Using the five gyres of plastic pollution as a springboard, this activity encourages participants to explore the issues surrounding trash in our oceans and to develop solutions.
Recommended grades: 3-5
Time: 3 to 4 60-minute sessions
sustainability
I Think Therefore I Act
Based on the Privilege Walk, this activity encourages students/participants to develop an awareness of the kinds of choices we make every day that impact other people, nonhuman animals, and the environment.
Recommended Grades: 9 and up
Time: A few class periods
Transforming our Animal-based Food System: An Interview with Bruce Friedrich
Introduction: Bruce Friedrich is the Founder and CEO of the Good Food Institute (GFI). He is a TED Fellow, Y Combinator alum, 2021 “American Food Hero” (EatingWell Magazine), and popular speaker on food innovation. He has penned op-eds for the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Wired, and many other publications. He has…
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Solutionary-focused education is the transformative approach we most need: An Interview with Katie Coppens
Introduction: Katie Coppens is an award-winning science teacher at Falmouth Middle School, the author of seven STEM-themed children’s books, and an experienced solutionary educator. In 2018 she participated in the Institute for Humane Education’s Solutionary Pilot Program, and her students shared their solutions to the problem of animal testing at our Solutionary Summit in Portland,…
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Less work, more time to be a solutionary: An Interview with Veronika Perková
Veronika Perková is a Czech environmental journalist with bylines in BBC, Mongabay, and Earth Island Journal. She hosts a monthly, solutions-focused podcast, Nature Solutionaries, which tackles conservation and population issues. She is also the author of Ask Great Questions, Get Great Answers; a university lecturer on interviewing; and a wildlife illustrator. Zoe Weil: You’re a…
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Humane Education Through History, Art, and Inspiration: An Interview with Robert Shetterly
Introduction: After graduating from college and moving to Maine in 1970, Robert Shetterly taught himself drawing, printmaking, and painting, becoming an illustrator at newspapers and of approximately 30 books. After the 9/11 attacks, Rob painted a portrait of Walt Whitman, etching a quote from Whitman on the painting. Thus began his Americans Who Tell the…
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Be a Solutionary, Make a Difference, and Find Meaning in Your Life
When I observe our dogs, I often envy their seeming ease in the world. Sure, Pippin gets anxious when we leave the house (and the couch cover gets a wee bit more torn up as a result); Poppy cringes when treats are tossed her way (perhaps because she was abused before we rescued her); and Hershel has a pillow…
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We Create Others’ Realities, So Be Careful What You Attend To
In late July, I set out to find baby gray tree frogs. They’re emerald green and (I’ll just say it) incredibly adorable. They are also very difficult to find because they’re well-camouflaged, sitting as they do on green leaves. But because I’m looking for them, I often find them. I see what I’m attending to….
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Fracking (Hydraulic Fracturing)
Fracking has been in the news quite a lot the past few years. Find news stories, lesson plans, videos, and other resources to help you learn and/or teach about issues related to fracking. Curated by the Institute for Humane Education.
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Humane Education and Travel: An Interview with Vincie Ho
Introduction: Vincie Ho (she/her), a humane educator and social justice advocate, founded RISE Travel Institute in June 2020 with a commitment to engage young people in important conversations around human rights, animal protection, and environmental sustainability in the context of travel. She is also the creator of Paths Crossing, a humane education card game designed…
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