This free webinar series is aimed at meeting the learning needs of pre-service and in-service teachers by focusing on a range of issues and practices related to CCE in K-12 education. Webinars in this series will draw on the expertise of teachers, curriculum consultants, school board leaders and teacher educators who are facilitating CCE to share promising practices in elementary and secondary classrooms and across school boards.
This series is being offered in partnership with the Toronto District School Board’s collaboration with OISE at the University of Toronto. Info on specific webinars (and their recordings) will be listed here as this info becomes available.
Webinar Coordinator: Sarah Urquhart
Questions? Email us [info@accelerating-cce.ca]
Watch Webinar Recordings
Hope-Filled, Whole-School Climate Action: Report from a Pilot Program in Canadian Independent Schools
The Climate Action Accelerator Program (CAAP) offers an approach to help K-12 schools build and implement a holistic climate action plan. Intergenerational school teams lead their communities in creating a compelling vision for the role their school can play in addressing the climate crisis, and then setting goals and plans through their school culture, physical infrastructure, and formal and informal learning opportunities for both students and adults. In this webinar, founder Michèle Andrews shares an overview of the CAAP, promising practices in K-12 schools, available resources, and lessons learned since the CAAP launched. She will also share her hopes for how this work can support teachers and schools going forward. Michèle will be joined by teachers who have been part of the CAAP pilot who will share their learning and take questions. Watch the recording today!
Learning from Living Schools: Connecting Schools to Nature & Wellbeing for All
Living in a climate crisis requires a radical re-imagining of education, one that is centred on a vision of well-being for all. ‘Living Schools’ is an innovative model that does just this, by reconnecting people, communities and nature to become holistic learning environments where students and educators are collaborating on real world solutions to climate change. Join Drs. Catherine O’Brien and Patrick Howard as they introduce their concept of ‘Living Schools’, and learn from teachers who are implementing this model in their classrooms and schools. Watch the recording today!
Inspiring Hope Through Action
The recent UN Climate Conference, COP28, ended in December 2023, the Earth’s hottest year on record. Issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental inequity, are enormous topics to tackle on their own, let alone addressing them as interconnected crises. Jane Goodall’s message of hope – “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference” – is a great starting point for this critical work in education. In this webinar, join Bella Lam, CEO of the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, to learn strategies for how to work with young people to understand these global issues while empowering them to take actions in their local communities. Watch the recording today!
Catalyzing Change: Climate Action Grant Showcase
Join us to learn about some of the impactful projects funded by the Youth Climate Action Grants that are available to students through the City of Toronto. This webinar showcases initiatives aimed at addressing climate change in TDSB schools, led by students. Gain insights into possible projects and learn more about how you and your students can leverage available funding opportunities to support climate action. Watch the recording today!
School Board Climate Action Plans
In this webinar, participants will hear from Lakehead University’s Faculty of Education researchers on a new report that analyzed 380 school boards’ environmental, sustainability, and climate policies. Representatives from Richmond District School Board (British Columbia) and Toronto District School Board (Ontario) will share how they are approaching climate action planning. Resources on climate action planning and a pledge that superintendents can make to improve climate policies in their district will be shared. Watch the recording today!
Climate Ready Schools with EcoSchools Canada
Join us for an inspiring webinar showcasing the efforts of “climate ready schools” where climate action is seamlessly woven into student learning experiences. In this engaging session, K-12 educators from across Canada (Kit Cairns, Mélanie Doucet, and Charlotte Cavalier) will share their innovative approaches to integrating climate education into their programming. Emilie Rayner from EcoSchools Canada will share how certification can support climate action. Whether you are a seasoned educator looking to enhance your curriculum or a newcomer seeking guidance on where to start, this webinar offers invaluable insights and resources. Watch the recording today!
Navigating Climate Emotions in the Classroom
Climate change impacts students’ emotional well-being in dynamic ways, and can lead to feelings of anxiety, grief, or anger alongside feelings of hope and a desire for action or change. This webinar is designed for K-12 educators who want to create space for students to identify, understand, and express their feelings about living through a time of rapid environmental change. Meghan Wise, from the Climate Psychology Alliance North American network, will share key insights into the “Educator’s Guide to Climate Emotions,” introducing strategies to support students in fostering a sense of agency, efficacy, and purpose while navigating climate feelings and engagement with climate issues. Participants in this webinar will deepen their understanding of climate emotions, expand strategies for supporting students in navigating climate emotions, and the importance of nurturing opportunities to channel emotions into constructive action individually and collectively. Watch the recording here!
Greening Every Curriculum: Guidance to Teach and Learn for Climate Action
UNESCO has recently released the “Greening Every Curriculum: Guidance to Teach and Learn for Climate Action” framework. A green curriculum integrates climate mitigation and adaptation in teaching and learning from pre-primary, primary, secondary and tertiary school levels as well as in teacher training. It emphasizes the interconnections between the environment, economy, and society, engaging students across cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioral domains to inspire action for sustainability. In this webinar, three co-authors, Dr. Felisa Tibbitts, Dr. Christina Kwauk, and Dr. Ellen Field discuss the key principles for integrating holistic climate change and sustainability into curricula, with the objective of 90% of countries adopting green curricula by 2030. Watch the recording here!
Connecting Energy Literacy and Climate Change: Tools for K-12 Educators
As the world transitions to sustainable energy solutions, it’s essential to equip students with a deep understanding of energy concepts -renewable energy, conservation, environmental impact- and how these intersect with climate change. This informative webinar explores practical strategies for embedding energy literacy and climate change education into K-12 curricula as teachers prepare for leading learning around Earth Hour in March and Earth month in April. Educators will gain tools and insights to support critical energy education in their classrooms. Watch the recording!