Teachers across the South-West of the UK recently engaged in the inaugural session of Ocean Literacy-themed teacher training events led by ProBleu partners with the Ocean Conservation Trust in collaboration with The Box and Surfers Against Sewage. As part of these gatherings, educators understood how ProBleu could empower them to integrate Ocean and Freshwater literacy into their educational curricula.
By developing students’ understanding of our individual and collective impact on the Ocean and its impact on our lives and well-being, students and their communities will be encouraged to act positively for our Ocean.
These Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events are a cornerstone of the Ocean Conservation Trust’s ‘Climate Change Roadshow’ pilot project, generously funded by the Edina Trust, a charitable organization dedicated to enhancing the teaching and learning of primary school science.
Members of the OCT’s Learning team visited local primary schools that don’t benefit from easy access to the ocean, delivering their dynamic Energy Investigators workshop and Climate Heroes Show, igniting curiosity and fostering a deeper understanding of environmental stewardship among students. OCT Schools Programme manager, Stu Higgs, said, “We all know the climate is changing, but does turning off a light really make a difference? The Energy Investigators workshop really helps join the dots between these individual actions and our global climatic conditions.” Teachers from participating schools agreed, with one remarking, “What a fun, engaging and enriching experience for our children and a fantastic way to kick off our topic on sustainability.” Another said, “The children (and staff) had an amazing day! Really informative and the children have learnt so much! It’s amazing what you all do and inspirational for the children to think about subtle changes that they can make to save our environment.”
Teaching staff from these participating schools were invited to take part in the CPD events, designed to equip educators with the knowledge and confidence to integrate ocean and freshwater literacy into their practice seamlessly. Teachers delved into the core principles of Ocean Literacy, exploring links with existing curricula and discovering engaging activities that they could replicate in their own settings. The Ocean Conservation Trust then shared the invaluable support offered by the ProBleu project, as well as exploring some case studies of previous European Blue School projects to help educators imagine how their own ambitions could come to life.
For schools embarking on the ProBleu journey, there are considerable benefits. Successful applicants stand to gain not only financial backing of up to 10,000 euros but also access to a diverse array of multilingual educational resources designed to foster a deeper connection between students and their local aquatic environments. Thanks to the scientific expertise of ProBleu partners, there will be particular emphasis for these resources on citizen science initiatives, empowering schools to play an active role in environmental conservation efforts.
As the call for the second round of funding is open, educators are invited to seize this opportunity of support to enrich their teaching practices and cultivate a generation of environmentally-conscious citizens equipped to navigate the challenges of the 21st century, paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future.
Funded by the European Union