Earthwatch Education

Join our new project – Tiny Green Scientists, where we will be engaging schools with their local Tiny Forest. 👩‍🔬👨‍🔬💚

The first stage in this project is a webinar titled - Tiny Green Scientists – Engaging Schools with Tiny Forests. This session is designed for teachers and school staff who want to use Tiny Forests as a meaningful way to connect children with nature and environmental learning.  🌳

Everyone is invited to this free webinar on February 3rd 3.30pm. 

We will be exploring what a tiny forest is, how it can increase students' connection to nature, and it’s use in real citizen science projects! We will also be discussing how to help students understand climate change and biodiversity in an age-appropriate and inspiring way. 🪻

Sign up here: Tiny Green Scientists Webinar Tickets, Tue 3 Feb 2026 at 15:30 | Eventbrite

As part of our new Tiny Green Scientist project there is a further opportunity following the webinar. This involves an in-person education day and teacher training at a local Tiny Forest.  If you are a school based in Edinburgh or London and are interested in this opportunity, please use the link below to send in an ‘expression of interest’. 🎓

We have very limited spaces available so please apply before Tuesday 10th February to be considered. Tiny Green Scientists Expression Of Interest Form – Fill in form.

We are looking forward to working with you and your students. If you have any questions, please do get in touch here; education@earthwatch.org.uk and we’d be happy to help.  

Free, 30-minute, lunchtime learning opportunity! 🥪 

Join the next Our Shared World Learning Lunch on 13th January 2026 with Cathy d’Abreu and Bill Finnegan to hear all about The Hope Wheel. 🛞 

The Hope Wheel is a visual synthesis of things to include, avoid, and address in climate change and sustainability education. It aims to bridge the gap between research and practice around how to constructively cultivate hope in the face of the climate crisis with learners of all ages. 🏫 

Our Shared World brings together a large network of those supporting the successful realisation of SDG 4.7* across England by 2030, equipping society to create a more sustainable, fairer, peaceful and resilient world. 🪷 

Learning lunches are monthly opportunity to learn, connect, and engage in discussion and debate around the themes introduced. They’re short, participatory and supportive, welcoming a very broad range of speakers, engaging in all types of education and changemaking. 🎓 

To sign up and get your free tickets use the link here - Our Shared World Learning Lunch: The Hope Wheel Tickets, Tue, Jan 13, 2026 at 1:15 PM | Eventbrite 

Breakdown 

13:15 - 13:30 - Presentation with Cathy d'Abreu, Bill Finnegan 

13:30 - 13:45 – Discussion 

Full paper on The Hope Wheel can be found here https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1347392/full 

*Sustainable Development Goal 4.7 is as follows “By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development” 

The RSPB is running their Big Schools’ Birdwatch 2026 citizen science project between January and February this new year. Here they ask schools to record what birds they see in their school grounds. But why get involved? 🐦

• Citizen Science projects are a great way to introduce students to the crossover between science and nature protection. These projects can empower students, showing them that they can be involved in real change. 💪

• Citizen science has been shown to positively influenced participants attitudes toward wildlife. 🐝

• The RSPB provides digitally accessible, curriculum linked activities for before, during and after the Birdwatch. All resources are available bilingually for schools in Wales. 

• This includes access to historical records of Big Schools’ Birdwatch, so you can compare what your school sees with previous data. 📊

• The bird count itself should improve students' observation skills. 🔍

• Resources included will help pupils consider how being in nature impacts their mental health and wellbeing.  

What do schools need to do?

1. Register here: https://action.rspb.org.uk/page/133476/subscribe/1?ea.tracking.id=rspb_web 

2. Get counting – spend some time with students, anytime between 6th Jan and 13th Feb, recording the birds you can see in your school grounds. 🕊️

3. Submit results online – no matter how many birds are seen. 🦅

Start your student's year off with the RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch 2026 and show them how nature and science are intertwined. 🌳🔬

More information found here - https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/get-ready-for-big-schools-birdwatch

We’re nearing the end of the year - want some nature-based resources to offer students over the break? Or perhaps you want to increase your student's connection to nature in the new year? Look no further than WWFs Happy By Nature programme which aims to bring a daily dose of nature to the school day. 🌳🌠🐌

Tailored towards primary school students, they’ve gathered some simple ideas to help teachers and pupils stay inspired through the holidays and beyond. These resources cover topics from across the world – discover rainforests, dive to the depths of the ocean, or fly off to the icy poles! ❄️☃️

Signing up gives you... 

• A classroom pack with a poster, pupil passports, panda pawprint stamp and stickers. 

• Four themed sets of short, adaptable activities aligned to the curriculum. 

• Interactive live lessons with special guests – including WWF Ambassador Steve Backshall. These started on 1st October so there is already content to enjoy. 

• Opportunities to explore nature, reflect, communicate and care – building key skills and boosting learning.  

• Resources for various learning styles, from art-based classes, to storytelling, to using scientific satellite monitoring of walrus populations! 

• Activities that are adapted for both inside and outside learning. 

More information is found on the WWF website here Happy By Nature | WWF 

The Outward Bound Trust is a charity aiming to help young people grow through real adventure. 🧭

These weeklong courses are set in the wild landscapes of the Lake District, Wales, and Scotland. Aimed towards primary and secondary schools, as well as youth groups, these trips are designed to support outdoor learning. They'll help develop a sense of awe and responsibility for the natural world in students. 

These expeditions are “real, challenging, and often muddy. They build resilience, self-reliance and pride through doing hard things, safely and progressively.” 

Activities include:

• Cold water dips

• Stargazing 🌠

• Climbing mountains ⛰️

• Kayaking

• Rowing 🚣‍♀️

• Adventure

As well as challenging students it offers teachers a chance to grow professionally, allowing you to return to the classroom with some new ideas. 

So, if you’re looking for something a little different to add to the school calendar for next year look no further - Schools, colleges and youth groups | The Outward Bound Trust 

SOS UK is launching a new program – Nature Friendly Grounds, and they’re looking for pilot schools to express their interest! 🏫

Nature Friendly Grounds is helping schools, colleges, and universities transform their grounds by bringing nature-positive actions into everyday life. They aim to restore habitats and support wildlife across educational grounds – seeing these spaces as ‘untapped potential for habitat restoration and biodiversity increase.’ 🌳🐝🐌

If accepted, your school will become part of a nationwide movement, enabling the creation of thriving ecosystems where students and staff can connect with nature. 🥬

This program will also encourage the adoption of sustainable ground management practices, reducing chemical use. It’ll provide a network of conservation experts to provide advice and support in the journey to nature recovery.  ❤️‍🩹

Providing students with hands-projects and training, there is also the opportunity to achieve national recognition with Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards that celebrate your nature restoration! 🏅

They are still looking for expressions of interest from pilot schools – if you are an interested school, you can express your interest here.

For this year's World Wildlife Conservation Day (Dec 4th) The World’s Largest Lesson, The Nat, and Open Planet are collaborating to generate an online lesson titled - ‘Wild Futures on Storytelling’.  

This free, live lesson will show 8-14 year old students how to use creative storytelling to protect nature, using behind the scenes experiences from Open Planet’s documentary Ocean with David Attenborough.

When – Wed Dec 4th 2-2.45pm GMT. 

Where – online, register to get involved here - Webinar Registration - Zoom 

Who – 8–14-year-olds students 

How – live lesson on Zoom (however a recording will be made and shared to youtube on Dec 5th). 

Why – Explore the power of storytelling with your students whilst celebrating World Wildlife Conservation Day in an engaging way!

Plus, the World's Largest Lesson has further climate learning resources found here - https://worldslargestlesson.globalgoals.org/resources/?_sft_language=english 

Last week was the Green Careers Festival week, run by Green Jobs for Nature. This weeklong event highlighted the range of careers available in the environmental world! 🌍🐝🐞

If you were not lucky enough to catch it live you can find all the resources here: 

Green Careers Week Festival 2025 Activities - Green Jobs for Nature 🌳

Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll find there; 

> Videos aimed towards an audience of 10–12 year olds, most around 45 minutes long. 📽️

> Both teaching and using the power of storytelling, you’ll hear from voices in several different ecological and environmental careers.📖 

> Almost all the resources are in video format – many recorded live. Some include accompanying classroom resources. 

> Subjects range from working with beavers, to green energy, plus there’s an art workshop! 🎨🖼️

So, take a closer look and see if there’s any careers that are new to you and your students! 

Image : from Green Jobs for Nature

This Thursday 6th November, it is the biannual Outdoor Classroom Day! 🎉

This global movement encourages schools and educators to step outside and learn, explore or play outdoors—even for just one lesson or part of the day.

1. Join the Community – Sign up your class or school so you’re part of the movement and have access to all the tools. 🫂

2. Explore the Resources & Share Yours – Browse lesson ideas, inspiration and toolkits. And if you’ve already done something outdoors, upload your own. 📚

3. Take Action on the Day – Pick a lesson or activity and take it outside. It doesn’t have to be huge: one class, one activity — make it count. 🏞️

4. Share Your Experience – After the day, reflect and share what you did. Post photos, ask your learners what they noticed, and celebrate the impact.🗣️

If you haven’t registered yet, you can still sign up your setting on the Outdoor Classroom Day website to join thousands of schools worldwide.

Get involved and make 6th November a day where the outdoors becomes part of the everyday — learning outside, feeling connected and enjoying green space. It just might inspire you to do it more regularly! ✨

Find out more here 👉 https://outdoorclassroomday.com/

Photo credits: Get children outdoors to play and learn, on Outdoor Classroom Day and all year round!

Are you looking for an opportunity to bring student voice, creativity and real-world impact into your environmental education work? The YRE programme is a fantastic platform for young people (ages 11-25) to investigate, report and act on climate and environmental issues.

What YRE offers...

• Develop critical skills in storytelling, media, research and advocacy — from articles and videos to podcasts.

• Join a global network of youth making change in their communities and beyond.

• Turn local environmental challenges into action-based reporting that can influence peers, decision-makers and policy.

This could be a strong fit for your learners who want to go beyond the classroom and tell their own environmental stories. It aligns well with outdoor learning, enquiry-based projects and student-led change.

How to get involved: 👇
Visit YRE Join Us page
Check out the “Join YRE” section and explore the competition themes, educator resources and how your setting can sign up

Let’s support our students to become voices for change and to use the outdoor, nature-rich learning environments we’ve created as the backdrop for powerful stories.

Photo credits: Young Reporters for the Environment