
2
STEP 2 - where am I starting from?
assessing where your school or group is starting from - 8 self-evaluation starting points. HEALTH WARNING - you don't need to use them all! Choose the one that might work for you...
1. Oxfam - global footprint A 16-step questionnaire to evaluate your school/group's global fotprint: http://www.globalfootprints.org/issues/footprint/councquiz1.htm
2. Eco-Schools (Scotland) Global footprint calculator Takes you through 6 sections - "to help you to work out the quantity of resources that you and your school use, compared with what is available in the world. You can see if this is sustainable for the future and you'll get suggestions on how to reduce your impact on the planet..". Sections for pupils and staff. http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/schoolsglobalfootprint/index.asp
3. S3 - DCSF Sustainable Schools self-evaluation tool Evaluate how far your school meets the aims of the Sustainable Schools Framework. Downloadable poster includes the S3 Performance Matrix: http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=DFES-04326-2006&
(If you want to go into more detail, SE-Ed provides an online version at: http://www.se-ed.org.uk/resources/sustainable-schools/s3/S3_Self-evaluation.pdf)
4. The CABE Green Day school audit is designed to help you consider how well sustainability values are embedded in your organisation. It also facilitates a discussion about how to improve performance across a range of indicators.
http://www.cabe.org.uk/education/green-day/establishing-your-baseline
5. Eco Schools Environmental Audit The Eco-Schools website provides checklists and templates for auditing your environmental footprint. http://www.eco-schools.org.uk/links/
6. SUSchools - a vision of a sustainable school http://www.suschool.org.uk/
A visual and child-friendly image of what a sustainable school (or any other group?) might look like - click on the image. How far does this reflect your school/organisation? Poster (£9.95) available from: http://www.suschool.org.uk/teaching.html#post
7. BBC Climate Change project The BBC used the computer capacity (and local information) of thousands of schools to measure how climate is changing. The results are impressive and it gives a scientific snapshot of our climate as it is now. Details: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/climateexperiment/theexperiment/abouttheexperiment.shtml
8. New Economics Foundation - Happy Planet Index This isn't a self-evaluation tool, but it raises questions about the relationship between personal satisfaction and "one-planet living". Which country do you think successfully combines living within its means and happiness for its population..?!Downloadable from: http://www.neweconomics.org/sites/neweconomics.org/files/The_Happy_Planet_Index_2.0_1.pdf
You can also calculate your personal Happy Planet Index score! Go to: http://survey.happyplanetindex.org/
It will tell you how you compare with other people in the UK and around the world and what you can do to reduce your global footprint and increase your personal happiness! Worth a go?! If you do this survey, why not email your Happy Planet score to Steve and compare his with yours!)?
... also, why not talk to people in your school/group How sustainable do they believe your school/group to be? What do they feel needs to be achieved? What motivates them to get involved? People are often more than willing to be asked their opinions - how about an informal survey from representatives of the wider community...?
3
STEP 3 - what do I need to plan for the journey?
8 sources of useful information...
1. SE-Ed SE-Ed's website includes a catalogue of educational resources on Climate Change. It's a comprehensive listing of resources provided by everyone from Action Aid to WWF. It specifies age relevance, curriculum links & links to the Sustainable Schools Doorways etc.
http://www.se-ed.org.uk/sustainableschools/index.html
2. DEP Manchester - resource library (based at MMU, Didsbury and online): http://www.dep.org.uk/bookshop/index.php
3. LGEC, Preston LGEC's services includes lending teacher resource packs.http://www.lgec.org.uk/Resource-Centre
4. Teach Climate Change web-based resource library A detailed list of resources, classifiable by age, subject etc. http://www.teachclimatechange.org.uk/
5. Oxfam - global, Climate Change Oxfam recognise that climate change will have a greater impact on the world's poor. As part of their educational work about global injustice they've prepared:http://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/resources/category.htm?20
6. BBC Education A huge bank of resources for all types of education. http://www.bbc.co.uk/learning/
There are a number of useful areas about sustainability. Disposable Planet is just one: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2002/disposable_planet/
7. WWF UK Provide excellent educational materials - especially about the planet and biodiversity. http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/working_with_schools/
8. School council resources
Involver supplies resources for school councils, which can be equally used by eco councils or committees to evaluate and increase pupil (and staff) participation.
http://involver.org.uk/category/resources/
If you know another tried and tested source, let Steve know...
4
STEP 4 - which travelling essentials should I take with me?
8 absolute essentials...
stuff to take with you wherever you go..?!
1. inflatable globe - lightweight "luggage" and a visual reminder about the scope of sustainability concerns £5 from DEP Resource Library http://www.dep.org.uk/bookshop/index.php
2. "World in a box" - place in a box 20 - 30 items that might generate thinking about an aspect of sustainability/environmental themes (e.g. a battery, a shell, dream catcher, pencil, rail ticket, clothes peg, Fairtrade tea bag etc...). Ask Steve for ideas about using this resource click here or 01204 336652
3. sachets of Fairtrade coffee, tea bags, sugar etc - you can get thirsty on the shortest journey..?! Available from Justicia, Bolton 363308
4. Travel Oware/Aya game. The world's oldest game and a symbol of how our lives are interconnected by trade and sharing ideas... Learn more at: http://www.oware.org/history.asp
5. Films for entertainment & inspiration for the journey... A good source is http://www.ethical.tv/
6. singing bowl - something to give a calm meditative feeling - and good for attracting attention..! Also stocked by Justicia, Bolton (various prices)
7. a water-powered clock - important for time-keeping, but also an excellent example of a sustainable product and a good discussion-starter Mail order from http://www.biggreensmile.com/products/h20-power-multifunction-clock-with-water-battery/h20multifunctionclock.aspx?productid=h20multifunctionclock
8. Keep all these in a Morsbag - part of a social and practical movement reducing and reusing waste. Details about Morsbags from:....http://www.morsbags.com/html/
These are resources that Steve uses regularly, but if you know something else that should be here, let Steve know...
5
STEP 5 - which local advice might help me if I get lost?
8 local support sources
1. Bolton's ESD Network - you're already here! Click on the Menu (top right of this page) to navigate. A source of information, ideas, support and practical help (including funding, training, local events...). If you're not already a member of the Network go to: http://www.boltonesd.org.uk/3.html#e482303
2. Talk to others in your school or group. This might sound obvious, but there may be people who are already active or interested in related topics, who might be keen to work with you (staff colleagues? other adult helpers/volunteers? school council/eco group members? +...?)
3. Talk to others beyond your school/group too... How about local community groups? other neighbouring schools/groups that might have begun this journey? If you can't identify these, talk to Steve about local schools/groups he's worked with.... Are there other organisations that have worked in your school/group? They might have other local links...
4. MEEN provides a network of support for all those working in sustainability education in Greater Manchester. http://www.meen.org.uk/
5. BAD - Bolton geography champions A local group for all those involved in Geography education. Details from Anthony Barlow (St Peter's, Smithills Dean): BarlowA@spsd.bolton.sch.uk or 01204 333500
6. Bolton PSHE Network Bolton's PSHCE Consultant coordinates this group which meets regularly and provides local resources for PSHCE education. Details: Sylvia Cunliffe Sylvia.Cunliffe@bolton.gov.uk01204 332026
7. If you have specific requirements, check out the ESD Directory on this website. It's split into themes and lists local sources of support for sustainability education. http://www.boltonesd.org.uk/5.html
8. What's missing? If you know something else that should be here, let Steve know...
Road Safety Warning!
The route of this road may not always be straightforward! The above gives just a few ideas for your journey. Keep up-to-date with news and what's happening locally by reading the regular ESD Network mailings. If you're not already a member, click here to join today.
