Overview

What CarbonKids will do

CarbonKids will:

• support a reduction of greenhouse emissions in schools and local communities through direct action
• increase the appreciation of forest biodiversity and biosequestration values in addressing climate change
• implement the latest in climate change science to support learning
• provide curriculum resources and a wealth of cross-curricular activities to support teaching and learning about climate change
• develop skills in the process of inquiry, literature research, experimental investigation and critical thinking
• promote a critical and an action based approach to learning
• be teacher and student friendly.

What CarbonKids will provide

CarbonKids will provide the following support to registered CarbonKids schools (please see CarbonKids Registration Form [PDF 406KB] for registering details):

• a set of integrated curriculum units for the primary and middle years of schooling with associated resource pages
• supporting climate change information sheets including critical questions and interesting facts
• suggested opportunities and activities for CSIRO Science Education Centre involvement in CarbonKids that lead to school visits and school involvement in CSIRO Education programs and events
• suggested opportunities and activities for classes and individuals that lead to staff and students taking action at school and at home to combat climate change.
• school visits to assist in the program's implementation
• additional resources including rich literacy texts
• promotional tools including a CarbonKids Media Kit
• an invitation to send student delegates and a teacher to annual CarbonKids Climate Science workshops
• regular e-newsletters

What CarbonKids involves

The CarbonKids program involves schools in protecting and conserving our precious environments for the future by developing initiatives to help all Australians live, work and play in a sustainable way and make adjustments that can stop millions of tonnes of emissions contributing to climate change.

It is more than a curriculum issue and engages schools to formally register (please see How to become a CarbonKids school for registering details) for the full program which assists schools to:

• measure their greenhouse gas emissions using a carbon calculator
• set a meaningful emissions reduction target, such as aiming to become carbon neutral
• identify ways to avoid emissions
• be efficient and reduce emissions that can’t be avoided at school, in homes and in local communities
• increase sequestration by planting trees and shrubs that also help maintain biodiversity
• improve environmental performance at school, in homes and in local communities
• make sustainable transport choices
• check how the school is going against the target set.

The focus of this program is to empower students to actively participate in tackling climate change, improve their school and community environments, address local climate-related issues, form sound judgements and be active citizens in tackling climate change in a positive way.

Registered CarbonKids Schools

Currently over 240 schools across Australia are registered in the program. These schools are located in:

• Adelaide, Adelaide Hills and Riverland regions
• Sydney and Southern Highlands
• Tasmania
• Perth, Bunbury and Margaret River regions of WA
• Brisbane, Gladstone, Townsville, Toowoomba, Darling Downs, Sunshine Coast regions of South Eastern and Northern Queensland
• Australian Capital Territory
• Regional New South Wales
• Victoria
• Northern Territory.

Only registered CarbonKids schools receive:

• school visits
• professional development to assist in the program's implementation
• additional resources as developed in the program
• an invitation to annual CarbonKids Climate Science Workshops facilitated by CSIRO scientists
• the CarbonKids Media Kit
• access to the dedicated CarbonKids wikispace
• regular e-newsletters.