Today’s Year 8 lesson I showed them Severn Suzuki’s 1992 video speech to the UN on changing our approach to climate change. Understandably, the students were moved that a girl their age had the courage and passion to do that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_O1Au8vZLA

They then watched a similar video of an adult making a similar plea with the same message. They were not so convinced. Why? This is what they said:

“We are so used to adults getting up and telling us things we stop listening. Politicians, teachers, activists. But when a child gets up and speaks with passion it’s different. We take notice. We listen.”

So I asked them… who has the power to change the world?

Their answer:

“We do.”

Then the bell went. I could not have asked for a better end to the lesson.

In two weeks they will be getting up in front of representatives from local council and environmental groups to give a similar speech and a possible solution for a real sustainable issue they are facing in their lives.

http://mrhenstock.edublogs.org/2016/03/01/the-voice-of-our-youth/