This module introduces the foundational skills students need to work collaboratively on sustainability challenges. Through active listening, creative research, problem-solving, and presentation practice, learners build strong teamwork abilities while exploring how environmental issues affect their communities. The module encourages critical thinking, empathy, and creativity as students begin their journey through the Sustainable Spells project.

Unit 1: The Power of Listening

Active listening is the foundation of effective teamwork and environmental problem-solving. In this unit, students explore how listening with attention, empathy, and clarity strengthens collaboration and leads to better solutions. They learn the Three A’s of Active Listening and practice communication skills through hands-on activities and reflection.

Key Concepts and Theories

Active Listening

• Active listening goes beyond hearing words—it means understanding meaning, paying full attention, and responding thoughtfully.

The Three A’s of Active Listening

• Attention: Focus fully on the speaker.

• Acknowledgement: Use non-verbal signals (nodding, eye contact).

• Action: Ask questions, offer clarifications, give feedback.

Listening in Environmental Work

• Environmental challenges require collaboration; listening helps groups combine ideas to find more effective solutions.

Practical Strategies and Techniques

Structured Listening in Pairs

• Students speak without interruption while their partner listens, then summarises the key points.

Using Reflection Questions

• Prompts help clarify understanding and encourage deeper thinking.

Demonstrating with Magic

• The “Color-Changing Liquid” trick shows how combining different perspectives can transform understanding.

Interactive Activity 1: The Listening Challenge

Task: Practice active listening in pairs.

Step 1: Pair Setup and Topic Choice

• Students work in pairs. Each student chooses an environmental issue they care about, such as pollution, deforestation, or climate change. They prepare to talk about why it matters to them.

Step 2: First Listening Round

• One student speaks for two minutes while the other listens silently, maintaining eye contact and showing attention without interrupting or reacting.

Step 3: Summary and Suggested Solution

• When the speaker finishes, the listener summarises the main points using their own words and adds one possible solution to the issue, showing they understood the message.

Step 4: Role Switch and Repeat

• Students switch roles and repeat the exercise, following the same structure of speaking, listening, summarising, and suggesting.

Step 5: Reflection in Pairs and Whole-Class Debrief

• Pairs briefly discuss how it felt to speak without interruption and to summarise someone else’s ideas. A short class discussion follows, focusing on how active listening strengthens collaboration in environmental work.

Interactive Activity 2: Magic Trick Demonstration

Task: Demonstrate the “Color-Changing Liquid” experiment using phenolphthalein and sodium hydroxide.

Step 1: Safety and Setup

• The teacher prepares two clear cups containing phenolphthalein solution and diluted sodium hydroxide, reminding students to observe safely.

Step 2: Performing the Demonstration

• The teacher pours one cup into the other, causing the liquid to turn bright pink. Students notice how a seemingly invisible ingredient changes the entire mixture.

Step 3: Connecting to Active Listening

• The teacher explains that, just as the chemical reaction reveals something hidden, listening carefully can reveal perspectives we did not see before.

Step 4: Quick Pair Reflection

• Students turn to a partner and briefly discuss how the color change relates to gaining new insights through listening.

Reflection and Discussion

• What was challenging about being an active listener?

• How did it feel to be listened to without interruption?

• How can listening transform your approach to environmental issues?

• How does understanding different perspectives lead to better solutions?

Unit Summary

Active listening builds stronger collaboration. Through paired exercises, reflection, and a magic demonstration, students discover how attention, empathy, and feedback help shape effective environmental problem-solving.

Unit 2: Crafting Green Solutions

This unit guides students through researching environmental issues in their community, selecting a meaningful challenge, and working together to develop sustainable solutions. Students use recycled materials to begin transforming their ideas into visual collages.

Key Concepts and Theories

Understanding Environmental Issues

• Students explore local/global problems and learn to identify root causes.

Collaborative Problem-Solving

• Groups combine research and creativity to propose solutions.

The 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)

• Recycled materials become tools for storytelling and environmental awareness.

Practical Strategies and Techniques

Guided Research

• Teachers support students as they investigate sustainability issues.

Brainstorming with Flipcharts

• Splitting the flipchart into “ISSUE” and “SOLUTION” encourages structured thinking.

Modeling with Experiments

• Oil-and-water density demonstration shows challenges like ocean pollution.

Interactive Activity 1: Research & Selection

Step 1: Group Formation and Introduction

• Students form small groups and learn that they will research local sustainability issues, using teamwork and communication strategies from previous sessions.

Step 2: Guided Research

• Using teacher-provided materials or online sources, groups investigate environmental problems in their community. The teacher supports them with guiding questions to deepen understanding.

Step 3: Issue Selection

• Groups discuss which issue feels most meaningful and choose one to focus on with teacher approval.

Step 4: Flipchart Creation

• Each group prepares a flipchart divided into two sections: the issue (causes, impacts) and possible solutions (ideas, strategies, behaviours).

Step 5: Mini Presentations and Feedback

• Groups present their flipcharts briefly to the class. The teacher and peers give supportive comments to help refine ideas before creating the collage.

Interactive Activity 2: Collage Creation

Step 1: Material Exploration

• Students examine the recycled materials they brought and discuss how these can be used creatively to represent ideas visually. The teacher reinforces the importance of the 3 Rs.

Step 2: Demonstration: Oil and Water Experiment

• The teacher shows how oil floats on water, linking this simple density experiment to real pollution challenges and encouraging students to think scientifically about environmental problems.

Step 3: Collage Planning

• Groups plan their collage layout by deciding how to represent the problem and solution clearly using textures, colors, and recycled materials.

Step 4: Collage Construction

• Students begin building their collages, arranging and attaching materials while the teacher supports their visual communication choices.

Step 5: Progress Sharing

• At the end of the session, each group briefly shows their developing collage and receives short, positive peer comments.

Reflection and Discussion

• What did you learn about environmental issues in your community?

• How did your group choose your issue?

• Why are recycled materials important for your final collage?

• How can your collage inspire others?

Unit Summary

Students researched issues, brainstormed solutions, and began creating their environmental collages. The unit strengthened teamwork, creativity, and applied sustainability knowledge.

Unit 3: Collage Exhibitions & Feedback

In this unit, students finalise their collages, present them to peers, and learn how to give and receive constructive feedback. They practice presentation skills and understand how feedback improves both projects and teamwork.

Key Concepts and Theories

Presentation Skills

• Speaking clearly, making eye contact, telling a clear story.

Constructive Feedback

• Helping others improve through respectful suggestions.

Reflective Improvement

• Using feedback to refine environmental solutions and messages.

Practical Strategies and Techniques

Guided Finalisation

• Students review their collage and identify areas to refine.

Structured Feedback

Feedback must include:

• One positive comment

• One suggestion for improvement

• Focus on the issue/solution clarity

Reflection After Feedback

• Groups analyse feedback and decide how to improve.

Interactive Activity 1: Finalising the Collage

Step 1: Review and Self-Assessment

• Groups look at their collages using a simple checklist to ensure the environmental issue, the solution, and the overall message are clear and visually effective.

Step 2: Improvement Phase

• Students refine their collages by adding missing details, improving layout elements, or strengthening visual connections between the problem and solution.

Step 3: Presentation Preparation

• Groups assign speaking roles and practice a short presentation. The teacher reminds them about clear delivery, eye contact, and confident body language.

Interactive Activity 2: Presentations and Class Feedback

Step 1: Group Presentations

• Each group presents their final collage to the class, explaining their environmental issue, why it matters, and how their chosen solution addresses the problem.

Step 2: Structured Peer Feedback

• After each presentation, classmates offer feedback by highlighting one strength, giving one polite suggestion, and asking a clarifying question.

Step 3: Group Reflection

• Groups discuss the feedback they received and identify what they learned and how they might improve their solution in the future.

Step 4: Class Wrap-Up

• The class reflects on how presenting and giving feedback improves communication skills and deepens environmental understanding.

Reflection and Discussion

• How did it feel to present your work?

• What feedback helped you improve your collage?

• How can feedback improve environmental solutions?

• What was the most rewarding part of this activity?

Unit Summary

Students finalised, presented, and refined their environmental collages. Through structured feedback and reflection, they strengthened communication, creativity, and problem-solving skills.