Environmental Issues in English lessons

English for Environmental Science is an integral part of my lessons in Environmental Protection Technician classes. This year, my 11th graders have mostly dealt with carbon footprint and 3 R’s, i.e. the ways we can reduce our negative impact on the environment. We carried out various activities, aimed not only at developing necessary language skills, but also at raising environmental awareness among others at school, both the students and the staff.

Therefore, our first step was to establish the level of environmental awareness of the target group. Students were put into groups of four and their task was to think of relevant questions which they would include in an online survey. When they completed the task, the representative of each group read their suggestions. The class as a whole agreed on the ones they would put in the survey. Then, three students created two versions, one in English, and the other in Serbian, using Google Forms.

English version: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfddod8YSeGzOn5ooaed6nyguGY8nov1dI3Cqa9bk2ojPrgXg/viewform?usp=sf_link

The link for the version in Serbian was shared with the students and the staff. Most of the respondents were unfamiliar with the term carbon footprint. Otherwise, they showed quite a good knowledge of major environmental issues, at least in theory.

After that, some students chose to make ppt presentations, others opted for classroom posters. We ended up with 2 PowerPoint presentations and 5 posters.

 

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Finally, I had the idea to make a video with some useful tips for a more responsible behaviour everyone could adopt. A few students recorded themselves, but we couldn’t complete it at the time because of the workload – they had to study other subjects. The initial enthusiasm gradually faded away. However, we pulled it through in our two end-of-year lessons. Using my mobile phone, I recorded them in the schoolyard. They didn’t have enough time to rehearse their sentences. The recordings are of no high quality. Putting all that aside, I believe they did it quite well. Besides, their messages are worth listening to.

 

EARTH DAY 2015

“PLEDGE TO PLANT – EARTH DAY, APRIL 22, 2015” Be a part of the biggest grass-root effort in history by planting a seed/tree as a “give back” to Earth.

It’s an old Native American tradition that when you take something from the Earth, you must put something back. Earth Day 2015 will be a global “give back to Earth” event, as an “offering” for all the planet gives us. Our goal is to plant one billion seeds/trees. Please plant something that is organic, perennial and suitable to the growing conditions in your area.

(taken from https://www.facebook.com/events/327883710751172/ )

Perhaps a spruce is the right tree for your area. Learn some facts about it from my student Lazar Belić.

 

Our Vanishing Planet – Part II (Students’ Interactive Images)

Beautiful interactive images of some of the endangered or rare species created by my students. A click on each link will take you to an amazing world.

 

 https://www.thinglink.com/scene/631580074839113728

 

Our Vanishing Planet – Part I (Students’ Presentations)

 

Earth Day 2014

Watch the video and decide how you will participate in the event. Follow this link for further information http://www.earthday.org/greencities/earth-day-2014/

For all of you, nature lovers, here’s also a poem by my dear friend, an English teacher and a poet from Tunisia,

Chaouki M’kaddem

EARTH DAY

Once again, Earth Day is ahead

Awareness will still be spread

Among the deaf and the dead

While species are sent to a deathbed,

While millions of people are underfed,

While we still sense environmental dread

Permeating the air, water and land

Don’t you think nothing remained unsaid?

Feelings of compassion won’t amend

What has been done by a bloody hand

Why not turn to actions instead?

Let’s make Earth Day every day and night

Let’s be willing to lend a hand and donate

And join every environmentalists’ parade

Let’s stop plants and animal trade

And be part of every anti-poaching brigade

Let’s take measures against every oil spill

And protect wilderness from every oil drill

Let’s confront every unethical company

And make everything environmentally friendly

None over natural resources has supremacy

Only those who care for the globe safety

© Chaouki M’kaddem

April 4th, 2014

 

WORLD WILDLIFE DAY

On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) decided to proclaim March 3, the day of the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as World Wildlife Day, to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora.
We are running a bit late. My senior students have been given a task to look for information about endangered species in the world. Hopefully, I will publish their findings soon.

 

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The link to my presentation – Environment – basic vocabulary

 

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

World Environment Day is celebrated every year on  June 5th to promote positive environmental action. Let’s see how we affect our environment.

Global Carbon Footprint infographic

We have already talked about carbon footprint. The infographic above shows emissions of individual countries – the larger the circle, the greater the emission. We are not doing so bad, but, then, our country is small. Here is the link to a site where you can calculate your own carbon footprint –  http://www.planet-positive.org/how_2_calculator.php. Write down your score so that we can compare them in class.

If you are not happy with it, learn how you can reduce your emission – http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumed/tips.html.

 

EARTH DAY 2013

“Climate change can seem like a remote problem for our leaders, but the fact is that it’s already impacting real people, animals, and beloved places. These Faces of Climate Change are multiplying every day. Fortunately, other Faces of Climate Change are multiplying too: those stepping up to do something about it.”  (the quote taken from Earth Day Network)

Have you got a photo that shows the face of climate change? If  so, mail it to me and I will upload it.

Meanwhile, think about what each of us can do to help Mother Earth. I would love to hear your suggestions.

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Class IV/4 (Environmental Technician) have planted a tree in the schoolyard. 

 

Global warming

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/19516631

Click to follow this link and read the news regarding the Arctic ice melt and then do the activities.

Arctic_Melt