Raising Water Stewards for Life
Using a unique, hands-on approach, Water Docs at School brings young people into a close relationship with water, building their understanding of water systems and instilling a passion for water stewardship.
Water Docs at School Action Projects is an eight-month-long learning and action program for Grade 7 & 8 students, delivered through a partnership between Ecologos and Learning for a Sustainable Future, and generously supported by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. This completely cost-free program has been implemented successfully at schools in provinces across the country and praised by teachers for:
delivering the entire curriculum on water
cultivating a deep caring for the environment
developing skills in leadership, team-building, project management and filmmaking
Generously funded by:
Watch the video below, in which two teachers from Brookside Public School in Scarborough, Ontario discuss their experiences with the Water Docs at School Action Projects program.
Benefits of the Program
Participating students will have the chance to:
research water issues affecting their local communities
develop an action project to address a local issue
capture their project initiatives in a short documentary film, receiving filmmaking and storytelling guidance
compete to showcase their film and project for all the participating classes at the Student Recognition Day in the spring
speak with experts in the water field
and much more!
Participating teachers will have the chance to:
participate in periodic web-based conversations with experienced teachers, staff from Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF), as well as staff from the Water Docs Film Festival, to share challenges and successes, and otherwise support each other at important stages
Do you know a Grade 8 or 7/8 teacher in Ontario who might want to take part?
For information, contact Samantha Gawron (LSF).
Winners!
Take a peek at the winners of the Water Docs at School Action Projects program including the Best Project and the Best Film videos plus excellent runner-up films and projects too!
“I can’t wait to do this again next year – it has truly been a life changing experience. This action project, and the funding we have received is truly life-changing and a huge blessing to our grade 8s! There was no way we could have done any of this without you all. The workshops, activities provided, details given and support we received the entire way through this project was extremely helpful. The students really enjoyed being given a lead role in their own action project. They loved working with the staff and students and were really engaged, as it was a relatable and close to home issue that they could help solve themselves! Everything was simple to follow along with, and really made a big difference in these kids’ lives. The teachers are asking how they can complete this next year with their new students, and evidence of our action project is all over the school. From the eco-initiatives (Trashless Tuesdays, ban the bottle pledge, battery collection, etc.) to the bird feeder, and the time capsule with the whole school’s promises, the students in this community will remember this project for the rest of their educational career – and beyond! Thank you so much for this opportunity, and we cannot wait to do it all over again next year!””