1. Register for the 2008/09 Solar Oven Challenge!

It's time to register for the next Solar Oven Challenge. Last year, 41 classes participated in the Challenge and built almost 100 solar ovens! Why not engage your students in building, testing and baking with a solar oven, and then see your recipes and a photo of your solar oven showcased on Re-energy.ca — GreenLearning's renewable energy website? See last year's projects and winning entries.

We can accept only 40 registrants, so register soon for the Solar Oven Challenge and build a solar oven that really cooks! Upon registration into this Green Street approved program, you will receive a complete teacher's guide with solar oven construction plans and much more.

Last year, teachers commented on the "the excitement of the students as they watched the temperatures climb in their ovens." They also stressed the educational value of "making solar cookers instead of just reading about alternative heating and energy ideas." As one teacher put it, "Having the students ‘make and bake' in the solar ovens gave them many opportunities for real-life experiences and hands-on learning."

Register for the Challenge at Green Street. Registration starts August 28th!

More on the Solar Oven Challenge.

2. Set Sail with eCards to the Arctic, September 2008

GreenLearning is pleased to team up again this year with Cape Farewell and enable schools across the country to experience the 2008 Cape Farewell Youth Expedition to the Arctic. Cape Farewell is an innovative science and arts educational program that is designed to raise awareness of climate change and give young people a voice. This September, 28 students from 7 countries (15 of them from Canada) will travel to the Arctic alongside leading scientists, artists and educators to conduct scientific research and express this unique experience in art.

Through eCards, GreenLearning will bring the expedition to your classroom. This multi-media, core-curriculum, peer-to-peer resource will allow your students to explore climate change in the Arctic virtually alongside the students on the voyage. Look for these new eCards resources in October 2008!

To see the eCards topic resource centre based on last year's youth expedition, click here and select Arctic Glaciers from the Learn More menu.

To meet this year's 28 students and follow their expedition in real time (September 7-20), visit the Cape Farewell website.

3. Go Back to School with EnerAction

Sparky and the gang have even more to offer your class this year. EnerAction, our energy conservation program for grades 4 to 7, now includes five student backgrounders:

• Energy Needs — The Ways We Use Energy

  

• Non-Renewable Energy Sources — Oil and Natural Gas, Coal, Nuclear
• Renewable Energy Sources — Wind, Solar, Hydro, Biomass, Tidal, Geothermal
• Energy and the Environment — The Impact of our Energy Use
• Taking Action — Personal Choices About Energy Use

Packed with age-appropriate and current information, these backgrounders support student exploration into energy and the environment. They also emphasize the many kinds of actions that young people can take to make a difference.

Teachers have responded very favourably to the EnerAction lesson plans since the program was launched in the fall of 2007. The student backgrounders will support all eleven lessons.

See the new EnerAction backgrounders.

4. Find or Request a Workshop Near You

Teachers tell us that the best way to learn about new resources is by attending workshops. GreenLearning will continue to offer a variety of workshops in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. Keep an eye on GL News for announcements of upcoming workshops and events over the next few months.

If you would like to request a workshop for your school district or learn more about our workshops, please contact the GreenLearning Director in your region.

5. What's My Password?

You know you've had a good summer break when you can't remember your password. Click here to get your GreenLearning password and access our resources.

Many of the teachers who register with GreenLearning hear about us from other teachers. If you would like to share GreenLearning with another teacher, send along this link: http://www.greenlearning.ca/register. Or forward your colleague a copy of this newsletter.

If we can help you find what you need or access your password, please contact Kathy Worobec.

6. Seek and Ye Shall Find

Remember that www.greenlearning.ca now has an easy-to-use search function.

Simply type in your search topic for a list of all relevant GreenLearning resources. You may be surprised by how much you'll find.

7. Our Thanks

We thank the British Council for its continued support of GreenLearning.

That support will allow us to connect the students on this year's
Cape Farewell expedition to many other youth in classrooms across Canada.