The Harmony Project

🔵 PACTS 🟢 Are you and your organisation signed up yet? PACTS (Politicians Accountable for Climate To Students) was created in partnership with Reboot the Future, SEEd - Sustainability and Environmental Education and Our Shared World to empower students to urge their local MPs to take action on climate change through six accessible steps. The recent change of Government presents us with a moment of political 'reset'. This means that now's a great time to engage students in politics and to encourage them to use their voices to raise the profile of the environmental challenges that affect us all. Research from the Woodland Trust reveals that one in three children feel scared, sad or pessimistic about climate change, so it's clear that this is an area of priority for many young people. You can find more information about PACTS, including supporting documents, at the link below. https://lnkd.in/eNPnxnsr

Richard shares his thoughts following his trip to Bhoomi College and Prakriya Green Wisdom School - India where he observed their approaches to connecting young people with Nature. Do have a read to learn a little bit about India's hopes for a more sustainable future.

For young historians, our Year 4 learning enquiry 'How did the Ancient Egyptians live in Harmony with Nature?' offers a fascinating insight into Ancient Egyptian civilisation. As well as discovering the pyramids, pharaohs, tombs, cartouches and hieroglyphics that are symbolic of this period of history, students also have the opportunity to explore the Ancient Egyptians' connection with Nature. To support and enrich this learning, we have recently launched another title in our series of geometry teaching packs, offering six geometry activities with a focus on Egyptian artefacts, buildings and decorative patterns inspired by the natural world. The pack comes with step-by-step instructions and photocopiable templates for each activity. The activities themselves can be adapted to vary the level of challenge or support for individual students. With information about Ancient Egyptian art and culture provided throughout, we hope that students and teachers will feel inspired to bring learning to life through these activities, while honing geometry skills and creating beautiful imagery in the process.

The VbE International values-based education conference 2024 takes place on 18th October in the Oxfordshire village of Shrivenham. It is open to educators who are keen to explore values-based education, the principles behind this transformative approach and the impact it is having in the schools that have adopted it. The Harmony Project's founder and director, Richard Dunne, is a guest speaker at the conference; he will be presenting values-based sustainability and sharing ideas and guidance to support the development of a curriculum that connects students in values-based schools with sustainability. You can find out more about this informative and inspiring event, and book your tickets to it, here https://lnkd.in/ee4ZZsgg

💡Have you signed up to our forthcoming webinar? Taking place on October 17th at 4pm this free webinar is essential viewing for anyone seeking guidance and support to embed sustainability thinking through the lens of science curriculum design 🌱🔬 ➡️ The webinar will focus on three key areas of our curriculum framework and accompanying resources. Further info and registration details can be found in the event link at the top of this page.

We are always pleased to see initiatives that encourage us outside and into Nature – and so of course we are delighted to see The Wildlife Trusts urging us all to explore Nature in our communities and further afield, with their Big Wild Walk 2024. This is an event that inspires young people to get outside and into fresh air and there is also the option of fundraising, further details of which can be found on the website: https://lnkd.in/evniCb_G 🍂 So why not set yourself a target distance to walk and a fundraising goal, then head outside between 21st October and 3rd November to take in the sights, sounds and beauty of Nature. 🍁 Your fundraising efforts will help restore Nature in every part of the UK as part of The Wildlife Trusts’ mission to protect 30% of land and sea for Nature by 2030. Will you be signing up?

We recently hosted an event at Holden Farm Dairy for headteachers from across Herefordshire to explore the principles of Harmony through the lens of food and farming, and to consider how we can bring the science curriculum to life with a shift of focus towards sustainability and Nature. The day inspired many insightful conversations and ideas, for everyone involved. Richard shares some further thoughts here ⬇️

We are looking to appoint two more trustees to the Board of The Harmony Project this Autumn. Our Trustees play a vital role in making sure that The Harmony Project achieves its core purpose of transforming education and putting sustainability and Nature at the heart of learning. They oversee the overall management and administration of the charity. They also ensure that The Harmony Project has a clear strategy and that our delivery plan is in line with our vision. Further details can be found in the attached file. Please email morwenna@theharmonyproject.org.uk with expressions of interest.

Our forthcoming webinar is essential viewing for anyone looking for guidance and support to embed sustainability thinking through the lens of science curriculum design. Taking place on October 17th at 4pm, this free webinar will focus on three key areas of our curriculum framework and accompanying resources: 🌱 An introduction to The Harmony Project: This will include an overview of the 7 principles of harmony that underpin our curriculum design. 🌱 An overview of The Harmony Project curriculum design: With a particular focus on how our lessons are designed to put sustainability at the heart of education, with opportunities to learn about, in and from Nature forming a golden thread across each area of learning . We will share examples from science lesson plans for years 1, 3 & 6 as an introduction to this new bank of resources. 🌱 An insight into forthcoming resources: We will highlight connections between science, PSHE and geometry using exemplar materials, and offer a brief insight into the resources we have in development this academic year. Sign up at this link https://lnkd.in/eMSpGrgT

🔵 PACTS 🟢 is a new initiative launched in partnership with Reboot the Future, SEEd - Sustainability and Environmental Education and Our Shared World, to empower young people to engage their local MPs in climate conversations and to hold Politicians Accountable to Climate for Students. Huge thanks to Smiley Movement for supporting the launch of this initiative, and for capturing these insights from the recent launch at Google's UK HQ. Find out more about PACTS and sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eNPnxnsr