Books Archives - EkoSkola

Climate Change: Books

Supertroupers – Climate Comics – The Grandiloquents

Have you heard of the Supertroupers? It’s a comic series created by the Association Stimuli, the Office for Climate Education, and other organizations as part of the European project ECOSCOMICS, offers an innovative and accessible way to address climate issues in the classroom. Through a blend of immersive storytelling, practical experiments, and scientific pedagogy, it helps enhance students’ critical thinking and understanding of various scientific topics. Why read this comic with your students? Debunk climate misconceptions: Despite a strong scientific consensus, a significant portion of the population still doubts the human origins of global warming. This episode helps students grasp the physical foundations of the phenomenon and provides them with the tools to respond to common falsehoods with well-founded arguments. Explore simple, classroom-replicable experiments: Through the depiction of practical activities, students learn how greenhouse gases like CO₂ interact with infrared radiation and the connection between these interactions and rising global temperatures. Rely on a rigorous pedagogical approach: Developed in collaboration with researchers in science education, this episode is based on studies identifying key challenges students face when understanding the Earth’s radiative balance and the greenhouse effect. Enjoy using it with your students or at home. It is sure to generate a lot of discussion. In this episode of the comic series The Grandiloquents, the characters find themselves at the heart of a climate protest. Their opinions diverge: one character raises the possibility of a natural origin for climate change. To address this complex question, they turn to a physicist at the protest, who invites them to her laboratory to conduct scientific experiments. These experiments, which they later present in a street performance, help illustrate key concepts such as: Infrared radiation The influence of CO₂ on this radiation The Earth’s radiative balance By offering a clear and educational representation of these phenomena, this episode engages students in scientific exploration while debunking common misconceptions about the causes of climate change.

St Michael School EkoSkola Newsletter January – March 2024

What is Climate Change?

by Dr. Toby Neilson PhD, Environmental Humanities (University of Glasgow) Table of contents 1 Defining climate change 2 Historic climate change 3 Global warming, greenhouse gases, the greenhouse effect 4 Causes of climate change Natural factors Human factors Greenhouse gas emissions and generating power Deforestation Overconsumption and waste Population increase 5 Evidence of climate change Increased temperatures Extreme weather events Impact on ecosystems 6 Global impact of climate change Effects on agriculture Flooding and storms Droughts and wildfires Rising sea levels and coastal impacts Health impacts 7 Climate change and biodiversity Species migration and extinction 8 Debunking climate change myths 9 Social justice 10 Potential solutions and innovations Renewable Energy Carbon capture and storage Sustainable agriculture and forestry practices Theoretical approaches 11 Government policies and legislation National and international policies addressing climate change Incentives for renewable energy adoption Carbon pricing mechanisms 12 Individual and community action Personal carbon footprint reduction tips Community-based initiatives and activism Education and awareness Veganism 13 Challenges and barriers Political and economic Technological and infrastructural 14 Public awareness and political will 15 Future projections and scenarios 16 Further reading on Perlego 17 Online resources 18 Climate Change FAQs 19 Bibliography

Kit didattico Cambiamenti Climatici

L’ambiente intorno a noi Il clima Le conseguenze dei cambiamenti climatici sull’aria Le conseguenze dei cambiamenti climatici sul suolo Le conseguenze dei cambiamenti climatici sull’acqua Come combattere i cambiamenti climatici

We care about our present and our future

We care about our present and our future: A report. Eco- Schools 11th Young People’s Summit… © 2022 Nature Trust – FEE Malta Any part of the publication can be reproduced as long as the source is properly cited and credited. Citation: Nature Trust – FEE Malta (2022). We care about our present and our future: A report. Eco-Schools 11th Young People’s Summit. Listening to children’s voices for sustainability There was a time, in the not-so-distant past, that the notion of listening to and acting on children’s voices was unheard of and even frowned upon. Children were considered as incapable of making value judgements, of evaluating issues and propose solutions to problems unless they were told how to do it by adults. Most of the opportunities offering children a platform were mostly (at best) different forms of tokenism. Children were expected to listen to and uncritically absorb what adults had to say on issues and themes that had a direct relevance to the children’s present and future. Education for Sustainable Development seeks to empower individuals irrespective of age to become active citizens seeking to promote sustainable lifestyles and choices. Nature Trust – FEE Malta sought to actively facilitate this by implementing the international Eco-Schools Programme (locally called EkoSkola). The EkoSkola programme is mainly driven by student initiated and managed actions that start off at school, but then spill over into their households and their community. Since its inception in 2002, the EkoSkola program has worked hard to bring the voice of children to policy makers, both local and overseas. So, over the years EkoSkola has created different fora to achieve this, like: EkoSkola Parliament sessions, consultation meetings with various Maltese presidents and ministers; meetings with the main political party leaders during which they presented a memorandum prior to the General Elections; and countless meetings with mayors and councillors of different localities. Another forum that promotes children’s voices is the annual Young People’s Summit, during which primary and secondary school students discuss various sustainability issues and propose ways how these issues can be addressed. These issues are collated into a declaration that is then presented to members of parliament. There were even cases where these recommendations were also presented to international fora such as during the Informal Meeting of the EU Environment Council; during international conferences about sustainability, and to delegates attending the CHOGM 2015. As part of the COP 26 follow up, the British High Commission sponsored five mini sessions that explored Climate Change from various dimensions that were attended by students from 103 schools (63 primary and 40 secondary). During the online summits, students discussed with local experts the various perspectives of the issues explored and proposed practical actions that could be implemented to address the issues. These proposals were collated in this special publication together with several other inputs from younger children in the form of drawings and craft projects. An interesting spin off from this series of mini summits, was an interest in learning what children from …

Learning Corner for 5-18 year olds by European Commission

If you’re a primary or secondary school pupil, this is where you’ll find games, competitions and activity books to help you discover the EU in a fun way, in the classroom or at home. You can also find out more about studying or volunteering abroad. If you’re a teacher and want to help your pupils learn about the EU and how it works, this is a source of teaching material for all age groups. As well as finding inspiration for lesson plans, you can also discover networking opportunities with other schools and teachers across the EU. You can find material about food, farming, fisheries, environment, climate, energy, culture and much more… NOTE: This resource is available in various languages. Links to the Maltese and English versions can be found below. More direct links in attachments below too.

Mother Earth is Weeping

by Claire Donald (Author), Simon Taylor (Illustrator) Paperback Publisher ‏ : ‎ Fuzzy Flamingo (24 Aug. 2020) Language ‏ : ‎ English Paperback ‏ : ‎ 32 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1838094415 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1838094416 Reading age ‏ : ‎ 3 – 11 years Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 20.96 x 0.2 x 20.96 cm About the Author Claire Donald was born and still lives in South Wales, United Kingdom. Claire was a primary school teacher for twenty years and is currently a children’s author and educational games designer. Claire and Simon love visiting schools to talk about their work and do educational activities with the children. Simon Taylor is a watercolour artist from the same town as Claire. After reading her stories he decided to move into illustration. They work closely together to bring the stories to life. Claire and Simon love visiting schools to talk about their work and do educational activities with the children. Author Claire Donald reads her best selling picture book Mother Earth is Weeping. Suitable for 3-11 year olds interested in the environment and caring for the planet.

Our Planet, Our Future

The Teacher’s Hub provided by the European Commission contains a selection of classroom exercises and relevant materials for the “Causes”, “Impacts” and “Solutions” modules of the interactive site for students “Our planet, our future”. In each section, you’ll find an introduction worksheet, various thematic worksheets and one answer sheet. Our Planet, Our Future: Fighting Climate Change Together Climate change is one of the most serious challenges facing our world today. Our planet is experiencing significant and accelerated climate change that began over a century ago. This educational tool is developed by the European Commission. It is based on information contained in “Our Planet, Our Future: fighting climate change together”, initially published in 2015 ahead of the Paris climate conference and updated in 2018.

Toolkit for Young Climate Activists

Created by young people who are concerned about our planet´s situation and who, as activists, have faced many challenges when advocating and taking action. Its goal is to share clear, concise, easily understandable information that describes the course that global, regional and national climate action is taking, in order to prepare young people for full and informed participation. The five booklets interrelate and are designed so that you can read them in succession and progressively deepen your knowledge of each of the topics. You can also consult them independently, according to your needs. You can download any of the 5 available booklets, available: 1) Tools for climate action 2) What is climate governance 3) Climate Glossary for young people 4) The Pars Agreement for young people 5) Escazy Agreement for young people

Teaching Teens about Climate Change

Rather than overwhelm teenagers with the daunting challenges facing humanity, the focus of this new book is to help them move from despair to empowerment and appreciate the many solutions that are already being implemented to mitigate climate change. Developed by educators from across North America, the collection includes activities that explore basic concepts such as carbon pricing and climate change denial. Car trip reduction plans, bike-a-thons, and public transit investigations are a few of the transport-related activities. How to organize a climate change summit or share local examples of climate change with peers in other regions are two other notable activities found in the book. In an era where public opinion is shaped by emotional appeals and unsubstantiated personal opinion, never has it been more important to provide teens with opportunities to engage in hands-on, minds-on activities that allow them to explore the complex issue of climate change. The teaching strategies provided in this 80-page, large format paperback will engage students and help them develop the critical thinking skills they will need as citizens of this era.

Teaching Kids about Climate Change

To help educators tackle this essential but challenging topic with K-8 students, this new book includes 20 age-appropriate activities that can be undertaken at home, in school classrooms, outdoor spaces and in the community. Within the 80 pages of this large format paperback, you will find many useful pathways to guide young people towards an understanding of this complex topic. Developed by educators from across North America, the collection includes activities that introduce basic concepts of climate literacy, such as energy forms, urban heat islands, and the difference between weather and climate. Walking school buses, green commuting challenges and public transit investigations are a few of the transport-related activities. Building model solar cars and solar cookers and studying passive solar house design are a few of the energy-oriented activities included in the book. Rather than overwhelm young people with the daunting challenges facing humanity, the book’s focus is to help them to appreciate the many solutions that individuals, organizations and governments are already implementing to mitigate climate change. The overall goal of the book is to introduce basic concepts and to help cultivate a sense of wonder about the natural world.

WWF Magazine

World Wildlife magazine provides an inspiring, in-depth look at the connections between animals, people and our planet. Published quarterly by WWF, the magazine helps make you a part of our efforts to solve some of the most pressing issues facing the natural world.

Understanding Food and Climate Change – An Interactive Guide

Understanding Food and Climate Change: An Interactive Guide explores the links between what we grow, eat, and throw away, and the impact of climate change. But why explore the relationships between food and climate change? Because food is an essential human need and offers the potential for personalizing climate change. Food production depends on natural resources that are linked to climate and weather. Understanding the global food system can help your students comprehend how personal choices about food can impact climate change. By talking about food, we can demonstrate why climate change matters to all of us. The link below leads to an interactive e-book with loads of information and activities. The Center for Ecoliteracy offers a no-cost suite of digital education resources that explore the fundamental relationships between climate change and the food systems that sustain human life. These publications consider the potential for food systems-oriented climate change mitigation and adaptation. The first two resources in the suite are Understanding Food and Climate Change: An Interactive Guide and Understanding Food and Climate Change: A Systems Perspective. Understanding Food and Climate Change: An Interactive Guide incorporates text, video, photography, and an array of interactive experiences to deliver climate science alongside multicultural, interdisciplinary viewpoints. Its aim is to promote awareness and understanding of global climate issues, their intersection with food systems, and promising strategies for addressing climate change. This resource includes suggested activities and connections to both the Next Generation Science Standards and the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies Thematic Strands. The companion publication, Understanding Food and Climate Change: A Systems Perspective, is a collection of essays that addresses topics that educators will encounter when teaching about food and climate change. These essays offer subjects for class discussion or student research and provide extensive resources for further investigation. This resource applies systems thinking to inspire readers to think in terms of systems, both human and natural. Used together, these publications serve as a strong foundation for developing and deepening our understanding of how we interact with nature. They are valuable resources for anyone engaged in shaping a more positive future. Copyright © 2018 Center for Ecoliteracy 2150 Allston Way, Suite 270 Berkeley, CA 94704-1377

Comics Uniting nations

Comics Uniting Nations is a partnership of UNICEF, PCI Media, World’s Largest Lesson, PVBLIC Foundation and Reading with Pictures, to make the Sustainable Development Goals accessible to the citizens of the world through comics.

ESD Expert Net – Manual for teaching the SDGs

SDGs for Children – The World We Want

Surely all have heard of the Sustainable Development Goals. 17 Goals – One Global Aim….Here is an excellent information booklet for children (and obviously also for adults) to help one understand better what they are all about : The World We Want – A Young Person’s Guide to the Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

Free Climate Change Education eBook

Climate Change Education: A Primer for Zoos and Aquariums, explores the links between climate change science, electronic media, psychology, learning sciences, communication, and interpretation, and provides valuable insights to zoos and aquariums and other cultural institutions.

The Earth Dog Story – Earth Dog returns to Save the Environment

The Earth Dog Story, first published in 1992, returns as an app in iTunes and an eBook as part of the U.S. Department of Energy environmental outreach program with Weekly Reader. Earth Dog is a superhero who teaches kids about taking care of the environment.

Early Childhood Activities for a Greener Earth

This book by Patty Born Selly, Published by Redleaf Press helps to educate young children about the environment through experience and play. These activities encourage children to develop a sense of wonder, curiosity, and joy for nature.

How Green Are You? A personal action plan

Can you help to save the world? Yes, you can – if you’re 6 years old or more. You can save energy, protect wildlife, join in and help clean up the water and the air. It’s fun!! Conservationist David Bellamy and the Friendly Whale show you how,

Catch the Wind, Harness the Sun: 22 Super-Charged Science Projects for Kids

This entertaining book gives kids, teachers, and parents 22 exciting activities for using sun and wind power to produce and play with renewable energy. Ages 8 to 13 will enjoy environmental science while fighting global climate change.

What’s on your fork?

Does what you eat really have impact on our planet? Could mealtime choices actually help promote clean drinking water? What’s On Your Fork? is a new, free downloadable action guide and collection of supplementary educational tools from EarthEcho International designed to help educators and students explore the environmental and community impact of daily food choices.

What’s It Like Living Green?: Kids Teaching Kids, by the Way They Live

These days,there’s a lot of talk about living green, but does anyone actually do it? In What’s It Like, Living Green? Kids Teaching Kids, by the Way They Live, you’ll learn how other kids live green

Easy to Be Green: Simple Activities You Can Do to Save the Earth (Little Green Books)

Everyone’s talking about the environment these days, especially kids. But what can kids do? A lot! This book is filled with cool coloring pages, Earth-saving tips, fun facts, and easy activities kids can do to help the environment. It’s just what kids need to be green all by themselves!

EkoSkola Malta