STUDENT ACTION FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE: AN INNOVATIVE EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN SASKATOON
The City of Saskatoon has partnered with Saskatoon Public Schools, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, Saskatoon Light and Power, the Sustainability Education Research Institute and a number of educational consultants to support the Student Action for a Sustainable Future program during the 2013-14 academic year.
Eleven classes of Grades 4-8 students have been participating in the sustainability-focused pilot program. With support from the program partners, each teacher has been facilitating student learning, action and inquiry in one or more of the program’s five focus areas: waste, water, energy, food, or transportation. The resulting projects will lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, as well as other sustainability benefits in students’ classrooms, schools, households and the community at large.
Through various subject areas and curriculum outcomes, this program allows students to gain an understanding of their actions through a sustainability lens, linking environmental, social, and economic impacts.
Other program goals include:
- reflecting the goals set out in the City of Saskatoon’s Energy and GHG Management Plan and Strategic Plan
- pursuing inquiry- and action-based learning (experiential education)
- making connections with the local community (place-based education)
- striving towards environmental outcomes that are measureable
- having a meaningful community impact
- reflecting multiple ways of knowing, as well as Indigenous knowledges and practices
Upon completion of this year’s program, each class will be showcasing their project outcomes at a student tradeshow. School board trustees, superintendents, City of Saskatoon representatives, students’ parents and family members, and other stakeholders have been invited to view the amazing work that the different classes have worked on.
Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental & Corporate Initiatives: “The Student Action for a Sustainable Future program is an innovative way to engage school-aged children in sustainability-focused action projects. The results of their hard work and enthusiasm will have a tremendous impact on their schools, families and community.”
On April 15, 2014 participating students showcased their hard work at the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon. This included more than 40 displays, performances and other exciting results including:
- Conducting home and school energy audits
- Organizing school-wide waste audits
- Creating garbage art
- Creating lights out and lights half-out campaigns
- Lowering the school’s thermostat and encouraging “sweater days”
- Discussing worldviews and learning about the relationships between humans and nature from Elders and Knowledge Keepers
- Going on field trips, such as touring the Saskatoon Landfill, visiting Saskatoon Light and Power, interviewing vendors at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market, and learning about local food through ice fishing
- Getting involved in community and indoor gardens
- Measuring food miles and assessing the implications of both local and global food systems
- Creating a vermi compost for classroom organic waste
- Improving the school’s recycling system, bin system, and messaging