Emissions reductions and engaged learning through community partnerships By David Barnum, Johan Stroman and Rob Collison John Luccier’s Grade 7 class hosted a school-wide Freezing Friday to save on energy and emissions.
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n June, John, a Grade 7 teacher at Roberts Creek Elementary, and Johan Stroman, community partner in learning, presented students with certificates to
celebrate their completion of a science, math and applied design program on energy conservation. John is one of a growing number of teachers on the Sun-
and raising awareness of energy conservation and climate change. As one of the students, Megan said, “Three degrees cooler (i.e. 18 Celsius) wasn’t really freezing at all”.
ager), who envisioned this unique
Now John’s students want to see a bigger change! Rob Collison (SD #46 facilities and transportation man-
energy savings day. The students’ pro-
Facilities+School+Community partnership, is now working directly with students. Instead of a one-day event, students are asking Collison for a weekly posal will see building heating turned down two degrees each Friday all year,
shine Coast embracing Energy Matters – a program driven by the School District #46 facilities department funding to engage students in curriculum, energy, and inquiry. His Grade 7 class hosted a school-wide Freezing Friday event in early March. What happened? They turned down the school temperature three degrees for the day, highlighting the costs and impacts of energy use. The result was an astounding 80 per cent drop in natural gas use for the day. 220 elementary students came dressed in sweaters for a cooler day, stimulating interesting discussion
Student action projects support learning in new Grade 4 to 9 curriculum competencies. Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 29
