The environment

Whether you are acid rain or the destruction of the rainforest you will have something to say to other environmental problems in this active linking and communication activity.

Aim: to look at what we have already heard about the environment and consider the seriousness of different environmental problems.

Age group: 11-15.

Number of participants: 10-15.

Time required: 30 minutes.

Resources needed: post-it notes, pen, masking tape.

What to do:

The leader puts a post-it note on each person’s back, each with an environmental subject on it. Use masking tape if they don’t stick well.

  • global warming
  • destruction of rain forests
  • consuming too much (not just food)
  • CO2 emissions
  • Over-use of carbon fuels
  • Toxic waste
  • Not recycling
  • Acid rain
  • Climate change leading to disasters

Ask everyone to go around and ask each other questions about their subject/issue, without asking ‘what am I?’ The answers should be ‘yes’ or ‘no’. (e.g. “Am I a problem for all countries or just some?”)

When they have correctly guessed what they are, they try to find someone else who also knows what they are. They should check they both understand what is on their post-it notes and decide if they think they are ‘related’ to each other (e.g. ‘global warming’ might join ‘deforestation’ as one adds to the other problem). Together decide which the ‘bigger’ problem of the two is.

Then, as a whole group try to stand in a line with the biggest problem at the front and the least significant at the back. Everyone will need to talk to each other in order to collectively decide who stands where.

Extension:

If there are any of the issues some don’t know much about, see if anyone in the group can help inform the others, or decide to research further.