Rapaura’s Gifford Room – Turning Climate Learning into Climate Action
The Year 7 and 8 ākonga in Gifford Room at Rapaura School were among the first to take part in the Climate Change Learning Programme Angela has been facilitating in Term 2 and 3.
They recently welcomed her back for the final step, bringing together everything they had learned to create an action that will share their climate knowledge with others, raise awareness of climate change and kaitiakitanga and make a positive difference at school.
Actions to take now and into the future
During the programme, they had explored the value of different perspectives, showing manaakitanga for other people’s views, and working together with nature to find solutions. They also recognised that everyone brings unique skills and strengths to climate action. Whether that’s raising seedlings, planting natives, writing songs, creating art, or presenting ideas to Council – all of it matters.
It set the scene for their planning which began with a big question: What would a healthy planet look like for us in the future? From there, they mapped out actions they could take now, in a week, in a month – and even big-picture, long-term ideas for years ahead that could bring about the future they wanted.
Already, the beginnings of a plan were emerging!
Vinegar Citrus Spray and Wipe
To finish the session, they rolled up their sleeves and made a homemade citrus and vinegar spray-and-wipe for their classroom – snacking on then using the peel of mandarins from Angela’s garden! A small action, but a perfect reminder that change can start with simple, everyday choices.
Great effort Rapaura Gifford Room – your whakaaro and mahi are inspiring!