New Zealand Science Teacher

Climate change poster comp gets kids thinking

29/08/2016

The Royal Society of New Zealand has created a poster competition to get Year 7 and 8 students thinking about real solutions to looming problems. 

In recognition of the fact that today's students will be tomorrow's problem solvers, The Royal Society is challenging teachers to get their students involved in the poster competition, which starts from a discussion and learning context: "What action can we take to reduce climate change in New Zealand?”

The Royal Society has linked to resources it hosts on it's website, which can help students investigate the issue of climate change in New Zealand. Posters should be in a digital format, and because schools are permitted to enter only three posters in total, they will need to work out a selection process where more students want to enter. The competition is open to individual students, teams, or classes. 

The winner of the competition will receive a visit from a New Zealand climate change expert, to speak at the school of the winning entry. 

There's plenty of curriculum links that can be built into a programme around the climate change posters, says Royal Society of New Zealand schools programme coordinator Jessie McKenzie. These could include: 

Values:	Ecological Sustainability
Science:	Nature of Science: Communicating in Science; Participating and Contributing; Living World: Life Processes; Ecology
Competencies:	Participating and Contributing
Technology:	Design and Visual Communication
Pütaiao:	Te Ao Tūroa
Sustainability Education:	Taking Action
The Arts:	Visual

An important aspect of the climate change poster competition is to give kids the opportunity to think about how best to communicate their ideas on such a relevant issue, says Phillippa Gardiner, acting chief executive of The Royal Society of New Zealand. 

"An important part of what the Royal Society of New Zealand does is to provide expert advice on issues of public concern. The Society has recently released two Expert papers on climate change: Climate Change Implications for New Zealand and Climate Change Mitigation Options for New Zealand.

"To help people understand the issues raised we provide information on our website, and produce brochures and infographics. Many teachers have found them ideal to supplement teaching and learning programmes to engage school students in thinking about climate change.

"The poster competition aims to encourage students to think about climate change and what we might do about it, and also to work out how to communicate about their ideas."

What are The Royal Society looking for in entries? 

• Evidence of informed  thinking about Climate Change about what positive and collaborative actions we as  New Zealanders  can take to mitigate  the cause and effects of Climate Change.
• Clarity of the message and its ability to convey to the viewer the importance of and way to contribute to climate change mitigation
• Overall impact of the display for eye-catching appeal, visual attractiveness
• Appropriateness of graphics
• Creativity

Entries are open until October 20.