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Overview
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi, Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, political ethicist and nonviolence resistance leader
Welcome to Turning Green Classroom, where we will become informed, inspired and mobilized to effect positive change across our lives, schools and communities worldwide. Each of the 25 themed activities are accompanied by an educational overview and library of resources, to be absorbed and explored on your own time!
To begin this journey, let’s think about our WHY.
Why are you here? What caught your attention? Piqued your interest? Sparked something within? Perhaps it has to do with a story you heard about climate change, a favorite outdoor spot or a passion for animals, maybe related to the food on your plate, the bottle you fill with water or the light switch you turn on and off daily, even the clothes in your closet, products in your cupboard or trash truck driving down the street. Understanding the nuances of climate change, environmental science, sustainability and public health may seem overwhelming, but there is so much we CAN do — because everything is interconnected. And we are a big part of that. All you have to do is open your mind, commit to take the first step, and dare to choose action over apathy. And that starts right here in the Turning Green Classroom.
As we begin this journey, let’s think about our WHY.
We believe in the power of one and the capacity of YOUth to make tangible, lasting, positive change. TGC is here to demonstrate that our individual decisions have a major impact. Throughout this month, you will learn how to live your life in a way that positively impacts people and planet, alongside many movements, organizations, companies and platforms that are living proof of this very philosophy. Together, we can work toward creating the healthy, sustainable, just future we want for ourselves, the people we love, our one planet and collective future.
THINK
TGC is about transformation — and transformation is a process. In order to transform, it is important to first understand who you are right now at this moment. That way, you can look back after engaging with Turning Green Classroom to see the difference, the growth, the change that you have experienced personally.
ACTIVITY
How do you view your power to effect change? Think back on the past year. Have you changed your behaviors or the way you use your voice and take action for the planet ?
- Write one thing that you have learned over the past year
- Write one way you have changed over the past year
- Write one thing that you are proud to have accomplished over the past year
DELIVERABLES
Upload your response and drawing using the upload button below.
Submission Guidelines
- If you do not see an upload button, you need to log in
- Submit all entries as PDFs; no Word or Pages documents
- Be sure to include all content for your submission in one document
- Do not include # or spaces in filenames
- You will see a confirmation in green that your submission uploaded correctly; if you do not see this confirmation, please try again
- Send any questions to classroom@turninggreen.org
Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #TGClassroom.
THINK
We never truly know what the future holds — for ourselves, for the environment, for our communities or for humanity. If we learned anything from 2020, it’s that the world can change in the blink of an eye, each moment changing what we thought we knew the day before. If you had the superpowers to control the future, how would you want it to look?
ACTIVITY
Watch this video from Prince EA called “Dear Future Generations, I’m Sorry.” Take a moment to reflect on how this timeless video made you feel.Get creative with a collage!
- Get creative with a collage!
- Digital Option:
- Find at least one photo that you think captures the world we live in today. Find another photo that captures the world you envision creating for the future. You can use your own photos or ones you find online (cited correctly, of course!).
- Use Photoblend or another overlay application to blend the images to create a contrasting image that tells a story about the present and hopes for the future.
- Feel free to add an inspiring caption or quote that represents the image you made.
- Print Option:
- Gather old magazines, newspapers, posters or printed images you can cut up.
- Look for some that represent our world as it currently stands and the world you desire. Don’t be afraid to get creative and take things out of context. Cut out the images that speak to you.
- Rearrange the clippings and paste them onto a new surface (paper, cardboard, a cereal box, etc.). Try to build one cohesive image with contrasts that tell a story!
- Feel free to cut out and include words and phrases that connect to the photos.
- Digital Option:
DELIVERABLES
Upload your photoblend or picture and caption in a PDF document using the upload button. Post on a social media platform (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Tag @turninggreenorg with #TGClassroom.
Submission Guidelines
- If you do not see an upload button, you need to log in
- Submit all entries as PDFs; no Word or Pages documents
- Be sure to include all content for your submission in one document
- Do not include # or spaces in filenames
- You will see a confirmation in green that your submission uploaded correctly; if you do not see this confirmation, please try again
- Send any questions to classroom@turninggreen.org
Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #TGClassroom.
THINK
We believe ONE is a powerful number. Why? Because every movement starts with one. With someone. Even though the state of our planet may feel overwhelming and you might not know where to even start, we deeply believe that one person has the power to impact big, bold change. Sharing your voice is an all-critical first step.
ACTIVITY
Create a one minute (or less) video that explains why the planet matters to you. This video can take any form — from a public service announcement, to a poem, song, rap or creative idea of your choosing. Make it engaging. Think about the type of content that goes viral every day. Try to make it that impactful! And even more meaningful!
- Post your video on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Tag @turninggreenorg and use #TGClassroom.
DELIVERABLES
Upload a link to your video in a PDF document using the upload button.
Submission Guidelines
- If you do not see an upload button, you need to log in
- Submit all entries as PDFs; no Word or Pages documents
- Be sure to include all content for your submission in one document
- Do not include # or spaces in filenames
- You will see a confirmation in green that your submission uploaded correctly; if you do not see this confirmation, please try again
- Send any questions to classroom@turninggreen.org
Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #TGClassroom.