STAGE 4: ELABORATE AND WORK TOGETHER FOR CHANGE

The ‘Elaborate’ phase provides opportunities for students to apply what they have learned to new situations and so develop a deeper understanding of the concept or greater use of the skill. It is important for students to discuss and compare their ideas with each other during this phase.

Elaborate Step 4.1: Plan a project for change

Suggested Subject Area: Environmental Education/ Literacy

Purpose
To provide students with opportunities to:

• Consider the idea of recycling as one way of being a more sustainable school, conserving resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
  
• In groups discuss, evaluate and make decisions about sustainability projects
  
• Understand the meaning of actions to improve sustainability and reduce their carbon footprint
  
• Reflect on their own values and priorities for their school and to consider some practical ways in which they can influence changes at the school
  
• Develop skills of cooperative decision-making
  
• Generate a personal and group list of ideas
  
• Encourage sharing of ideas and to learn from one another. 
  

Preparation
You will need:

• Access to some real or hypothetical projects for change. The case studies in the earlier activity can help
  
• A blank class chart similar to the one in Resource 1.11
  

Procedure
Make a list with the class of the most common items that are regularly thrown away at home and at school.

In small groups, each group selects one item and brainstorms all the possible ways that the item could be re-used. They also select one or two ideas that they think are the most practical and useful.

Build a ‘sense of community’ in the class and explore and clarify the agreed direction for an action or a range of actions or a project for change at the school. 

Ask students to:

• In groups generate their ideas about the direction for action or project.
  
• Work in groups of three to combine their ideas into one list of statements. Ideas are discussed, modified, justified, included or rejected until a list is agreed upon.
  
• Compile the final list of statements and display for discussion.
  

Discussion
Explore the wide range of effects that can follow from actions, issues or their project ideas.

Follow up
A recycling programme could be started.

Plastic bags could be recycled, crocheted, knitted or sewn together to make warmer and waterproof clothing items.

Large containers could be recycled and cleaned to capture and store water in.

Newspapers could be recycled and bricks could be made with mud for burning in times of cold.

Next - STEP 4.2: ELABORATE continued