Young Reporters for the Environment Key Stage 4 image Objectives1.To investigate a local environmental issue. 2.To produce a report on your findings – written, photographic or video. 3.To communicate your findings to the whole school and wider community. InvolvementWhole class, group work or individuals OverviewThe aim of the programme is for Secondary School pupils to investigate a local environmental issue based on one of the eight topics. They then have to report on their findings using their chosen media and then communicate their findings through ie. newspapers, websites, magazines, displays, radio or TV. They will gain further understanding of the issues of Sustainable Development and Citizenship. They will use the internet and new technologies to research and gather information, they can interview experts, carry out surveys, have site visits and gather different peoples opinions to gain a balanced view of the issues. It provides pupils with a vision of the professional world of journalism and may inspire them to follow this as a career and become journalists of the future! This programme can also be included as evidence towards your next Eco-Schools Green Flag. projects/young-reporters TOPICS Biodiversity Coastline Cities Agriculture and Nature Climate Change Water Energy Waste You can choose from any of the eight topics. Different groups within the class can investigate different topics. Key Skills: Links to subjects: English Welsh Science – depending on topic PSE Common Understanding: Choices & Decisions The Natural Environment Climate Change Consumption & Waste Thinking Communication Curriculum Cymreig ICT PSE

Young Reporters for the Environment Key Stage 4 image BACKGROUND OF YOUNG REPORTERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) was established in 1995 and is one of five programmes run by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). The four other programmes are: Eco-Schools, Blue Flag, Learning about Forests and Green Key. These programmes are implemented and administered by the national member organisation in 64 countries around the world. Young Reporters for the Environment is an International programme and there are currently 27 countries involved where pupils in Secondary Schools investigate local environmental issues and report on them. The countries are: Canada, China, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, USA and Wales. Young Reporters for the Environment has been managed in Wales by Keep Wales Tidy since September 2008 and is funded by Countryside Council for Wales. THE YRE ANNUAL AWARDS Every year, YRE holds its annual awards, where every country involved submits a maximum of three written, three photographic and three video articles to the International Jury. In Wales, the schools’ journalistic articles are first submitted to the National Jury, which meet in Cardiff, and consists of professional journalists, staff from Keep Wales Tidy and Countryside Council for Wales. The jury discuss in great detail the merits of each article, and finally select an overall Welsh winner and the runners-up. These are then submitted to the International Jury who select winners for each age category and media. All of these articles are published in the Annual YRE Awards book. For further information please contact Linda Bradshaw-Wood at Keep Wales Tidy on or

Young Reporters for the Environment Curriculum Links - Key Stage 4 image Subject/ Curriculum Area StatementsCovered by the following activities: English Young Reporters for the Environment covers Oracy, Reading and Writing skills. Pupils will carry out investigations, surveys, research information, read other articles, interview experts, the public and other school members, produce the journalistic article and communicate their findings using various media ie. newspaper, magazines, websites, radio, TV, displays and presentations. ORACY Skills Listen and view attentively to complex and varied information and ideas giving relevant responses Identify key points and follow up ideas through probing question and comment in order to find ways of negotiating consensus and compromise, where appropriate Communicate clearly, confidently and persuasively, when necessary, adapting talk to audience and purpose using appropriate gesture, intonation and register to engage the listener Range Communicating for a range of purposes READING Skills Consider how and why texts change when they are adapted for different media and audiences Range Experiencing and responding to a wide range of texts Reading/viewing extracts WRITING Skills Communicate meaning clearly, adapting style to suit the audience and purpose and sustaining their writing when required Organise ideas coherently and confidently into sentences, paragraphs and whole texts Use the full range of punctuation in order to clarify meaning and create effect Range Write for a range of purposes 1.Carrying out the investigation, gathering information and opinions, site visits. 2.Carrying out surveys 3.Interviewing experts 4.Studying other journalistic articles 5.Producing the article – written, photographic or video 6.Communicating your findings 7.Teamwork

Young Reporters for the Environment Curriculum Links - Key Stage 4 image Subject/ Curriculum Area StatementsCovered by the following activities: Welsh Young Reporters for the Environment covers Oracy, Reading and Writing skills. Pupils will carry out investigations, surveys, research information, read other articles, interview experts, the public and other school members, produce the journalistic article and communicate their findings using various media ie. newspaper, magazines, websites, radio, TV, displays and presentations. ORACY Skills View and listen carefully to complex information, extracting the main points Respond extensively by: asking detailed questions and offering comments, evaluating other people’s opinions. considering the use of evidence, suggestion and that which is implicit in what is said, taking and making use of notes based on their enquiries Communicate using appropriate language: clearly and confidently, in a manner suitable to the audience and purpose and using gesture and intonation appropriately Range Communicate for a variety of purposes READING Skills Identify the characteristics of different genres in terms of organisation, structure and presentation; note how effects are created by means of orthographical devices, sounds and words, register; differentiate between fact and opinion, and respond to authors’ different viewpoints Range Experience a variety of texts and forms including literary and/or factual texts WRITING Skills Use the characteristics of chosen forms effectively, adapting their style to a wide range of audiences and purposes Use the full range of punctuation marks suitable for the purpose Range Write for a wide variety of purposes 1.Carrying out the investigation, gathering information and opinions, site visits. 2.Carrying out surveys 3.Interviewing experts 4.Studying other journalistic articles 5.Producing the article – written, photographic or video 6.Communicating your findings 7.Teamwork

Young Reporters for the Environment Curriculum Links - Key Stage 4 image Subject/ Curriculum Area StatementsCovered by the following activities: Science Depending on the topic chosen, Young Reporters for the Environment provide opportunities for carrying out scientific investigations, collecting data, carrying out biological surveys, speaking to experts, gathering different peoples opinions, investigating use and conservation of energy, effects of Climate Change, biodiversity and Sustainable Development issues. The aim is also to make complicated and scientific information easier to understand for a wider audience. Skills Communication Present information, develop an argument and draw a conclusion, using scientific, technical and mathematical language, conventions and symbols and ICT tools Enquiry and practical Collect data from primary or secondary sources, including using ICT sources and tools Data, evidence, theories and explanations Explore how scientific data can be collected and analysed, and how interpretation of data, using creative thought, provides evidence to test ideas and develop theories Range Organisms are independent and adapted to their environments The effects of human activity on the environment can be assessed using living and non-living indicators The surface and the atmosphere of the Earth have changed since the Earth’s origin and are changing at present Energy transfers can be measured and their efficiency calculated, which is important in considering the economic costs and environmental effects of energy use 1.Carrying out the investigation, gathering information and opinions, site visits 2.Carrying out surveys 3.Interviewing experts 4.Producing the article – written, photographic or video 5.Communicating your findings 6.Gain understanding of Sustainable Development and Citizenship

Young Reporters for the Environment Curriculum Links - Key Stage 4 image Subject/ Curriculum Area StatementsCovered by the following activities: PSE Being involved with Young Reporters for the Environment provides many opportunities to develop the skills associated with PSE. YRE encourages pupils to look at the issues of Sustainable Development and to learn about and raise awareness of local environmental issues that are important to them and that they are concerned about. It also encourages pupils to become active citizens in issues connected with where they live as well the links with global issues. Skills Developing Thinking Analyse information and ideas in order to assess bias, reliability and validity Developing Communication Listen perceptively in a range of situations and respond appropriately Appreciate, reflect on and critically evaluate other points of view Developing ICT Find and develop information and ideas Create and present information and ideas Developing Number Select from and interpret a variety of methods of presenting data, including pie charts, scatter graphs and line graphs, to support understanding of PSE issues Working with others Evaluate and access a range of local and national sources of information, support and advice confidently Improving own learning Manage time and organise themselves effectively to meet deadlines Range Active citizenship Sustainable development and global citizenship 1.Carrying out the investigation, gathering information and opinions, site visits 2.Carrying out surveys 3.Interviewing experts 4.Studying other journalistic articles 5.Producing the article – written, photographic or video 6.Communicating your findings 7.Gain understanding of Sustainable Development and Citizenship 8.Teamwork 9.Working to deadlines 10.Working to guidelines/rules 11.Develop communication, curiosity, initiative and criticism