conducted prior to 2022, but results of the latest survey show poor well-being was re- ported by 70 per cent of transgender youth in Grades 6 to 8, as well as by 41 per cent of cisgender girls and 20 per cent of cisgender boys. Reasons for these increases are com- plex (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic, social media), but also include the climate crisis. Personally and professionally, I have
thought about our future world a great deal. It is reasonable to have a high level of anxiety about what the planet and political systems will look like for our students as they grow up. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the state of the world. Yet, as a climate activist, orga- nizer and educator, embracing hope for the future is essential. Developing a mindset of optimism – and then taking the steps neces- sary to create a future world that is sustain- able and just – is not only invigorating and motivating but an act of resistance. Having a sense that we are in a bleak moment in his- tory but knowing that history goes through waves of very challenging times gives us a sense that if we work together, we can change the world for the better.
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE COMMUNITY
With all this in mind, last year I developed a unit for my Grade 4/5 class that embraced design thinking to create a sustainable future community that relies on renewable energy. Tis was a creative group of students who liked to think outside the box. Giving them a hands-on task that integrated multiple sub- ject areas and learning skills was a great op- portunity for them as students and for us as a community.
SCIENCE INTEGRATION
Anyone who has ever taught a split-grade class knows it can be a challenge to balance the curriculum needs of both grades. An ef- fective strategy is to combine the instruction- al tasks as much as possible. For this project, I combined the Grade 4 Light and Sound strand with the Grade 5 Conservation of En- ergy and Resources strand. We investigated solar power, specifically how light energy travels from the sun and how solar panels transform the sun’s energy into clean, renew- able power. It’s exciting to find connections between
different subject areas, social justice goals, and learning skills. As education becomes progressively more challenging, looking for
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