Planetary Health Education - Classroom and Educator Supports

Active School Transport (walk, bike or roll)

 Educator Resources

• NBPSDHU Pedometers (English and French): Portable electronic pedometers are available to borrow from our lending library. Set includes 58 monitors.

  • Useful for grades 4-8.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource, classroom materials.
• Active Transportation Alliance (English): Lesson plans and activities showing the benefits of active transport and how to participate safely.
  • Useful for grades K-12, with curriculum links to math and literacy.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource, professional development resource.

• Active and Safe Routes to School Teachers Kit (English): A guide on promoting active school transport.

  • Useful for grades K-8.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource.

Climate Education 

Energy and Water Conservation 

Educator Resources

• Saskatchewan Environmental Society (English and French): Lesson plans and activities on the topics of energy, water, waste, and biodiversity.
  • Useful for grades K-12, with curriculum connections to math, science, social studies, and health education.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource.
• Inside Education (English and French): Lesson plans, activities, and classroom resources on the topics of energy, water, natural resources, and land.
  • Useful for grades K-12, with curriculum links to science, math, literacy, and social studies.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource.

• NBPSDHU Blender Bike (English and French): The Blender Bike blends foods and beverages with the motion of pedaling the bike. Useful to promote healthy eating, physical activity, and energy conservation at school events.
  • Useful for grades 3-12.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource, school event resource.
• Power Smart for Schools (English): Activities and lesson plans on the topics of conservation, energy, and sustainability.
  • Useful for grades K-12, with curriculum links to science, technology, and social studies.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource.
• Water Calculator (English): Lesson plans, activities, and tools to teach lessons on water conservation and quality.
  • Useful for grades 6-12, with curriculum links to science, math, and literacy.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource. 

Food and the Environment 

 Educator Resources

• Food Matters Action Kit (English and French): A kit, activity guide, posters, and booklets to teach lessons on the relationship between nutrition and environment.
  • Useful for grades K-12, with curriculum links to math, literacy, science, social studies, and health education.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource, professional development resource.
• Bright Bites: Lesson plans and activities that support a healthy relationship with food and the environment.
  • Useful for grades K-8.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource.
• Earth to Tables Legacies (English): Food education using Indigenous Knowledge and storytelling. Books, videos, and educator guides that explain how to teach students about the relationship between food and the environment.
  • Useful for grades K-12.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource, professional development resource.

Gardening 

Educator Resources

• Sustain Ontario (English and French): Curriculum guides and lesson plans on the topics of sustainable food systems, gardening, soil, and the relationship between growing food and being healthy.
  • Useful for grades K-12.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource.
• Jardinons à l’École (French): Lesson plans and classroom activities on the topic of gardening and sustainable outdoors practices.
  • Useful for grades K-3.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource.

Mental Health and the Environment 

Educator Resources

• Yale School of the Environment (English): Professional learning resources and classroom materials on the topic of eco-anxiety.
  • Useful for grades 4-12.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource, professional development resource.
• Tech Learning (English): Resources for educators to discuss climate change and eco-anxiety with students.
  • Useful for grades 4-12.
  • Professional development resource.
• Tel-Jeunes (French): Resources for defining and discussing climate change and eco-anxiety with students.
  • Useful for grades 4-12.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource, professional development resource.

Outdoor Learning 

Educator Resources

• The Canadian Ecology Centre (English and French): Classroom programming, summer camps, and high school credit courses.
  • Useful for grades K-12, with curriculum links to science, technology, and social studies.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource, extracurricular resource.
• Child and Nature Alliance of Canada (English and French): Professional learning and development materials, including a guidebook, on how to prepare for outdoor learning.
  • Useful for K-8 educators.
  • Professional development resource.
• Canadian Institute of Forestry (English and French): Lesson plans and activities to promote outdoor learning including activities, videos, and media resources.
  • Useful for grades K-12.
  • Pre-prepared teaching resource.
• The Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario (English): Tools and tips to plan outdoor learning experiences safely and successfully.
  • Useful for grades K-8, with curriculum links to science, math, and literacy.
  • Professional development resource.
• The Outdoor Learning Store (English): Professional learning opportunities and resources to provide outdoor learning opportunities to students.
  • Useful for grades K-12.
  • Professional development resource, classroom materials.

• Medicine Walk and Fire Making 

  • Perry McLeod-Shabogesic takes a group of youth participants from the Keep the Promise summit through the forest to teach about different medicines and making fire. This video is part of the Keep the Promise initiative of the North East Tobacco Control Area Network.

School Building and Yard 

School Resources

• Eco Schools Canada (English and French): Guide and resources on how to create a more sustainable school environment. Eco Schools highlights active school travel, food, energy conservation, and more.
  • Useful for primary and secondary schools.
• Climate Friendly Schools (English): Information, inspiration, and a guide to reducing the negative impacts of your school on the environment.
  • Useful for primary and secondary schools.
• World Wildlife Fund (English): This link provides school administration and teachers with a guide to increasing sustainability within your school.
  • Useful for primary and secondary schools.

Calendar Events and Notable Days 

This calendar of events relevant to local learners has been compiled for use by schools or teachers, to select opportunities to connect world events to your curriculum or school goals.

February

• Winter Walk Day: First Wednesday of February

March

• International Day of Forests: March 21
• World Water Day: March 22
• Earth Hour: March 25

April

• Spring Into Spring
• Earth Month
• Earth Day: April 22

May

• International Migratory Bird Day: May 14
• International Day for Biodiversity: May 22
• Bike to School Week: Last Week of May

June

• World Environment Day: June 5
• World Oceans Day: June 8

October

• International Walk to School Month
• Take Me Outside Day: Late October

November

• World Childrens Day: November 20

December

• World Soil Day: December 5