June 5: World Environment Day

What’s the big idea?

World Environment Day was established by the United Nations in a bid to increase global awareness of, and political focus on, environmental issues. In recognition that climate change is a pressing problem for all of us, this year’s theme is “Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy.”

Assembly ideas

A World Environment Day assembly could focus on any one of the wide range of environmental issues, depending on age of pupils, geographical location and current curriculum focus. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has produced a useful handout of assemblies on some of these issues for key stages 1 to 3.

However, given this year’s theme, you could focus on climate change. A good way to make pupils aware of the effects of climate change is to draw on personalised stories. For older pupils, draw on the BBC’s collection of documentary shorts on climate change; for lower key stage levels, begin with a slide show, such as the one produced by Oxfam in its Climate Chaos series.

The day also coincides with Recycle Now Week, so you could focus on recycling as a part of the solution to the world’s environmental problems. Although primarily geared towards classroom teaching, many of the resources available on the Recyclezone website can also be used for assemblies.

Help, I don’t have enough time to prepare

Use the ready-made assembly plans available at: www.wwf.org.ukfilelibrarypdfassemblyideas.pdf

Where can I go for more information?

www.bbc.co.ukbbcfourdocumentariesfeaturesclimate-shorts.shtml; www.oxfam.org.ukeducationresourcesclimate_chaos; www.recyclezone.org.uktz_resources.aspx

Next Week: Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month.