At school the concept of sustainability is often divided into the topics of biodiversity, energy, waste and water. In this blog we are focusing on the topic of biodiversity.

Biodiversity has come from the words ‘bio‘ all living things and ‘ diversity‘ which literally means variety. So biodiversity means all living things.

This is the simpliest meaning which is perfect for primary school levels. For those in high school then biodiversity can also be broken down further to focus on indigenous native species – all the species that naturally occur in your school (they have not been brought in from other countries or locations).

So where do you start biodiversity at school? Well by going out into your school playground of course! (Or if your playground is all concrete then find a local location that your LandCare or Council look after).

Greening Australia and the LandLearn team have created a great biodiversity toolkit that is available for free at this website http://www.landlearn.net.au/resources/bio_up_close.htm. You will need to enter your name and email details but it is worth it. This toolkit will help you to understand how to measure the trees, leaf litter, rocks, shrubs, grasses, concrete, roof cover at your site (great maths practise). It also looks at what species you have and how to identify your species (those little brown birds all have names!).

Once schools have found out what biodiversity they have they can then work out ways to help including lizards longues, frog bogs, nestboxes, removing weeds and planting natives.

If your school would like some help please drop me a line at info@tribalfrog.com.

Enjoy living lightly

Karen

With many students, parents and teachers getting ready to go back to term 1 for 2011, spare a thought for our planet.

Have you thought about the sustainability efforts of your school? There are 2 avenues that sustainability can be focused on at your school.

The first avenue is to find out how sustainability is included in the operations of your school. Are there things like:

• Recycing bins and collection
• Purchase of green products including paper, pens, pencils
• Light senors and timers
• Timers on watering systems
• Energy efficient light bulbs

within your school?

The other avenue is how is sustainability delivered to the students into the classroom and curriculum. Sustainability classroom curriculum relates to the hands-on activities students do like:

• Tree planting
• Worm farms
• Growing vegetatables
• Building nest boxes
• Going platypus watching

Sustainability curriculum relates to the content teachers deliver and assess students on. Sustainability can be incorporated into so many areas of the curriculum including science, maths, English, humanities, civics and citerzenship or interpersonal development.

In both the classroom and curriculum schools can align their efforst to the Sustainable Schools framework that focuses on Biodiversity, Energy, General Sustainability, Waste and Water.

Here at www.Tribalfrog.com we have loads of experience working within and with schools on their sustainbility journey so if you would like a hand at your school please drop us a line at  info@tribalfrog.com.

So when you go back to school I hope your school is one that has a strong sustainability focus is helping our planet while you learn.

Enjoy living lightly

Karen