Take 1 Programme - Embedding ESD in Learning & Teaching

The Take 1 Programme supports second level schools in Ireland, to communicate, raise awareness of, and embed Education for Sustainable Development in learning and teaching, as part of a 'whole school' approach.

Why?

The Take 1 Programme was developed to address ongoing and emerging concerns aligned to climate action and climate justice. Viewed through the broad lens of sustainability and global citizenship, it has an ambition to provide all students with an opportunity to engage in learning about the interconnected nature of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while reflecting the promise to “leave no one behind” (United Nations, 2015)

What do we do?

Second level senior leaders and teachers are provided with an introduction to education for sustainable development (ESD) and guided through a process of embedding information aligned to global citizenship, sustainability and the SDGS in learning and teaching. By mapping the SDGs to the prescribed learning outcomes of the syllabus of every subject, the Take 1 Programme demonstrates a built-in approach, which can be experienced as a natural element of formal and non-formal learning. The training programme supports whole-school participation, highlighting how every student in every class through every subject, can experience the interdependent nature and impact of engaging with ESD and its impact on climate education.

Putting learning in to action

Following Take 1 Programme training, participants are encouraged to put their understanding into action by engaging in in-school activities which showcase their learning. Activities can occur in the formal, non-formal or informal school community and can demonstrate ongoing actions or the beginning of their schools’ ESD journey. There are two structured opportunities for schools to showcase their engagement – May Day for Sustainability and Take 1 Week.

Take 1 Week is an opportunity for a more comprehensive demonstration of engagement, where teachers are invited to teach 1 Class group, 1 Lesson, about 1 SDG over the course of 1 Week. Activities are shared on the school twitter account, including a brief description of events including a photograph or image, encouraging schools to demonstrate whole school commitment and collaboration. (Take 1 Week 2023 – November 20th – 24th) #take1week23

May Day for Sustainability takes place over the course of one day in May and offers schools and opportunity to share and celebrate all things sustainable. This can be new or ongoing projects and where schools can look back over their school year and review their good ESD work. (May Day for Sustainability 2024 – May 7th) #maydayESD #take1programme

Policy Alignment

The design and development of the Take 1 Programme reflects contemporary education in Ireland and has been influenced by a desire for efficiency and streamlining learning and teaching approaches. It has been informed by national whole of government policies as well as specific education policy documents, which reference ESD and the SDGs in both broad and specific contexts. The Programme highlights responsive and responsible opportunities for engagement already embedded in the lower second-level curriculum in Ireland, which impact well-being while also reflecting essential learning for current and future student cohorts on a National and International stage.

Sustainable Development Competency – Systems Thinking

The Take 1 Programme provides an opportunity for engagement which can motivate and empower participants to become informed active citizens. It adopts a ‘Systems Thinking’ approach which highlights the connected nature of global citizenship and demonstrates how engaging with and finding solutions for climate issues should not be addressed in isolation. The ESD lens used by Take 1 Programme training supports inclusive access to climate education targeting ‘every student, in every subject, in every classroom’.

Government Support

The Department of Education currently funds the Take 1 Programme and co ESD to 2030 Front cover of ESD in Education Strategy for Ireland nsiders it an important element of its 2nd National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development as it endeavours to equip learners with the relevant knowledge (the ‘what’), the key dispositions and skills (the ‘how’) and the values (the ‘why’) that will inspire them to become informed active citizens (DE 2022, p17). The programme is offered to all second level schools in Ireland through online or in person training and invites expressions of interest from principals and deputy principals across all sectors. Implementation Plan for ESD to 2030