Our Power, Our Schools: Showcasing Earth Day

365 days. 1 Earth Day.

To inspire meaningful learning, we must encourage innovation. This is why we developed the first-ever Earth Day Showcase, constructed with a framework that prioritizes real-world problem solving and creating climate solutions while providing flexibility for students to explore and innovate. By empowering students to think critically and creatively, we can cultivate a deeper understanding of environmental issues and inspire them to become agents of change.

The Earth Day Showcase originated from my time in the classroom. Each year my school would put together a community "showcase" of student work. It would begin with a student led project and end with a big celebration at the conclusion of the school year. Although this was not focused on Earth Day, it aligned with an important topic for students to learn-one year, we centered it around a popular children's book. There were a few principles that set the showcase apart from other projects that made an impression for years to come:

1. Collaborative efforts within the school and community
2. Student innovation and creativity
3. Focus on process over perfection

If we take these components and apply them to the context of Earth Day, we can enrich sustainability and environmental education. With 84% of parents and 86% of teachers supporting climate education, the time for the first-ever EARTHDAY.ORG Earth Day Showcase is now. Families, educators, and students are ready to learn.

Building Self Efficacy in Student with Project Based Learning

Studies suggest that self-efficacy is a strong predictor of student academic success, often surpassing other non-cognitive factors. Furthermore, strong self-efficacy behaviors include flexible problem-solving, resilience, and a positive reaction to feedback. A student with self-efficacy has the potential to adapt their learned skill set as they enter the workforce. The question is: how can we foster self-efficacy in the classroom and how can we maximize skill building? And the answer : project based learning (PBL), which allows us to explore climate change solutions and is a powerful way to build the skills students need for success.

How does PBL differ from other types of projects? This method allows students to engage actively in personal, "real-world" exercises. For instance, instead of sitting in a classroom listening to a lecture on solar panels or drawing a diagram of one, students would work with solar engineers to actually create solar panels for their schools.

When learning is hands-on and attached to the "real world", students are gaining something far more significant. Finding a sense of purpose for our futures is why 65% of youth want to learn how climate change will affect the future of Earth and society. By actively engaging students in real-world challenges, the project based learning (PBL) model fosters intrinsic motivation and a sense of purpose, improving mental health and reducing stress by giving students a sense of empowerment. Collaborative projects cultivate essential social-emotional skills like communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution, promoting positive behavior and healthy relationships. Furthermore, PBL develops critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and communication - highly sought-after skills in today's workforce. Students gain valuable experience in time management, and presentation skills, preparing them for success in future careers. This active learning goes beyond memorization, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and research skills as students investigate the impacts and potential solutions to climate change. By connecting classroom learning to real-life challenges, PBL fosters a sense of purpose and empowers students to become agents of change in their communities.

Our Power, Our Schools

I invite you to rethink what Earth Day could look like in the classroom. The Earth Day Showcase is an opportunity to rethink how we approach teaching about the Earth and to redefine what it means to learn. Earth Day can be a day that simply comes and goes, or it can be a day that thoughtfully inspires children to think deeper, create more, and connect with the planet in a meaningful way. This approach can ultimately lead to a shift in mindset. It starts with a small change. Earth Day was founded on the idea of education as a key component for inspiring change among individuals and communities. Get inspired today, to inspire students.

Join the Earth Day Educator Network and register as an Earth Day Educator Representative and submit students' climate projects to the Earth Day Showcase. By participating, you can be part of the global movement for climate action.