By Maria Grande
World Environment Day is an annual event celebrated on 5 June to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote actions to protect our planet. For teachers and schools in the UK, this day serves as a reminder of the important role they play in educating the next generation of eco-conscious citizens.
One of the biggest challenges facing the environment today is climate change, and schools have an important role to play in addressing this issue. Teachers can incorporate climate change into their lesson plans across a range of subjects, from science and geography to history and English. By providing students with a well-rounded understanding of the issue, they can help create a generation of informed and proactive citizens.
In addition to classroom education, schools can also take practical steps to reduce their environmental impact. This could include measures such as using renewable energy sources, reducing waste and promoting recycling, and encouraging sustainable transport options like cycling or walking. By modelling environmentally friendly behaviour, schools can help students to see that small changes can have a big impact.
World Environment Day also provides an opportunity for schools to engage with parents and the wider community. This could involve hosting events such as litter picks, tree planting, or inviting guest speakers to talk about environmental issues. By involving parents and the community in these initiatives, schools can create a shared sense of responsibility for the environment and inspire positive action beyond the school gates.
Of course, addressing environmental issues is not something that can be achieved in a single day. It requires ongoing commitment and action from individuals, communities, and governments around the world. However, by starting with practical actions at the school level, teachers and schools in the UK can help create a more sustainable future for us all by informing and educating upcoming generations. At the end of the day, it is important to understand that small changes can make a big difference.
Habit creation has also a big impact on the way we think about sustainability. By adopting sustainable habits into everyday life, we decrease the amount of thinking required to do certain actions, which results in improved results. Schools and teachers in the UK can adopt this approach in their classrooms, complementing it with the foundational education about sustainable living that will be used as the basis for those habits.
