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Change the World in 5 Minutes

Elementary

Description

Can your class make a difference in just 5 minutes a day?  This video provides the inspiration for simple school projects that foster environmental stewardship in the classroom.  The film follows a group of Australian students as they implement sustainable practices in their school.  From recycling old cell phones to planting a school garden, students demonstrate how easy it is to make a difference when everyone works together.  Humour and lively acting will engage your students in thinking about citizenship and encourage them to consider what they can do in their community to help the environment.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

This video will provide an excellent introduction to the study of sustainability and could be used as the precursor to a classroom action project where students plan and evaluate activities that emphasize citizenship.  A classroom garden could be planted and science outcomes could be incorporated into the project by having students measure and record plant growth.  The class could also identify the edible parts of the plants and use this information to sort the plants by type.  If a school garden is not possible then a trip to the local farmers market would allow students to learn about the benefits of local food and sustainable agriculture. 

A class could also implement a cell phone recycling campaign similar to the one shown in the video.  They could prepare an action plan that identifies how they will develop and maintain the project.  Someone from the local waste management company could also be invited to the school to speak about the benefits of recycling electronic devices.

To implement an action project focused on electricity a class could conduct a school energy audit where they identify areas where power could be saved.  Students could also learn about the differences in energy use between  light bulb types and describe the pros and cons for each kind of bulb.

One of the 5 minute activities on the video is the joke period that helps promote health and wellness.  Students could learn more about the science behind humor and wellness and could then develop a joke book for other students to read. 

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

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  • Alberta
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    • Grade 3
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      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Developing and affirming identity contributes to well-being and understandings of self and one another
  • Manitoba
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      • Science
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        • Growth and Changes in Plants
      • Social Studies
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        • Communities of the World: Communities of the World
    • Grade 4
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitat and Communities
  • New Brunswick
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    • Grade 3
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3.Our Local Environment: Science Technology Society and Environment (STSE)
        • Science 3: Our Local Environment:Scientific Literacy
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        • Provincial Identity: Citizenship
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      • Social Studies
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        • Social Studies: Exploring our World
  • Newfoundland & Labrador
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        • Plant Growth & Changes
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        • Provincial Identity: Citizenship
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      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring Our World
  • Northwest Territories
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        • Life Systems: Growth and Changes in Plants
      • Social Studies
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        • Communities of the World: Exploring the World
    • Grade 4
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      • Social Studies
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        • The NWT: Our Places, Stories and Traditions: Beginnings and Traditions
  • Nova Scotia
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        • Science 3: Plants
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        • Social Studies 3: Citizenship
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      • Social Studies
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        • Social Studies 4: Humans and the Physical Environment
  • Nunavut
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        • Life Systems: Growth and Changes in Plants
      • Social Studies
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        • Connecting With the World: Citizenship
        • Connecting With the World: Global Connections
        • Connecting With the World: The Land: Place & People
    • Grade 4
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        • Provinces and Territories: Our Places, Stories, and Traditions: Global Connections
  • Ontario
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        • Plant Growth & Changes
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        • Provincial Identity: Citizenship
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      • Social Studies
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        • Exploring Our World
  • Quebec
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        • Plant Growth and Changes
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        • Community Comparisons: Resources and Welath
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        • Habitats and Communities
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        • Saskatchewan: Resources and Wealth
    • Grade 5
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        • Canada: Dynamic Relations
        • Canada: Resources and Wealth

Themes Addressed

  • Citizenship (2)

    • Community-Building and Participation
    • Ecological Footprint

  • Energy (1)

    • Energy Use

  • Food & Agriculture (1)

    • Local Food

  • Waste Management (1)

    • Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle