Amy Bivin

Italy

I am American and I currently teach 2nd and 3rd grade English, Geography, Science and Technology in an international bilingual school in Rome, Italy. I have been teaching since 1991 around the world (North America, South America, Asia, and Europe). I am a certified Microsoft Innovative Educator, trained in Teaching SDGs. I feel strongly about bringing the world into the classroom and taking my students around the globe! I am passionate about engaging my students by connecting them with real w

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School: Istituto Marymount 26 students are involved The average age of the students: 3rd grade Year

Projects 2021

Weather vs Climate and the CAUSES of climate change

For the last 2 weeks we have studied the difference between climate and weather. We checked reliable sources for information to discover the causes of climate change. As a class we concluded that the meaning of climate change is: a change in the usual patterns of climate in specific places.
We worked in groups to make posters and created a box for the classroom to put all our research in. We thought pollution, wasting water and electricity and not recycling were the biggest causes of climate change. We were surprised to learn that eating meat and overfishing are even bigger causes.

Effects of Climate Change locally

We have been studying the effects of Climate Change in Rome and Europe with focus on how animals, plants, people and weather suffer. After researching and discussing we determined that the 4 most critical effects are: ice caps melting, rising temperatures, increased severe weather and animals being endangered. We created posters and are preparing a video.

Global Causes and Effects

This week our students explored the global causes and effects. We connected with a Japanese class and watched their FlipGrip videos to learn ways they are damaging the environment and how they are working to solve the problem. Then we each shared our biggest contribution and brainstormed ways to make changes.

Solutions for Climate Change

This week we watched other CAP participants' videos and made our list of possible solutions. Over the course of 3 weeks students used the scientific method of asking the question, observing/researching, planning/making a hypothesis, creating the experiment and then analyzing and finally reporting with videos. The project was in Technology and they used LEGOs. The objective was to make a creative inventuon. One group invented something to solve the problem of climate change. The most exciting thing was they inspired the whole class and in the 2nd session many students changed their inventions to stop global warming.
We also continued with our Treedom project. We have planted a tree in our school garden and the students came up with a word that represents the importance: oxygen and the Italian "representation" (not translation) is "respira" (breathe). We cut the letters on the wood laser printer, the students decorated them and soon we will hang them from the tree. Our plan is to also donate a tree to the community.

Sharing ideas

This week the middle schoolers came to interview our elementary classes about the project. They will write an article and publish it in the school newspaper.
we also watched the LEGO Build a Change video and participated in the project. The students worked in groups to research endangered animals in various habitats. Then they created posters to illustrate ways to help solve the problem for these animals.

Taking Action

The last week of October we celebrated Halloween by making a pledge to not buy new costumes. All students either made their own or used ones from previous years. On November 4th we watched the CAP webinar and we're very excited to represent our school as presenters and be recognized as a "School of Excellence for Climate Action". The students were so inspired we made a goal to continue our commitment to Climate Action by using only natural (leaves, branches etc) or recycled material to decorate for Christmas but not only our class... ALL of the elementary school!