Protecting Our Environment

Overview

A creative and reflective lesson designed for Year 7 students that embeds the National Curriculum objectives for Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) focusing on environmental responsibility and sustainability. Students will actively engage in a poster-making task that highlights practical ways to protect the environment, encouraging personal accountability and positive choices.

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Curriculum Links

National Curriculum for England – PSHE Education (2020 Framework):

• Theme: Health and Wellbeing / Living in the Wider World
• Learning Objective:
  • Pupils recognise the importance of the environment and the impact of pollution and waste on people and planet.
  • Pupils understand how their choices can contribute to a more sustainable world.
• Statutory Guidance references:
  • Relationships Education: Teaching pupils about how to respect the environment and the benefits of sustainable practices.
  • Citizenship: Encouraging pupils to consider how they can contribute positively to their communities and world.
• Key Competencies:
  • Critical thinking and reflection
  • Collaboration and communication
  • Creativity in expressing ideas

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

1. Identify key ways individuals can protect the environment from pollution and waste.
2. Explain the impact of pollution and waste on the planet and human health.
3. Collaborate creatively to design a poster promoting environmental protection.
4. Reflect on their own choices and how these affect the environment.

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Resources Needed

• A3 or A4 plain paper or poster board (one per student or pair)
• Colouring pens, pencils, markers
• Scissors, glue sticks, recycled magazines or printed images related to environment (optional)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Environment-themed prompt cards (e.g., ‘Reduce plastic use’, ‘Recycle properly’, ‘Save water’, ‘Eco-friendly transport’)
• Timer or stopwatch

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Lesson Structure (30 minutes)

1. Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Discussion: What harms our environment?

• Begin with an interactive class discussion using the whiteboard. Ask:
  • "What comes to mind when you think about pollution and waste?"
  • "How do these affect animals, plants, people, and our world?"
• Write key points on the board (litter, plastic pollution, air pollution, water waste, greenhouse gases).
• Link these points to real examples that are relevant and relatable (e.g., local littering, plastic bottles in oceans).

2. Main Activity (20 minutes)

Poster Creation - Be an Environmental Champion!

• Divide the class into pairs or allow individuals to choose if preferred by the dynamic of your group.
• Explain the task: Each student/pair will create a poster that illustrates and promotes ways to protect the environment based on the starter discussion.
• Distribute prompt cards to inspire ideas and encourage varied messages.
• Encourage creative use of drawings, slogans, facts, and images cut from magazines or printed sheets.
• Circulate and facilitate, asking students to explain their ideas as they work to deepen understanding.
• Emphasise messages that connect to personal choices, e.g. “I will use less plastic” or “I will recycle more.”

3. Plenary / Reflection (5 minutes)

Gallery Walk & Personal Commitment

• Arrange the posters around the classroom briefly.
• Allow students to walk around, silently viewing peers’ work and reflecting on different ideas.
• Finish with a quick round where each student shares one thing they learned or one change they want to make in their daily life relating to environmental protection.
• Optionally, write these commitments on the board as a collective pledge.

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Assessment

• Formative: Observation of participation during discussion and poster creation; questioning to assess understanding of environmental impact and personal responsibility.
• Summative: Informal peer-assessment during gallery walk; verbal reflections on learning and commitment to change.
• Teacher uses a checklist to ensure pupils can articulate at least two ways to protect the environment and reflect on their personal impact.

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Differentiation

• Provide sentence starters or word banks for pupils who need support in expressing ideas on posters.
• Challenge more able pupils to include specific environmental facts or statistics in their posters.
• Give physical support with cutting or drawing as needed.

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Extension Ideas

• Display the posters around the school to inspire wider school community action.
• Follow-up activity: Plan and carry out a small eco-friendly project like a litter pick or recycling drive.
• Digital creation: Use tablets or computers to design digital posters or presentations on environmental protection.

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By integrating creativity and personal reflection, this lesson not only meets the PSHE national curriculum standards but actively empowers students to become proactive environmental stewards early in their education journey.