About Cool It
The Cool It project has been running in the Royal Borough for three years. The aim of the project is to introduce children to the issue of climate change and to engage them with interactive and fun activities. The activities are focused on providing knowledge and inspiring action, both now and in the future.
Last year we were granted funding from the Climate Challenge Fund to improve the Cool It project. Climate Challenge is funded by the Department for Rural Affairs (Defra). It is the first in a long line of initiatives to try and change attitudes on climate change and inspire people into action in their everyday lives.
The project
We work with schools and children, across key stages 2 and 3, to increase knowledge of climate change including:
- how it is caused
- what its impacts are
- what we can all do to reduce these impacts in the future
The overall objective is to change young people's attitudes to climate change, with the following aims:
- Informing: climate change is real; this is how it happens and what it means
- Enabling: making sure you know what you can do individually and collectively to take action against climate change
- Encouraging: making sure you are informed and supported in addressing climate change
- Inspiring: you need to take ownership. It's your future
Working with the Big Foot Theatre Company we've developed a presentation to introduce climate change. This includes interactive workshops and a comprehensive resource pack that teachers can use for classroom activities.
The assembly, workshops and resource packs link in to many areas of the curriculum. They also seek to improve the following skills in children and young people:
- speaking
- listening
- creative writing
- self-esteem
- teamwork skills
Cool It 2007
During the first part of the project, Key Stage 2 (KS2) students from five Kensington and Chelsea schools participated in an assembly and workshop programme run by the Bigfoot Theatre Company.
All KS2 students were invited to an interactive assembly presentation. Sixty children were then invited to either a creative writing or devising workshop. In the workshops students explored the issues highlighted in the assembly and discussed how they feel about climate change and what they, as individuals, can do about it. The students then either wrote a story or a performance piece which was displayed or performed at the Cool It day.
The Cool It day event was an opportunity for everyone to participate in a variety of activities aimed at understanding and promoting awareness about climate change and its effects.
top of pageCool It website
Who is the website for?
The Cool It website is aimed at teachers and young people, as well as any organisation who is interested in running their own Cool It days.
Benefits for teachers
We have developed a resource pack for teachers which can help to start integrating climate change issues into classes.
You will also find links to useful websites providing information, free downloadable lesson plans and classroom resources based around climate change and other sustainable issues.
For more infromation please see our Cool It resources area.
Benefits for pupils and young people
Learn about climate change and environmental issues and see what other schools and young people think about these issues. Find other websites that will give you interesting facts about climate change and also interactive games and activities to open your eyes.
Benefits for organisations
We aim to spread Cool It as wide as possible and provide help to those who would like to take a similar approach. For organisations wishing to run their own Cool It project, there is a tool kit, that tells you everything you need to know about running a project in your area. Whether you are a Local Authority, a community group or a school, there is useful information to get you started.
For more information Contact Cool It.
