The Educator Magazine U.K. Sept-Dec 2024 issue - Magazine - Page 39
Bringing responsible
sourcing to life in your
classroom
1. English – Writing for change
Students can harness the power of
words to advocate for SPO, improving
their descriptive and persuasive writing
skills. Highlight that palm oil is the most
land-efficient vegetable oil. Explain that
using alternatives like soy or sunflower
oil would require up to 10 times more
land, potentially causing more
significant biodiversity issues
elsewhere. Ideas include crafting a
newspaper report about the effect of
deforestation on the rainforest and its
animals or writing persuasive letters to
supermarket CEOs advocating for the
sale of RSPO (Roundtable on
Sustainable Palm Oil)-certified
sustainable palm oil products.
2. Art and Design – Connecting
emotionally
Art helps students visually
communicate their understanding of
key topics, express emotions and learn
about different cultures. Encourage
your students to dive into the vibrant
world of Batik art, a traditional craft
in Malaysia, one of the world’s largest
palm oil producers. Malaysia is a leading
producer of palm oil and has
increasingly adopted sustainable
practices to protect its rainforests and
wildlife. Sustainable palm oil helps
protect endangered species by
maintaining their natural habitats,
contributing to conservation efforts.
3. Design and Technology – Hands-on
learning
The RSPO certification ensures that
palm oil production adheres to strict
environmental and social criteria,
reducing deforestation and protecting
biodiversity. Bring this to life for the
students by making the rainforest pop
up in your classroom. Through
hands-on research with tubing,
balloons and pipettes, students can
design and construct a dynamic
sustainable palm oil rainforest scene
that springs to life with the push of a
plunger.
4. Physical education – Dancing for
change
Movement can engage students
physically and emotionally, making
dance a powerful metaphor for
environmental change. Students can
express the rainforest’s story through
movement by crafting a dance that
conveys the emotions of the rainforest’s
inhabitants as they face the
challenges of their changing home,
and how positive change can be made
through choosing sustainable palm oil.
5. Music – Rhythms of the rainforest
Students create a rainforest soundscape
using instruments and voices,
mimicking animals and rustling leaves.
This fun activity fosters creativity,
collaboration, and appreciation for the
rainforest's interconnectedness.
Sustainable palm oil helps protect
forests and biodiversity.
6. Computing – Animating awareness
Combine the digital realm and the
natural world by getting students to
create stop-frame animations that
highlight their sustainable palm oil
learning. This activity will seamlessly
bridge creativity, the ability to
communicate complex ideas effectively
and digital literacy.
7. Science – Understanding
ecosystems
Investigating rainforest habitats shows
students how deforestation for palm oil
threatens biodiversity. Understanding
ecological systems empowers them as
informed global citizens. Research by
Chester Zoo shows sustainable palm oil
plantations can coexist with rich
biodiversity if managed correctly.
8. Geography – Mapping impact
Geography links classroom learning to
global issues. Explore regions in
Southeast Asia like Borneo and
Sumatra, to identify and understand
key features of palm oil rainforests.
They’ll learn the differences between
sustainable and non-sustainable palm
oil regions, which often include buffer
zones and wildlife corridors to protect
biodiversity.
9. History – Reawakening the past
The rainforest has a unique history.
Have students re-enact its evolution,
the impact of deforestation, and the
positive effects of sustainable palm
oil initiatives like tree planting and
sustainable agriculture. Chester Zoo’s
conservation programmes show how
these efforts can restore landscapes and
support biodiversity recovery.
Find out more about Chester Zoo’s
education programmes!
Chester Zoo has several resources to
help support you in the classroom.
Visit chesterzoo.org/schools/ for
complete lesson plans (Years 3-6 & KS3)
on sustainable palm oil and inspiration
for long-term school planning. You can
also download the PalmOil Scan
App – developed by Chester Zoo and
partners – to understand which
products use sustainable palm oil.
Ferrero, a leader in sustainable palm
oil, is proud to support Chester Zoo's
education programme. The company
is committed to using responsibly
sourced palm oil, and was ranked 2nd in
the 2024 WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard, which evaluates global companies
on their commitments and actions.
