About Blue Schools

The Blue Schools program is structured as a series of activities that are completed in sequence throughout the school year to: introduce the water audit process, complete a water audit in the school, analyze the data collected, prepare an action plan for water conservation in the school and finally, implement the action plan and measure success.

Multiple connections to the Science and Technology, Mathematics and Social Studies & Geography curriculum documents are highlighted for each activity. Additionally, each activity is related to a relevant category of the achievement chart (Knowledge and Understanding, Thinking and Investigation, Communication, Application) to allow for flexible assessment based on the dynamic classroom environment. Blue Schools also supports the development of 21st Century Competencies in participating students.

The Toronto Zoo is Canada’s national leader in saving wildlife to ensure the rich diversity of nature for future generations. The Zoo also has a strong mandate to improve public awareness with the goal of species conservation, which involves the local delivery of curriculum-based education programs. Since the 1990s Toronto Zoo’s highly successful, bilingual Great Lakes Program (GLP) has supported this mandate through bilingual in-class and public outreach, student and teacher resource development, community events and freshwater research.

As an extension of the GLP, Blue Schools fosters a deeper appreciation for water resource use, management and protection through direct, hands-on learning. Taking learning out of the classroom, this STEM-based program involves the entire school from students and educators to support staff, administration and board-level representatives. After completing a water audit in their schools, students work as part of a team including all levels of school operation to develop and implement an action plan to improve sustainable water use practices in the school and raise awareness of local water issues.

No personal student or staff information is collected through the Blue Schools Program. Water-use data identifying specific schools will not be published or distributed.

Introduction

Fresh water is one of the most important resources in Canada. The North American Great Lakes represent the largest source of surface freshwater in the world however, they face a number of threats including invasive species, pollution and overconsumption.

Residential water use in Canada is almost the highest in the world, second only to the United States. Canadians use approximately 300 L of water in the home each day, not including water used for the production of goods and services. Figure 1 illustrates the breakdown of daily residential water use in the average Canadian home.

By completing a water audit and investigating water use in the school, students and staff will have the information necessary to develop an action plan to reduce water consumption in the school. Blue Schools provides the framework and resources to support the water conservation initiatives and strategies in participating schools.

Figure 1: Daily residential water use breakdown. Modified from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Curriculum Connections

Blue Schools is directly linked to multiple grades and subjects of the Ontario Curriculum. Specific links to curriculum expectations in the following subjects and grades are listed at the start of each activity.

Science & Technology, Grade 6-8

Mathematics, Grade 6-8

Social Studies & Geography, Grade 6-8

Blue Schools implementation is not limited to the subjects or grades listed here. Teachers of all grades and subjects are encouraged to participate in addition to extra-curricular clubs such as environmental or social action clubs.

Blue Schools is based on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) pedagogy. Additional integration of the Blue Schools program into classroom learning is strongly encouraged.