WORKING WITH SCHOOLS TO ESTABLISH MINIATURE OUTDOOR CLIMATE CHANGE LABORATORIES
Established in 2008, the Planting For Change (P4C) program has helped over 70 schools across Southern Ontario to plant native trees in their schoolyards, creating a mini outdoor climate change lab for students to interact with and learn from. Under the guidance of ACER’s scientific advisory committee, ACER provides hands-on training on proper tree planting procedures and post-planting care, along with training on how to effectively measure and record yearly data related to the health and growth of the trees. Once established, the P4C site is a valuable teaching tool that complements curriculum related to climate change, geography, math, science, and world studies.
The active hands-on involvement with the P4C site engages students and supports their in-depth understanding of climate change at a level that they can understand. Teachers who want to address climate change and plant trees in their schoolyard, often wide-open lawns and sports fields with less shade, can engage their students in this fun, practical way of learning. It also helps students build essential and transferable skills in critical thinking, problem-solving and perspective-taking, and helps them on their path to becoming environmental stewards.
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