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Resources
Department Resources
This resource was created to assist Manitoba teachers in engaging their students in the topic of climate change.
5.37 MB)This guidebook was created to foster discussions about what you can do in your school division to reduce waste. It is both a “how-to” and a “why-to” guide since many questions about waste reduction must be addressed in order to make a school-wide or division-wide initiative a success.
6.43 MB) The Guide for Sustainable Schools in Manitoba has been revised to include updated online resources while still providing information on sustainable school planning. This document reflects the current direction of education for sustainable development (ESD) in Manitoba.
This document is a resource for teaching Grade 12 Interdisciplinary Topics in Science (40S). It is designed to provide information to expose Manitoba students to the complexity of issues associated with Lake Winnipeg and, through science investigations and problem-based approaches to learning, to encourage students to develop decision-making skills associated with the ecological and social dynamics of the Lake Winnipeg environment.
This document is designed to give a Lake Winnipeg focus to the Grade 8 Science water systems cluster. It provides a context for which students can deepen their understandings about water systems and concepts related to sustainable development through a focused inquiry into Lake Winnipeg.
Created to accompany the Kindergarten to Grade 4 Education for Sustainiable Development Poster, this document includes centre activities and learning experiences connected to curriculum and promoting an interdisciplinary approach.
This education for sustainable development (ESD) template will assist teachers in the development of their own ESD activities by incorporating the ESD learning outcomes from the correlation charts or from curriculum documents.
1.10 MB) The Education for Sustainable Development Leadership Council: Creating a Sustainable Future Together brochure informs educators and others of the work of the ESD Leadership Council towards developing a 3 year ESD Action Plan. This brochure outlines the vision, goals and achievement indicators for the ESD Action Plan. The ESD Action Plan will make a vital contribution towards ensuring that ESD is infused into formal education.
2.63 MB) This educational resource for educators and students was produced to help youth in Manitoba explore sustainability career options and practices and prepare to live and work for a more sustainable future.
Feedback Form (
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130 KB) Manitoba Education in partnership with the Sustainability and Education Academy (SEdA) has developed the Domain Framework. This framework supports and enhances the work of education leaders in implementing ESD in all aspects of the education system. Use the Domain Framework for reviewing, monitoring and reporting the status of ESD implementation in your jurisdiction.
The IEYM Unit "Community and Diversity" blends Literacy with Information and Communication Technology (LwICT) with the study of Manitoba's geography and its diverse communities. The curricular areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies are integrated in the thematic concept-based learning of the unit. Aboriginal Perspectives and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) are incorporated in the learning experiences.
505 KB) The list of titles with indexes was compiled using the results of learning resources reviews conducted by the Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF) in conjunction with Manitoba and Canadian Teachers. LSF is a Canadian non-profit organization founded in 1991 to implement education for sustainable develoment (ESD) into the formal school systems in Canada.
This publication is a reference tool provided by Manitoba Education to help educators select student and teacher learning resources to support the curriculum.
This publication is a reference tool to help educators select student and teacher learning resources related to sustainable development where sustainable development concepts are woven into various subject areas.
This is the story of Education for Sustainable Development in Manitoba from 2000 up to the end of the Decade for ESD (2005 to 2014).
National Resources
Resources for Rethinking (R4R)
Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF) provides an online database of excellent, relevant, peer-reviewed curriculum resources relating to education for sustainable development. This is not a directory of resources; rather it is a database of high quality resources available to teachers. A resource is anything (print, multi-media) developed for use in the formal education system (K-12) and must come with instructions and materials.
Classroom Lesson Plans and Activities
Building on the objectives of the Lake Friendly Accord, the H2O iQ resource is designed to provide educators with user-friendly information, tools and resources to fully explore issues related to water and the Lake Winnipeg watershed, while meeting curriculum objectives. The workbook is adaptable for any fresh water lake, as the issues surrounding lake health are not exclusive to Lake Winnipeg.
1.55 MB) Sustainable happiness links happiness and sustainability together. It reinforces the fact that we are interdependent with one another and the natural environment – that our mutual well-being is interconnected. It can also be used as a roadmap to explore what truly makes our heart sing, helping students to recognize the bias of the media messages that suggest a particular brand of toy, body image, or energy drink is the answer.
Protecting our Sacred Water – A Guide for Educators
Protecting our Sacred Water helps educators and youth program facilitators bring education for sustainable development to their students/youth in a transformative way through action projects. The guide provides tools for teachers to help youth choose a project topic and how to carry it out through the integration of FNMI ways of knowing.
A Teacher's Guide for the Video Sila Alangotok – Inuit Observations on Climate Change - A Resource for Senior 2 Science. This teacher’s guide has been developed for use with the video Sila Alangotok—Inuit Observations on Climate Change, produced by the International Institute for Sustainable Development.
Green Learning Climate Change Resource Centre – This site has in depth information on climate change issues. Explore greenlearning.ca teaching resources under Lessons & Activities.
Climate Change North – This site offers resources and information specific to how climate change is affecting Northern Canada. Resources include backgrounders, lesson plans and Web links for grades K-12.
SEEDs Connections – This multimedia kit addresses the basic concepts of climate change and the associated socioeconomic, political and environmental effects. This kit was mailed to most Canadian secondary schools, but can be reordered at this site.
Resources for Rethinking Database – This large database of sustainability education resources includes several quality resources on climate change for grades K-12.
Climate Change Resources
Climate Change outcomes are found in Manitoba as follows:
Science Curriculum
- Grade 5 – Climate Change
- Grade 7 – Fossil Fuel Use and GHG
- Grade 10 – Climate Change
- Grade 11 – Chemistry - Gases and Atmosphere
- Grade 12 – Biology - Conservation of Biodiversity
There are also many indirect links to climate change issues in the curriculum. Professional development is provided to increase teacher confidence in integrating issues such as the Kyoto Protocol and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Social Studies Curriculum
- Grade 2 – My Environment
- Grade 4 – Living in Manitoba - environmental stewardship
- Grade 7 – Climate Change
- Grade 10 – Sustainable Development
- Grade 7 social studies curriculum mentions the term climate change in only one outcome, however there are numerous outcomes relating to the environment, sustainability, and changes over time that encourage integration of climate change.
- Grade 9 social studies outcomes do not specifically reference the term “climate change” but there are several references to environmental stewardship, sustainability and Canadian perspective on global issues that encourage integration of climate change.
- In terms of senior year’s social studies, any coverage of climate change relates to the social, economic and environmental impact rather than to the scientific explanation (arguments) for climate change.
- Grade 11 Physical Geography (optional) curriculum is very dated and does not include references to climate change, however, the study of weather and climate is a major component of this course and it is likely that teachers would include references to climate change.
Learning Resources
Department of Sustainable Development - Climate Change and Air Quality Branch – The Climate and Green Initiatives section of Manitoba Conservation’s website contains a number of resources on the issue of climate change and ideas on ways to reduce personal green house gas emissions. There is also a list of ideas for green projects to undertake in schools or classrooms.
Government of Canada Climate Change Website – This site provides facts and reports on Canada’s action on climate change.
International Institute for Sustainable Development – IISD has a number of scientific publications available on the issue of climate change.
Manitoba Model Forest – This site include a number of resources on climate change.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – This site is the leading body for the assessment of climate change, established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic consequences.
Climate Atlas of Canada – The Climate Atlas has been created as a tool for communicating the severity of climate change in Canada. The collection of interactive maps and graphs available throughout the website allow users to explore how climate is projected to change across Canada.
Action Websites
Climate Change Connections – Resources are available on their website to help Manitoban's understand what climate change means to them and how they can take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, they provide tailor-made conferences for youth across Manitoba.
350 – 350.org is an international campaign that's building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis--the solutions that science and justice demand. There are a number of action resources available on this site.
Climate Change: Youth Guide to Action – A comprehensive guide by TakingITGlobal leads young people through the steps toward effective action against climate change.
No Idling Program – Presentations – This site provides information on how to make your school an idle free zone.
WWF Earth Hour – Earth Hour is an international event created by WWF with the goal of getting as many individuals, schools and businesses as possible to turn off their lights for one hour.
Production and Sustainable Consumption Resources
Sustainable Consumption Teacher Resources
YouthXChange is designed to assist teachers (middle to senior years) in raising and acquiring awareness of the opportunities offered by the adoption of more sustainable consumer choices in a youth friendly format. The YouthXChange training kit is produced by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as part of the UN Decade for Education for Sustainable Development.
The training kit is divided into 9 theme rooms which include:
- respecting our bodies - personal wellness, healthy eating and eco-friendly cosmetics
- looking for a place - sustainable buildings, active transport, the homeless, immigrants, refugees and displaced peoples
- social belonging - citizenship, racism, empowered workers, sustainable cities and global networking
- packaging yourself - fashion victims, child labor, sustainable design, reusing and recycling
- carrying the torch - illiteracy, consumption, media, bio and cultural diversity, designing communities
- pay the right price - minimizing waste, saving water, tackling pollution, fair trade, corporate responsibility, eco and ethical labels, consumers in action, ethical investments
- awakening your soul - self, not selfish, simplicity, expressing yourself, hobbies
- clean up your fun - sustainable parties, zero emission venues, cinema and theatre, arts and crafts, meeting friends, sharing meals
- looking ahead - free access information, committed research, ethics, energy access, energy savings, renewable energy, global warming, innovative materials
UNESCO Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable Future – A multi-media teacher education program developed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It is designed for pre-service teacher courses as well as the in-service education of teachers, curriculum developers, education policy makers, and authors of educational materials. The teacher education program enhances ones understanding of sustainable development, clarifies concepts and themes relate to sustainable development and aids one in integrating issues of sustainability into a range of school subjects and classroom topics. The program contains 25 modules including, one on consumer education.
CONSUME THIS! Buying That Matters – This online youth friendly booklet introduces Sustainable Consumption, demonstrates alternative ways to consume; presents real life examples of young people who practice sustainable consumption in their daily lives; and provides tips on how you can practice sustainable consumption. This booklet was produced by the Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention (C2P2).
Ecological Footprint Calculators – The Ecological Footprint measures the amount of nature's resources an individual, a community, or a country consumes in a given year.
I Buy Different – The New American Dream – This is a campaign to educate young people about the connections between consumer choices and environmental and social issues. The site contains a lot of consumer information, shopping tips, a downloadable community action guide with 30 activity ideas and some step by step advice on organizing community projects. The site also features and educators guide to exploring issues and the Environment for purchase. The Guide is for Middle to Senior Years.
The David Suzuki Foundation – The David Suzuki Foundation site provides useful suggestions on ways to lighten your ecological footprint. It is also a useful site for researching Canada’s most prominent sustainable development issues.
Web Resources
Measuring Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviours Concerning Sustainable Development
Canadian Association for School Health
Department of Sustainable Development
