|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Planetary Context
The environmental crisis facing our planet has become an accepted reality worldwide. Our Earth’s life-support system is unraveling, and the Earth is warming. The consequences include severe weather activity, drought and coastal flooding. At the UN conference on environment and development, the Earth Summit, the world’s political and environmental leadership stated that:“The major cause of the continued deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable pattern of consumption and production… and developed countries should take the lead in achieving sustainable consumption.”
Until now, efforts to encourage people to adopt more sustainable lifestyle practices have been mostly offering information and modest financial incentives. While these efforts have created environmental awareness, they have been inadequate in changing deeply ingrained behavior patterns that are reinforced daily. The major learning has been that environmental awareness does not translate into behavior change. To change behavior, people need a structured program that supports them in changing their habits and to see how their behavior changes are making a difference.
Our children show the greatest passion for wanting to heal the Earth. Because of their openness to new ideas, they are perhaps most able to change behavior patterns and move to a lifestyle that sustains the planet’s environment.
We are very excited about the contribution this five week sustainable lifestyle program can make to the quality of kids’ lives, and the environment. The program’s purpose is to empower children to first develop environmentally sustainable lifestyle practices in their own lives and then inspire others to do the same.
|
|
|
|
Journey For The Planet
A Kid's Five Week Adventure
to Create an Earth-Friendly Life
The Need
Children instinctively realize the importance of saving the planet – not simply because it's their inheritance, but because it's the right thing to do. But many children are held back from taking action because they don't know what to do or how to do it. To be empowered, children need a step-by-step program that gives them support to translate their caring for the Earth into effective action.
The Program
Journey for the Planet was created to meet these needs.
The Journey has five sections, dealing with garbage, water, energy, eco-wise consumerism, and empowering others. Each has its own cartoon animal guide to lead the way. The 46 actions in the program include:
• "No Garbage Lunches" – using reusable packaging,
• "Aquacop" – hunting down dripping faucets,
• "Chill Out in Your Room" – finding air leaks that cause energy loss,
• "Squash Party" – carpooling,
• "Charge It!" – switching to rechargeable batteries,
• "What Goes Around Came Around" – buying recycled paper products.
Each action is worth a certain number of points. Children who complete enough actions earn a "Global Hero" certificate.
Children are able to do the program on their own, or as part of a classroom or club. The adult leader's guidebook (Curriculum Guide) has lesson plans to enrich the child's educational experience, and guidelines on how to form children into a peer support group (EcoTeam).
The children who participate in the program are excited, and find the program easy to use. The following are the reasons Journey for the Planet is successful:
It allows children to "walk their talk." Children care a great deal about the issue and have a general notion about what they are supposed to do, but they don't know how to actually do it in their own lives.
Children see how their actions make a difference. They understand an issue and immediately see how what they can do affects that issue.
Children in classrooms are so excited about this program they see it as "fun" and not as "schoolwork."
Actions are presented in an easy-to-follow, exciting graphic format.
It is not about thinking of taking action, or studying possible actions --it's about actually taking action.
It's about what the child can do himself or herself. It's not about what someone else can do.
It allows non-academically oriented students to shine, since the program is hands-on and practical.
What teachers are saying about Journey for the Planet:
"Kids loved the program. They loved the sense of empowerment, that they had choices, that they were on their honor, and that they were in the drivers seat and had control. This was the best thing we did all year."
John Barron, 6th grade teacher, Sturbridge, MA
"Kids that NEVER do work, or ever bring anything back and forth between home and school, responded overwhelmingly and worked hard to achieve their Global Hero points."
Tracy Licata, 5th grade teacher, Gansevoort, NY
"This program fills a void that needs filling. Standard environmental education curricula don't have a program like this that focuses on personal habits and actions, and relates it to what we can do for the planet... I was a little uncertain how parents would respond. What happened was that parents called and said what I was doing was wonderful. There was no negative feedback from any of 60 parents in the two classes."
Steve Price, 6th grade science teacher, Cape Elizabeth, ME
"The program was easy to use. The kids could do any of the Earth Actions in one sitting at home in an evening. And, they could see their progress and that they really made a difference."
Jan MacKenzie-Polanski, 4th grade teacher, Minneapolis, MN
"The children's enthusiasm is fabulous and their desire to do more and more, beyond the original plan, is very satisfying. When two 4th grade students came in the garden and very proudly shared their "no-garbage lunches" with me, I knew this was a fantastic journey they were on indeed."
Caprice Potter, 4th grade teacher, Santa Cruz, CA
What children are saying about Journey for the Planet:
"I learned a lot of different ways to help the environment. It wasn't hard at all. I will definitely continue to do Earth Actions such as wear a sweater to conserve energy. It's up to us to make a difference."
Paul Drexhage, 6th grade, Sturbridge, MA
"It is fun to do! I've learned a lot from these actions. I'm teaching my brother and my parents. We have made a big difference in one week."
M. Chi, 5th grade, Minneapolis, MN
"What I liked best in this week's Journey was the way my family and I worked together to save the earth."
Christie Payette, 6th grade, Mt. Tremper, NY
"My favorite was writing to the Mayor because we got to tell him all the actions we did, and asked him to get everyone in the town to help our planet."
Laura Giancone, 5th grade, Ballston Spa, NY
|
|
|
|
Journey For The Planet
Travel Log Poster
|
|
|
Click on any of the panels above to enlarge. Download and print each of the six panels and tape or paste together to create the full poster. Hang poster in classroom, bedroom or environmental club.
|
|
|
|
|
Journey For The Planet
Educator Curriculum
 Overview
We know that behavior change is challenging. The habits that are part of our lifestyle are not easily revised. These lifestyle changes are far more likely to be long-lasting if we have a support group around us that helps us through the transition to new behavior. The Coach's Guide assumes that you, the coach, are working with a group of children. This allows you to add two important features to the children's program: a peer support system and an adult support system. This support increases the likelihood of a successful journey for the children. We commend you in advance for providing this important framework for the children's venture.
The Coach's Guide lengthens the program to seven weeks. The children's journey is still five weeks. Plan on starting your preparation for the program two weeks in advance. An introductory lesson is recommended a few days before the journey begins. A celebration following the completion of the Journey is recommended two weeks after the children complete the program.
The Coach's Guide provides a set of suggested activities for each of the Journey's five sections. Each section is designed to be completed in one week, and each section has a menu of five activities. If you work with the children throughout the week, you can choose to do an activity each day for five days.
Although, the program is designed for each section to be completed in one week, you can design any number of variations for the program's delivery.
Design a program that fits your context and your needs. The total amount of actual time with the children can vary from a minimum of 10 activity hours to a maximum of 30 activity hours over the 7 weeks of the program.
Peer Support EcoTeams
Business tells us that the skills of working on a team are becoming increasingly important in the modern workplace. Schools are moving to more "cooperative learning" instruction to help students develop these skills. The EcoTeams are an opportunity for the children to develop teamwork skills as well as learn how to live an Earth-friendly lifestyle.
The EcoTeams provide support for the children during the most critical moments of the journey—the actual doing of the actions. When difficulties arise, the child has a friend right there. The team can problem-solve or be creative. In addition, children love being with their friends. This teaming allows the children to be social, and to enjoy their friends as they do the action steps together.
Adult Support
Children travel their Journey for the Planet in an independent manner. The activities of the Coach's Guide support the journey. A key feature of this support is to assist the children's work without taking it over. The children can only develop new behaviors if they maintain ownership of their actions and their actions' impacts. The coach must reach a balance in providing support without doing too much for the children.
Parental Involvement
There is parent communication built into the Journey for the Planet despite the fact that the Journey is an independent program for children. The communication ensures that the child's actions will not catch parent(s) by surprise, since the child will share his/her plans before action begins. Most of this activity happens in the household, so it is important to have informed parents.
The communication also helps build support from parent(s) for the child's actions, and helps build the parent'(s) interest in living a more sustainable lifestyle.
Purchase Journey for the Planet or Educator Curriculum
For more information contact:
Empowerment Institute
PO Box 428
Woodstock, New York 12498
Tel: (845) 246-6290 Fax: (845) 246-6291
E-mail
|
|
|
|
Back to top
|
