Feature Articles
QAS systems thinkers
& change makers for a sustainable future
Early Years Students Explore Finite Resources in their Classroom
QF schools connect students to Qatar’s 2030 Vision for a Sustainable City & the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #12 Responsible Consumption & Production
Doha, Qatar, January 12, 2020: Qatar Academy Sidra EY4 teacher Amy Brett has been setting up provocations in her classroom to encourage four year old students to think about finite resources.
“It is never too early to understand small parts of larger concepts.” says Ms. Amy.
One of those larger concepts explored in Ms. Amy’s classroom is the theme of water scarcity. Realizing that water is a “big part of our day” to develop fine motor skills and build mathematical understanding, we installed a water wall for the children to explore and we quickly realized that “water seemed to be draining” very quickly.
“We looked at the fact we didn’t have any water left. The children wanted to go to the tap, because that’s where water comes from. They don’t understand that in order for water to get to the tap it goes through a recycling process from the sea.”
Ms. Amy then posed the question, “If we didn’t have a tap what could we do?” She noticed that some of the students were trying to scrape some water back off the ground. “We tried to collect a little of it with a spoon!” we started to think about, “What if we caught that water that was coming down the tubing?” Delving deeper in the investigation, Ms. Amy gave the kids a finite amount of water and informed them that the tap was not available as a water source.
“They were able to move buckets and work together as a team to move water in a wheelbarrow. Water was lost and they were getting really frustrated with each other, but they came to this point where they were able to balance the wheelbarrow and… save as much water as possible.”
Gleaming with the feeling of success, Ms. Amy noted that the children are really good at conserving water now and it is something they think about. She cited that the children even wash their hands outside rather than coming inside to the tap.
“The idea is sustainability is something that you love so much, a toy that you love so much that you want to keep it clean so you can continue to play with it… we talk about not breaking toys… everything we actually do has an element of sustainability around it… how do we treat library books, how do we turn the pages so that they book doesn’t rip…” Ms. Amy shared.
Ms. Amy also reflected on the use of paper in her classroom. “You can go through boxes of it in a day!” After a similar investigation, Ms. Amy’s students now conserve the use of paper by using both sides of a sheet, cutting it into pieces to increase use of space and using a box of scrap paper for recycling and reusing.
“Almost on a daily basis, the kids come in and want to make superhero masks. They go to that box to get recycled paper that other people have used and not wanted, but it is given a whole new life - and that essentially is what sustainability is - taking something and protecting it and also taking something and giving it a new life… they are doing that with just recycled paper.”
For a deeper dive take a look at this document published by UNESCO.
globalgoals_food (1).pdfIslamic Studies & the UN SDG’s
QF schools connect students to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal - #2 Zero Hunger and #3 Good Health & Well-Being
Doha, Qatar, January 5, 2021: Qatar Academy Sidra PYP4 students recently engaged in lessons led by Ms. Hadeel, Qatar History, and Islamic Teacher, using religion as a vehicle to engage students with Mother Nature and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Through a religious lens, Ms. Hadeel challenged her grade 4 students to analyze the Muslim lifestyle, specifically, manners related to eating. After these lessons, the fourth graders made posters encouraging kids not to waste food.
“Our religion is telling us to save food, help others, and eat healthily… these basics are also published in the UN SDG’s.”
“Allah created everything... and created people to help find food... and now you must think about how this food is coming to your plate and how you are going to save this food to help others… there are people who are working to get this food to you… how are you appreciating the efforts.” - Ms. Hadeel
Ms. Hadeel urged students to “ Stop and think about what you are doing.” She guided them to take a deep look at the never-ending cycle of food. In an attempt to reconnect our children to where our food is coming from, she asked the students to consider the broad implication of wasting food. When one wastes food, he is disrespecting the entire farm to table system. He is wasting the time of the farmer, the trucker, the manufacturer, the packager, the grocery store owner, the grocery store clerk, the parent who worked to purchase and prepare the food, and the dump truck driver who takes the waste to the landfill. Another sustainability lens that can be added to these teachings is the concept of responsible production and consumption.
Carefully weaving through the IB philosophy about reflection, Ms. Hadeel directed the students to think about Allah and his prophets. In order for these prophets to be effective, they had to go through the process of reflection and think about the environment around them before coming to a conclusion that there must be something bigger that must be worshiped.
“They started to reflect on actions; Who made the sky? No-one. Even if you made a huge thing, no one can reach the sky. Who can make it stable like this? Who can make the sun and the moon?.. and coming at different times and certain times also.”“They didn't learn in PYP schools but they still exhibited the learner profile; being reflective, being a thinker, being responsible, and caring for the community.”Ms. Hadeel noted that having these discussions with students encourages them to think deeper, which in turn encourages students to think deeper and deeper in each subsequent unit. “Slowly we are starting to see how the UN SDG’s are connecting people back to how we are going to save our earth… we have to change how we think before we can save our earth.”Achieving Zero-Hunger Video
Climate Action Day
QF schools connect students to Qatar’s 2030 Vision for a Sustainable City & the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #13 - Climate Action
Doha, Qatar, December 15, 2020: Qatar Academy Sidra 12th grade student, Omar Iqbal recently participated in Climate Action Day where students from across the globe shared solutions and actions for climate change. The 8hour virtual event featured exclusive interviews with Dr. Jane Goodall author and activist, and Rick Davis from NASA.
Omar shared that the Climate Action Day event taught him “that Earth is ending, and it’s because of our actions.” He warns, “In the next 30 years we can see catastrophic events happening to our society and our biodiversity.”
“When I was listening to one of the speakers, he was calling for youth to empower themselves and focus on climate change and be the leaders for innovation and being in the discussion of climate change.”
Looking at climate action through a glocalized lens, Omar highlights some of Qatar’s solutions. “Qatar has a desert climate that is alway exposed to the sun… there are barely any clouds.” Taking advantage of the sun as a primary resource, “Qatar is implementing a project where they are installing multiple solar panels in solar panel fields to use solar energy instead of relying on oil and natural gas.” Currently “most of the money in Qatar comes from natural gas,” and he went on to share that “their vision is to prevent their economy from relying solely on fossil fuels such as natural gas. They are trying to go on tourism or other methods of gaining money.”
Since this event, Omar has been reading the news and learned that there is a climate agreement in France that was signed 4 years ago and is still in effect. He is also now tuned into the current global economic and political landscape that challenges change makers. “
“I know what we have to do...we have to reduce the fossil fuel consumption… we have to live better lifestyles… but the problem is that not every country can do that… some countries, less economically developed countries don’t have that kind of money… or some countries like Syria are in war, and can’t focus on energy sources… but the other problem is when it comes to politics - Donald Trump pulled out of the climate agreement and that itself is harming our environment… and that is going to be catastrophic for future generations.”
Today Omar is an inspired and knowledgeable student, and tomorrow he says that “if I become a scientist… I can genetically modify trees to take in more carbon so that can help reverse climate change and the impacts of climate change.” Omar’s final message and call to action is for people to change habits and lifestyles.
Young Innovators Award - Challenging Youth to Create Solutions for Climate Action
QF schools connect teachers to Qatar’s 2030 Vision for a Sustainable City & the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #13 - Climate Action and Goal #7 Affordable and Clean Energy
Hamad shared that the competition raised awareness of the impact of climate change and “was very inspiring… and fun to do.” He was encouraged to think about adopting sustainable practices in his everyday life, and he learned how Qatar can become a “better and efficient country.”
This learning engagement also led Hamad to a conversation with his school librarian, Kristy Green, where he learned that “In Costa Rica if you want to start a tourist hotel you need to have an efficient way to make electricity, you can not use finite resources like coal, oil or natural gas... you have to use solar panels or wind power to generate electricity which is very efficient and very good for the environment.” Having a carbon neutral tourist industry is a glocal issue that Qatar is managing by working with local hotels in preparation to host FIFA 2022. Hamad reached a conclusion that “If other countries would do the same, the climate would not be changing and Climate Change would not be such a hot topic.” By striving to host a carbon neutral world event, “Qatar is showing the world that we care about the environment, and we love our environment.”
Several students from QAS participated in the Young Innovators Award:Grade 2 - Tameem Almakahleh , Mohammad AquelGrade 3 - Atiksh ShettyGrade 5 - Ailsa Hiwale, Nada Javeed, Abdulla Al Hammadi, Ayishah SuleimanGrade 8 - Hamad Al Sumaiti
Aeroponic Gardening - A Garden to Table Initiative
QF schools connect teachers to Qatar’s 2030 Vision for a Sustainable City & the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #9 - Industry Innovation & Infrastructure and Goal #12 - Responsible Consumption & Production
Upon receiving the garden tower, Ms. Neema admitted, “We were a bit skeptical at the beginning,” but “it worked very well for us,” and the students “had lots of curious questions.”
This learning engagement showcased how the agriculture industry can reduce its carbon footprint by decreasing carbon emissions to transport food from farm to table. Through a glocalized lens, Ms. Jaseena and Ms. Neema also realized that the Garden Tower addresses a water scarcity problem in Qatar. It serves as a provocation for students to think about both food security and water scarcity.
Ms. Jaseena noted that the Tower Garden can be linked to the UN SDG’s “because it teaches how we can make use of very less water and how we can recycle water… we talk about it alot, but this is something that really shows… this is one real good example.”
Ms. Neema made another glocalized noteworthy point, “One drawback is that Qatar has a short growing season, but with the Tower Garden we can grow all year around.”
Teachers have also realized that “It is an amazing educational experience for the students and staff” as it encourages “sustainability of the environment and our health.” - Mr. Zephyr McIntrye.
The tower garden not only addresses global issues, it grows tasty vegetables. Those who were able to enjoy the first harvest commented:
“I just ate the tastiest Rocket Lettuce in my life! And the mustard leaves were so fresh and lemony! - Ms. Saskia Koelewijn
“Your salad leaves were delicious indeed. I need to learn how to grow my own now!” - Ms. Charmaine Viijoen
By celebrating garden-to-table harvests with the school community QAS is promoting responsible production and consumption, and by connecting teachers and students to the tower garden QAS is inspiring future change makers to look at industry, innovation and infrastructure that supports a sustainable world.
Grade 2 Students Learn About Push and Pull Factors Through a Glocalized Lens of Water Scarcity
QF schools connect students to Qatar’s 2030 Vision for a Sustainable City & the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #6 - Clean Water & Sanitation, Goal #9 - Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure & Goal #12 Responsible Consumption & Production
Through a glocalized lens, Ms. Hodan’s presentation served as a provocation for students to think about the interdependence between people and natural forces. “Water scarcity will cause a lot more conflicts and a lot more people who you wouldn’t think would be hard hit, will be hard hit.” Ms. Hodan informed. Human caused water scarcity such as large consumption of water needed to grow crops is a global issue. Ms. Hodan explained.
Ms. Hodan highlighted, “this so-called drinking water is being contaminated by farmers who are using more chemicals to save their crops.” Ms. Hodan mentions “there are different UN organizations who are working with the NGO’s and farmers in Somalia to find solutions.“Water problems, or lack of water has caused conflicts… and I feel like if our students here will know about such things they would treat the water we have as something important. Even in Qatar… every year we pray for the water.” Ms. Hodan shared.
Ms. Hodan informed that Qatar’s National Vision 2030 is to Conserve Energy and Water in the country. The local energy company, Kaharaama, has built a water museum awareness park in an attempt to try and educate all of us. Qatar does recycle water but is also one of the world's highest water consumption per capita. It is also important to note that Qatar desalinizes its’ water, but this process is time consuming and expensive. More research and innovation needs to go into simplifying and reducing the cost of this process for Qatar to meet its current demand on water consumption.
By connecting students to the global issue of water scarcity and life in Somalia Ms. Hodan hopes to impact students in Qatar to think deeply about the local water crisis and inspire future change makers to consume water responsibly and innovate new methods to treat water for human consumption.
“Water is something important from the culture and even the religious background in Islam. Ms. Hodan shared, “in Islam, water is important… giving a glass of water to someone is seen as one of the best charities you could do. Quoting prophet Mohammed, “Do not waste water even if you are at a running stream.”
Saving water is an important conversation to have with children so that we can change behavior over time. Just recently, In our QF compound, energy efficient water faucets have been installed to reduce water use. Ms. Hodan teaches her own children to use leftover water in water bottles to water plants.
Ms. Hodan was inspired by the fact the pyp2 students immediately showed interest and came up with some ways they can help to conserve the 1% of drinking water. She shared this video to get students to start thinking about global water scarcity.
Showcasing Qatari Culture & History Through FIFA Sustainability Lens
QF schools connect students to Qatar’s 2030 Vision for a Sustainable City & the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #11 - Sustainable Cities & Communities
Through a glocalized lens, Ms. Lama’s presentation served as a provocation for students to think about the design and purpose of a structure. “The design of this stadium is amazing!” Ms. Lama said. The tent shaped stadium represents local traditional housing and “the fabric of the tent is made in a way to reduce the temperature” minimizing the dependency on air conditioning Ms. Lama explained. “This fabric helped them to save energy.”
By connecting students to the cultural, historical and sustainable design features of the stadium Ms. Lama hopes to inspire future change makers to look at building cities and communities in a sustainable manner.
She added, “that sustainability has also driven the design of the area around Al Bayt Stadium. Parks and greenery will form an integral part of the surrounding precinct's design plan, creating a green lung for Al Khor and providing local families with invaluable outdoor space to enjoy.” “Through this stadium” Ms. Lama celebrated, “the culture and heritage of Qatar will be shared with people who come from around the world.”
“When the world cup finishes they are going to donate all the seats” and this aligns with “Qatari mind because they are so generous and they are open-minded people so this is a message to the world.” Ms. Lama concluded.