Thanks Brenda & Mantid, I'm continuing to build my 'toolbox' and will incorporate both of your excellent suggestions.
A few activities which seemed to work well are below. Any reactions, suggestions, experiences, etc. appreciated.
INTRODUCTIONS W/ PC PRINCIPLES Photocopy Holmgren's Permaculture Principles onto colored paper, cut into individual pieces and put in a small dish, to be picked up by kids as they gather. Have each student read silently and consider.
Each student introduces her/him-self, tells where they live (watershed address?), and reads their principle & associated proverb. They have an opportunity to talk about what they think the principle means, then discussion opens up for all to consider the meaning of the principle, and examples from life and theory. The principles are numbered, so you can go numerically, popcorn-style, or ‘round the circle. (you could incorporate some art by having them sketch out a personal version of the simple, elegant design that accompanies each principle to share when introducing themselves, and post them in a circle on the wall) I think it helps to write the principles down as they are read and leave them where the students can see them.
Throughout the rest of the session, especially when in the field, point out & elicit examples of these principles in nature, or relevant observations and musings from community and life.
1. Observe & Interact
2. Catch & Store Energy
3. Obtain a Yield
4. Apply Self-regulation & Accept Feedback
5. Use & Value Renewable Resources and Services
6. Produce No Waste
7. Design From Patterns to Details
8. Integrate Rather Than Segregate
9. Use Small and Slow Solutions
10. Use and Value Diversity
11. Use Edges and Value The Marginal
Introduce ethics ~ earth care, people care, fair share. Credit Homlgren.
http://www.holmgren.com.au/DLFiles/PDFs/Essence_of_PC_eBook.pdf SOCIOMETRIC MAPPING Identify two questions (Examples: How connected are you to nature? not at all very; How concerned are you about environmental issues? not at all very)
Apply an imaginary x-y grid to landscape, have students align themselves along line of one axis for the first question (imagine a big + on the land, n is very connected to nature, s is not at all, center is neutral; e is very concerned about the environment, w is not at all, again center is neutral). While maintaining their position on the first axis, introduce the second question and have them move into the appropriate location to designate their position. Discuss. Most groups move heavily into one quadrant, often a few outliers. Discuss value of diversity.
Students may want to re-adjust their position after hearing responses from others.
You could:
1) have them re-adjust and then chat about the results
2) present another set of questions to be mapped (student generated?), or
3) have a nice wrap session and move on.
STORY OF STUFF Watch Annie Leonard’s Story of Stuff. Discuss.
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
.png)
They are coming from various backgrounds (urban, suburban & rural) and have, generally, minimal levels of ecological literacy.