Climate Change Showdown Information and FAQ's
Climate Change Showdown Further Information
Hello, thank you for taking an interest in the Climate Change Showdown workshop and take-home contest. This information is designed to answer any questions that you may have but please feel free to email us if you would like more information: ccshowdown@bcsea.org.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Climate Change Showdown? Who delivers the Climate Change Showdown program?
Who delivers the Climate Change Showdown program?
What do the students learn in the Workshop?
What is the home activity known as the “Climate Change Show Contest”
How is each action allocated points and greenhouse gas emissions savings?
When was the workshop created and has it been reviewed and updated since?
Who manages the program?
Who funds the workshops?
Does the workshop complement the curriculum?
How many workshops have been delivered and how many students have been reached? How many tonnes of GHG's have been reduced as a result?
What is the Climate Change Showdown?
The Climate Change Showdown (CCS) includes a 90 minute workshop and a 4 week home activity known as the “CCS Contest”. The workshop is delivered to grade 4-7 students in the classroom in a fun and interactive way that engages the students. The students are trained to be Climate Change Superheroes, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to reduce their carbon footprint through taking part in the contest, which encourages changing behaviours at home to reduce energy use and environmental impact.
The Climate Change Showdown is run by the BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA), a non-profit organization that is uniquely placed to deliver the program due to its expertise in sustainable energy and the presence of chapters in many regions of the Province with experienced environmental educators delivering workshops to elementary students in each region.
What do the students learn in the Workshop?
There are three main components to the workshop: 1. A story telling introduction about a positive “green” future 2. The Climate Change Show DVD (narrated by Rick Mercer) 3. A choice of different age appropriate educational games. The workshop begins with a story telling activity. The educator describes an event where they went into the future in 30 years time and recalls how they visited the neighbourhood where the school was and that they noticed there were lots of sustainable energy solutions in place such as solar panels, safe cycle routes, and that they met some of the students, aged around 40 years old, working in jobs that cool the climate. The students are whisked away into a place where they can imagine the positive response to the pressures of Climate Change. Students often get very excited and ask lots of questions about what they were doing in the future.
The Climate Change Show DVD, with accompanying worksheet, is played to the students to teach them about the science of climate change, including the greenhouse effect and sources of man-made greenhouse gases. The video is paused before the solutions are discussed to allow the students to come up with some of their own energy and greenhouse gas saving ideas. The student friendly Climate Change Show is produced by Science North and narrated by Rick Mercer (the voice of the Sheep character). Watch the trailer here. The environmental educator pauses the DVD during the show to make sure students are keeping up and to clarify any questions they may have and to update information that may have changed since the DVD was made. See the worksheet here CCS DVD Worksheet 2011-12
CCS games. There are a choice of three games that the environmental educators can choose to play with the students depending on their interests and the dynamic of the class: “Climate Change Heroes in Action” Skits involves students developing a skit in groups based on scenarios that they will face when taking part in the CCS Contest at home, and performing it to the class; “Who Wants to Be A Climate Change Superhero?” Quiz Show has groups of students answer multiple-choice questions from a slide show and tests their Climate Change knowledge and will get them thinking about the Contest actions; “Who am I?” Objects game. Students walk around the room with an image of an object (connected to energy use or climate change) pegged to their backs and ask each other questions with Yes or No answers to find out what they are.
What is the home activity known as the “Climate Change Showdown Contest”
The contest component of the program is a home activity that involves the entire family reducing their carbon footprint. Now that the students have completed their training as Climate Change Superheroes they are equipped to train their families to help them complete the CCS contest over 4 weeks and into the future. The contest has 15 actions that involve undertaking simple behavioural changes and some physical changes around the home and when traveling. The actions are given points to students with 3000 points are winning students. Some of the actions are “additional” so that students can choose a different action if they cannot do one and can still “win”. Winning students and classes are rewarded with prizes and pizza parties. The contest results are used to calculate greenhouse gas savings. Some classes have been invited to attend City Council meetings to recognize their achievements. See an example of the contest here CCS Contest Form 2011-12
How is each action allocated points and greenhouse gas emissions savings?
Each action is given points in a simplified range of 100,200 or 300 points. The point score reflects the greenhouse gas emissions savings that will result in these actions being completed. We have researched the impact of each action and calculated GHG savings that will result from using less gas, electricity, water and so on. These calculations are used to report the estimated GHG savings made by each student, each class and across the Province.
When was the workshop created and has it been reviewed and updated since?
The workshop and contest were designed in 2006 by members of the Board of the BCSEA, with the input of local high school students. Each year feedback from teachers and educators, gathered using an online questionnaire, is taken into account and in the summer of 2011 the program underwent a significant review process. Teachers, educators and supporters were consulted and major improvements to the lesson plan, games and contest were made. We hope to see the results of these improvements reflected positively in the contest participation in future years.
Who manages the program?
The program is managed and coordinated by Renate Sitch, in Vancouver. You can contact her at ccshowdown@bcsea.org or call 604-564-0016. There are regional Environmental Educators across the province who facilitate the in-class workshops.
Who funds the workshops?
Workshops are funded by municipalities and regions around the province and/or private funding bodies which may change year to year but include BC Hydro, Fortis BC and CMHC. Funding for workshops fluctuates each year so the number of workshops that we can deliver in each city or region may change. The content of our workshop and take-home contest is not dictated by our funders but we do acknowledge them and refer students and their families to useful information provided by some funders.
Does the workshop complement the curriculum?
The workshop is aligned with the Environmental Learning and Experience curriculum and meets many Prescribed Learning Outcomes. It has been approved by the Ministry of Education who are continually updated on our developments. The program has received the support of the provincial government’s Climate Action Secretariat and Environment Canada’s Eco Action program.
How many workshops have been delivered and how many students have been reached? How many tonnes of GHG's have been reduced as a result?
Since 2006, (as of Sept.2012) 2109 workshops have been delivered around BC reaching 53,804 students. It is estimated that 37,207 tonnes of GHG equivalents have been saved by students and their families, an average of 0.66 tonnes GHG per student.
