This short documentary follows students from Toronto's Jesse Ketchum School as they take steps towards the greening of their schoolyard. Along the way they get how-to advice and inspiration from kids across the country; from Pauline Public School, where students raised $10,000, to Broadacres School, where a family of wild ducks found a home in their pond.
A Crack in the Pavement is a two-part video set that shows children, teachers and parents how they can work together to 'green' their school grounds and make positive changes in their communities
Ages 8 to 14
Study Guide - Guide 1
Geography - Environmental Issues
Science - Environmental Science
Science - Life Systems/Ecology
Social Studies - Environmental Challenges
Pre-viewing: Ask students to brainstorm about what changes they would like to see in their schoolyard. How can we make these changes? How would we pay for the supplies required? Post-viewing: As a class, discuss the changes the schools in the video made to their school environment. Would you be willing to do the work required to improve your schoolyard? Who could we get to help us? How would we raise the money needed?