The curriculum-linked programme is created and designed by teachers (via a teacher panel), for teachers. In its creation the teacher panel reviewed each workshop to ensure they were relevant to current pedagogies. Each school who takes part receives 6 workshops, all based on Experiential Learning where pupils have the opportunity to ‘learn through doing’ through interactive activities. The program culminates in a student-designed campaign day based on a model of co-production. Pupils make decisions about the concepts and community involvement, and take on full ownership of the day.
Workshop 1: Preventing Food waste and Recycling
Workshop 2: Healthy and Sustainable Eating
Workshop 3: Pupil-led planning of the campaign day
Workshop 4: Pupil-led promotion of the campaign day
Workshop 5: THE CAMPAIGN DAY. Pupils choose a campaign on the topic of food waste. Past campaigns have focused on; using surplus fruit to make smoothies for parents and peer, designing a recipe book using common leftovers, and a caddy campaign to encourage others in the community to recycle food more frequently.
Through this pupil-led campaign day children have the opportunity to take action to reduce food waste and tell others, becoming ambassadors for change. Their learning is consolidated through action.
Workshop 6: Sharing Learning (via assemblies, video links etc)
The programme has been received with enthusiasm and inspired both pupils and parents. Some feedback quotes are below:
"I loved being a food waste warrior because it was an amazing feeling teaching others top tips to avoid food waste"
"This has been the best school project because me, my mum, dad and brother are now really passionate about not wasting food."
"The lessons were such fun and I loved collecting food waste pledges from the parents."
"My favourite things we did were playing the snakes & ladders game and the trolley game (because I was good at it), and cycling to create a smoothie. They were not only fun, but also I learnt a lot as well and will remember you and continue to preserve this Earth." Bursted Wood Year 5 Pupils
Small Change Big Difference (SCBD) was launched in 2017 as part of the larger, EU funded TRiFOCAL project which aims to Transform City FOod hAbits for Life. TRiFOCAL is an initiative being led by Resource London - the partnership between WRAP and LWARB - together with Groundwork London. The EU LIFE funded programme aims to deliver the initiative in London, as a test bed for other European cities.