Learning About the

Environment via Science

Success Stories from the SVN3E

Pilot Program

Stewart Grant (Toronto District School Board)

Linda Oliverio (District School Board of Niagara)

Sandra Orr (District School Board of Niagara)

Human Impact on the

Environment

Unit Title

• Human Impact on the

Environment

Big Ideas

• The biotic elements of

an ecosystem include

humans.

• Abiotic and biotic

factors interact within

an ecosystem.

• People have positive

and negative effects

on the environment,

both locally and

globally.

Human Health and the

Environment

Unit Title

• Human Health and the

Environment

Big Ideas

• Environmental factors

can have negative

effects on human

health.

• It is possible to

minimize some

negative health effects

associated with

environmental factors

by making wise lifestyle

choices and taking

other precautions.

Energy Conservation

Unit Title

• Energy Conservation

Big Ideas

• The impact of energy

production and

consumption on

environmental

sustainability depends

on which resources

and energy

production methods

are used.

Natural Resource Science

and Management

Unit Title

• Natural Resource

Science and

Management

Big Ideas

• Biodiversity is a

measure of the health

and sustainability of

an ecosystem.

• Careful resource

management

planning is necessary

to sustain

ecosystems.

The Safe and Environmentally

Responsible Workplace

Unit Title

• The Safe and

Environmentally

Responsible

Workplace

Big Ideas

• Workplace safety is

the responsibility of

both employees and

employers.

Schools Involved in the Pilot

Project• Cedarbrae Collegiate Institute (TDSB)

• Kernahan Park Secondary (DSBN)

• Grey Highlands Secondary and Bruce Peninsula District School (Bluewater)

• Queen Elizabeth District High School and Sir Winston Churchill CVI (Thunder Bay)

• Ecole secondarie catholique de Hearst (Conseil scolaire catholique de district des grandes rivieres)

• Ecole secondaire de la Riviere-des-Francais (Conseil scolaire public du grand nord de l’Ontario)

• Ecole secondaire cathaloique l’Escale (Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l’est Ontarien)

Demographic Map

How Are You Intelligent

Benefits of Knowing Your

Students

Resources

• The CD contains resources on the

following projects:• Safety in the Workplace

• Air Biofilters

• Mercury Contamination

• Hurricane Katrina

• Water Quality

• Waste Management

Air Biofilter Project

Goal of the Project

• To construct and monitor a functioning air

biofilter.

Biofilter Project Sequence

• Up Close & Toxic Video and Sick Building Syndrome discussion

• Health Canada’s responsibility toward air quality

• Microscopy lesson

• Schematics of a biofilter presented

• Project construction

• Monitoring of health of the plants and presence of microbes in water through journals

• Peer evaluation, self evaluation, rubric evaluation

Tasks and Culminating Activities

• Any of the projects that are incorporated in the

resource can be modified and used as a final

culminating assessment.

• The projects focus on current issues and vary

from region to region.

• The bonus of this course is that it is very fluid.

Material does not need to be presented unit by

unit and there are multiple ways to address the

curriculum expectations.

Success Stories

Student Achievements

• Technology

• Numeracy

• Literacy

• Attendance

• Skill Development (ownership, self-

directed learners)

• Responsible Citizens

Waste Management

Project Brainstorming

Contacts

• Stewart Grant –

Stewart.Grant@tel.tdsb.on.ca

• Linda Oliverio –

linda.oliverio@dsbn.edu.on.ca

• Sandra Orr – sandra.orr@dsbn.edu.on.ca