Session 12: Environmental Heroes

Start thinking: What three qualities should every hero have?

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Can you think of examples of heroes who have those qualities?

Every hero is different, but there are some features in common. Today’s heroes aren’t superheroes: they’re ordinary people who chose to solve environmental problems in different ways.

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By learning how they chose to help protect the environment, we can learn how we as individuals can all play our part too.

Which individuals are helping to protect the environment and what can they teach us about being environmental heroes?

Today’s Big Question:

PATHWAY

My Five Environmental Heroes

• Meet early environmentalists, solution seekers, defiant disruptors and environmental influencers.

20 mins

Which individuals are helping to protect the environment and what can they teach us about being environmental heroes?

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Environmental Hero Awards

Your group is the judging panel for the Environmental Hero Awards.

First, choose four award categories from these options:

• Most Creative Solution
• Greatest Courage
• Biggest Scientific Breakthrough
• Greatest Global Influence
• Most Inspirational Leader
• Biggest Long-Term Impact
• Most Creative Solution

Environmental Hero Awards

Using the ITZA page, allocate your four awards as a group. Consider these questions:

• What did this person do?
• What problem were they trying to solve?
• Why did it matter?

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You must agree on:

• One winner for each award
• Three reasons why that person deserves it
• One sentence explaining why you chose them over everyone else

WE HAVE COVERED:

• Key environmental figures, their work and impact
• How each figure connects to one or more of the four sustainability imperatives
• Different approaches to environmental change
• What your own contribution to sustainability might look like

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Learner Journal

Part 1: Three Things I Learnt Today

Open your Learner Journal. Write down three things you learnt. These can be facts, ideas, or things that surprised you.

What is the difference between someone who changes what people THINK versus what people DO?

Do we need both?

Learner Journal

Part 2: Reflective Question

Write your response in your Learner Journal, then finish sections 3-5.

“You are never too small to make a difference.” Greta Thunberg, climate activist (2018)

You don't need extraordinary power or a global platform to create change. Real environmental progress happens when ordinary people decide to solve the problems right in front of them.

Lock-In Quote

Extension Activities

Extension 1

Extension 2