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Introducing Rivercraft 2 – Gaming to solve environmental challenges with the Environment Agency Broadcast

Introducing Rivercraft – Minecraft Educational Edition

The Environment Agency are launching 3 new educational games in April 2023. We are excited to share more about these games on this broadcast.

For this innovative project the Environment Agency have partnered with Blockbuilders. We know you’ll be excited to see how Blockbuilders have taken real life situations and created Rivercraft 2 to illustrate how we work to protect and improve the environment.

Join us to learn more about current environmental challenges and find out about how we built a Minecraft world so that young people can explore and learn about solutions and adaptations. In Rivercraft 2 you can learn how we work to reduce the impact of climate change.

You’ll even meet some Environment Agency experts in Rivercraft 2. Perhaps you’ll be inspired to think about a career protecting and enhancing the environment too?
We look forward to you joining us!

 

Who are Blockbuilders?

Experts in digital youth engagement, we use the video game Minecraft™ to help our clients communicate and collaborate with young people.

We use Minecraft as a tool to inspire and educate young people about the exciting career opportunities available to them in STEM fields. Our innovative approach to career education combines the fun and creativity of Minecraft with valuable information and resources to help young people explore and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Whether you are a student, parent, or educator, you’ll find valuable information and resources here to help you and the young people in your life discover the many opportunities available in STEM careers. We have worked with the Environment Agency over the past two years to create the RiverCraft games.

RiverCraft 1 allows students to explore and understand the critical areas of the Environment Agency’s work in a fun and interactive way. The game comprises three games based in Preston, Lancashire, themed around flood mitigation, climate change, and the local environment.

RiverCraft 2 is a continuation of this project, focusing on flood management techniques with three games set on a river for players to explore nature based solutions to flooding, drought and farming, and sustainable urban drainage systems and water efficiency in the home. These games are based in general rural and urban worlds rather than a specific location.

‘Planning new development in a climate emergency’ – (Full broadcast available on demand available soon)

Join the Environment Agency and their partners Town and Country Planning Association to learn more about the role of development planning in adapting to flood risk and coastal change in our changing climate. You will find out more about the impacts of flooding and coastal change in the UK and how planners must understand risks and make decisions to reduce risks. The film will introduce ways that we can adapt and be more resilient to prepare for climate change.

The accompanying resources will support class activities following the broadcast.

You will find a powerpoint in the resources section that includes links and prompts to:

 explore the local flood risk in your area
 check if flood warnings are available
 consider how to prepare for flooding
 discuss main ideas from the film
 consider roles introduced in the film

A discussion support sheet is provided to highlight some of the main points covered
in the film.

Environment Agency Protecting our planet 2022 – (Full broadcast available on demand)

Join the Environment Agency as they host the Protecting our planet conference as part of the Preventing Plastic Pollution Interreg project. You will hear from three inspiring young speakers who are already working hard to protect our planet. Amy Meek, aged 18 and co-founder of Kids Against Plastic, George Hassall aged 17 and Young ambassador for the Royal Horticulture Society, and Lucie Parsons, aged 12 and young environmentalist and published author. The conference was recorded in front of a live audience of 120 young people from year 6 and 7.
During the broadcast you will hear our panel answer some of the questions from the audience, but you will also have a chance to ask questions of your own using the live chat function during the broadcast.
The broadcast will talk about issues such as plastic pollution, loss of biodiversity and climate change, and what we can all do to take actions to protect our planet!

Environment Agency Together for our Environment – (Full broadcast available on demand)

All across the UK, many different people are working together to tackle environmental problems and create better places both for people and wildlife. This broadcast from the Environment Agency and partners Atkins and Kier will show three exciting sites in the South West of England which are developing sustainable solutions that work with our environment.

You will learn about how we need a large range of different people who bring different skills, experience and outlooks to work on these complex and important challenges. We will also think about how we develop and build sustainable solutions that meet the needs of people, wildlife, our environment and which help prepare us for future changes due to climate change.

Environment Agency – Improving rivers, estuaries and coasts – (Full broadcast available on demand)

The Environment Agency want to include views of young people in our 2022 consultation. This is a chance for young people to have their voices heard.

In this broadcast, you will hear from experts from the Environment Agency and partner organisations facing and finding solutions to environmental challenges including flooding, climate change and the biodiversity crisis.

You will learn about how we must consider different environmental challenges and by working together developing solutions, these can be sustainable having a positive impact on people, places, and wildlife.

Environment Agency Sustainable Celebrations – (Full broadcast available on demand)

The Environment Agency works to create a better place for people and wildlife. Join us  to find out how you can help to protect the natural world be reducing the amount of avoidable plastic used in your celebrations. We will also be joined by author Ellie Jackson who will be reading her book Marli’s Tangled Tale. 

Environment Agency – Women in STEM (Primary) – (Full broadcast available on demand)

The Environment Agency employs over 11 thousand people in England Our main aims are:

• to create better places for people, wildlife and the environment,
• to improve and protect the quality of our air, land and water.
• to work together with others including the government, local councils, businesses and local communities.

Environment Agency – Women in STEM (Secondary) – (Full broadcast available on demand)

The Environment Agency – Climate Change Careers – you too can make a difference! – (Full broadcast available on demand)

Climate change is big news. We are all need to know about what the impacts of climate change will be, how these impacts will affect us in our own lives, in our communities, in the wider world, and in to the future. 

Climate Change Careers – you too can make a difference! – (Full broadcast available on demand)

 

 

Rivercraft 2 Resources:

Click here for the Rivercraft 2 class discussion points

Protect Our Planet Resources:

Click here for the Waste Reduction Bingo card

Click here to find out more from Kids Against Plastic – Kids attempting to tackle the effects of single-use plastic in the UK

Click here to find out more about RHS Ambassador: George Hassall / RHS Gardening

Click here to find out more from Lucie-Parsons I Will Ambassador

Sustainable Celebrations Resources:

Please download our interactive river catchment map which has short video clips to help explain how plastic enters and travels through land and rivers, and ends up in the sea. Each video also has a short activity for you to complete to inspire you to take action to avoid, reduce and reuse, before recycling plastic. You could use this map in your class, or at home with your family! There are two versions, one for primary and another for secondary which could be adapted for use with year 5/6 children.

Primary: Preventing Plastic Pollution from source to sea: Activity Pack for Primary Schools – Preventing Plastic Pollution

Secondary: Preventing Plastic Pollution, from source to sea: Activity Pack for Secondary Schools – Preventing Plastic Pollution

We have a selection of posters with information on ways you can reduce waste during periods of celebration follow the links to access these. These posters could be put up around school ahead of different celebrations, or perhaps you and your class could make your own version to share with your school, friends and family.

Cut down on plastic for Bandi Chhor Divas – Preventing Plastic Pollution

Hints and tips for reducing plastic at Eid – Preventing Plastic Pollution

Make your Easter Plastic Free! – Preventing Plastic Pollution

12 ways to reduce plastic this Christmas – Preventing Plastic Pollution

Meet the Wild Tribe Heroes! Author Ellie Jackson has written a series of books based on true stories to teach children about environmental issues in a positive and inspiring way. You can meet Duffy the sea turtle, Nelson the whale and Sunny the koala! Follow this link to find out more:

Wild Tribe Heroes True Children’s Books On Environmental Issues

There are also associated teaching resources to help you use these books in the classroom, follow this link to access these free resources:

Teaching Resources – Wild Tribe Heroes

World Ocean Day Resources:

Please download our interactive river catchment map which has short video clips to help explain how plastic enters and travels through land and rivers, and ends up in the sea. Each video also has a short activity for you to complete to inspire you to take action to avoid, reduce and reuse, before recycling plastic. You could use this map in your class, or at home with your family! There are two versions, one for primary and another for secondary which could be adapted for use with year 5/6 children.

Primary: Preventing Plastic Pollution from source to sea: Activity Pack for Primary Schools – Preventing Plastic Pollution

Secondary: Preventing Plastic Pollution, from source to sea: Activity Pack for Secondary Schools – Preventing Plastic Pollution

Click here for the holiday bingo card – PFJ holiday bingo (1)

Click here for the Waste reduction bingo card – Waste reduction bingo – schools version (2)