Architects of Change programme (Phase 2)

Description

Children's environmental and creative workshops that educated children on key environmental concerns such as climate change, global warming, plastic pollution, biodiversity, animal habitat loss and the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling. These critical topics are often underrepresented in school settings, where numeracy and language and communication skills are at the forefront of the curriculum.

The Architects of Change programme enlisted children from 3 Belfast primary schools (Key Stage 2) and 1 Belfast post-primary school (Key Stage 3) at these arts-based workshops that utilised scientific principles, creative methods and design-thinking to engender environmental learning through hands-on and collaborative activities. Over the course of a year, a total of 178 children participated at these workshops, which included personalised sessions catering to different abilities (written/drawn and verbal) which also included terrarium-making, painting, worksheet activities, to cover a broad range of children's skills and interests. Classes participated at all six workshops, throughout the year, and received certificates at the end of the programme.

Children were taught 6 core themes:

1) Introduction to Climate Change and Environmental Topics
2) Lessons Learned from Other Countries - which details global activism and learning about humanitarian efforts against global warming
3) Caring About Carbon - understanding the negative and positive actions taken to prevent carbon footprints
4) Remembering the 3 R's: Reducing, Reusing and Recycling - encouraging artistic practices to create crafts e.g., terrarium-making, up-cycling tote bags/T-shirts
5) Building a Better Belfast - learning about renewable technology practices and net zero
6) Figuring out the Future - Together - learning about sustainable choices and practices

Period	8 Nov 2022 → 30 Jun 2023
Event type	Workshop
Location	Belfast, United KingdomShow on map