This resource includes five cross-curricular lessons, each comprising idea/activity-based learning that inspires environmental stewardship in both the classroom and beyond. These lessons are suitable for students in grades seven and eight. There is an indoor and outdoor component to most lessons. Teacher tips are provided as well as guiding questions, reflection questions, and inspirational quotes. In designing the lessons, we preferred activities that are fun, hands-on, and thought provoking. We encourage you to combine the information in this guide with other resources that you find relevant to the needs of your students, including other activities, guides, books, and articles. To reduce the footprint of this resource and your classroom, please use projectors and Smartboards when possible to share background information. This resource will help your students discover that, collectively, they can make a difference by taking a conscious and active role in protecting nature. They will have opportunities to share what they are learning with their fellow students, families, and community members. This educational guide is aligned with Acting Today, Shaping Tomorrow, the Ontario Ministry of Education’s policy framework for environmental education.

Electronic reproduction.

Introduction -- Getting started -- Lesson 1: Mapping nature in your community -- Ecosystem services: Lesson 2: Introducing ecosystem services -- Handout: Ecosystem services definition and chart -- Lesson 3: Discovering the ecosystem services around us -- Lesson 4: Taking action for ecosystems -- AIR Lesson 5: Sharing the air we breathe -- WASTE Lesson 6: Completing a waste audit of your school -- WATER Lesson 7: Water filtration and clean drinking water -- ENERGY Lesson 8: Capturing the energy of the sun -- Handout: How to make a solar cooker -- Handout: Data collection sheet for solar cookers -- Handout: Home energy audit.