Module 4 – From Emotion to Action

Module 4 – From Emotion to Action guides us through how our emotional responses to the climate crisis lead us to action. We start by exploring the different emotions that arise from this crisis. Then we focus on hope, and explore what it is, how to build and nurture it, and how to connect it to action. Finally, we discuss how this action transcends the classroom, and connect our learning to the work of social movements outside of schools.

Sections

Emotional Reactions to the Climate Crisis

Here, we consider how we and others react emotionally to the climate crisis.

Nurturing Hope

Here, we delve into hope – what it is, how to nurture it, how to connect it to action.

Action Beyond the Classroom

Here, we explore how social movements are reacting and organizing to fight the climate crisis.

Teaching Resources

Fiches

Activity 1 – Ugly Drawings

This activity introduces art therapy and the importance of the artistic process rather than the final product.

Open Activity 1

Activity 2 – Wheel of Emotions

This activity explores emotions with students and helps them identify their feelings about climate change.

Open Activity 2

Activity 4 – Photovoice: The Beauty of Nature

This activity encourages students to identify elements of their environment that they feel represent the beauty of nature and to discuss their feelings toward nature.

Open Activity 4

Activity 5 – The Power of Nature

This activity invites students to explore the emotion of wonder through the lens of the power of nature and by creating a sculpture out of Lego or modeling clay.

Open Activity 5

Module 1, Activity 3 – Communicating Through Colour

This activity gives students the opportunity to use colour theory and their knowledge of the albedo effect to create materials that raise awareness about the urban heat island effect within their school and the wider community.

Open Activity 3

Module 2, Activity 3 – What’s in a T-shirt

This activity allows students to reflect on the life cycle of clothing by tracing the path taken by a single item of clothing from the country where it was made to the place it was purchased.

Open Activity 3

Module 3, Activity 1 – Waste Audit

This activity gives students the opportunity to conduct a waste audit, an important tool for understanding the quantity and composition of waste, as well as how it changes over time.

Open Activity 1

Videos

Introduction to Nature Journaling

This video introduces nature journaling as a simple and effective tool to provide students with regular opportunities to learn outdoors.

Reimagining Your Schoolyard

This video proposes activities designed to give students a chance to reflect on the type of world they want to live in by reimagining a greener schoolyard for their community.

If you are interested in spearheading a schoolyard redesign with your class, check out these Quebec government resources.