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Description
Cities are increasingly affected by rising global temperatures that intensify the urban heat island effect, increase energy consumption, worsen air pollution, and threaten human well being. One effective climate adaptation strategy is to increase green spaces and urban vegetation to provide natural cooling. In this engaging activity, students create a diorama of their school and redesign it by adding plants, trees and other features that reduce heat and improve environmental sustainability. This creative exercise builds understanding of nature based climate solutions, while giving students the opportunity to design their own "cool school."
General Assessment
Recommendation of how and where to use it
This resource supports Grade 5-8 Science learning related to interactions in ecosystems, biodiversity and climate change. Students also use visual arts skills to sketch their school and create their three-dimensional diorama.
The activity suggests that students use their dioramas to approach municipal officials about greening their community. Students could also develop a school-based action project that involves pupils, teachers, parents and other community partners in planting native trees, shrubs, or pollinator gardens on school property. Tree Canada can provide school grants and other resources to support this type of project through their Greening Canada's School Grounds program.
Relevant Curriculum Units
The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.
- Step 1Select a province
- Alberta
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened by investigating natural systems and their interactions.
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Interactions and Ecosystems
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 4
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Habitat and Communities
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Weather
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Interactions Within Ecosystems
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Earth Science
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland & Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 4
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 4: Habitats
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 5: Weather
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 7: Environmental Action
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 8: Climate Change
- Nunavut
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 4
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Life Systems: Habitats & Communities
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Earth and Space Systems: Weather
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Interactions and Ecosystems
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Interactions in Our Environment
- Ontario
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 4
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Life Systems: Habitats and Communities
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Earth and Space Systems: Conservation of Energy & Resources
- Grade 6
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Life Systems: Biodiversity
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Life Systems: Interactions in the Environment
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 4
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Living Things
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Living Things
- Grade 6
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Living Things
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- The Living World
- Saskatchewan
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 4
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Habitats and Communities
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Weather
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 7: Life Science: Interactions within Ecosystems
- Yukon Territory
Themes Addressed
Air, Atmosphere & Climate (1)
- Climate Change
Citizenship (1)
- Community-Building and Participation
Ecosystems (2)
- Biodiversity
- Interdependence
Land Use & Natural Resources (1)
- Planting Native Species