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World Environment Day

Suitable for all schools and nurseries. Supports the Geography National Curriculum.

Overview

Education phase

Early years Key stage 2 Key stage 3 Key stage 4 Key stage 5 Key stage 1

Category of activity

Supporting

Types of activity

Curriculum

How it helps

  • Supports the Geography National Curriculum
  • Encourages class participation and team work

About the activity

World Environment Day (WED) is an annual global event, held annually on 5 June.

This day is a great opportunity to work with your school travel working group to investigate the air quality around your school and consider how active travel can be used to improve it!

To celebrate, why not encourage your students to explore the levels of nitrogen dioxide around their school? You can do this by searching for nitrogen-sensitive and nitrogen-loving lichens on nearby trees.  You can download the teachers guide and lichen ID guide or find out more by visiting the OPAL Air Survey website.

Activity steps

Step 1

Get ready. Download the teachers guide and Lichen ID guide to help you conduct the lichen air quality survey

Step 2

Plan your action. Set up a team or work with your school travel working group and decide when you’d like to mark the day, then register your activity on the WED website

Step 3

Shout about it! Promote the activities you're planning to the wider school community with posters and an article in the school newsletter or website

Step 4

On the day. Use the day to raise awareness among your school community and beyond. Have fun and don’t forget to take photos!

Step 5

Check for success. How did your pupils find the day? What key messages did they take away?

Step 6

Tell your story. Upload evidence in "my activities".