Let’s start with a quick challenge to get us thinking. You have one minute. Turn to someone sitting near you—your neighbor, someone behind or in front of you—and work together to list as many of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as you can. Try to recall them from memory. No Googling, no phones—just see what you already know!"

Remember!

"Whether you remembered 3 or 13, it’s okay. What matters is that these goals become part of how we think and teach. Because even though the SDGs are global, real change begins locally—in our classrooms, with our students, through the way we educate for a better future."

Instructions:

1. “Think about the subject or age group you teach. Look at the SDG list or screen, and choose one SDG that connects most closely to your classroom.”

2. “Now turn to a partner and answer this question:
   👉 How can this SDG show up in your subject or a classroom activity?
   You’ve got 2 minutes—go!”

"Every subject has a doorway into sustainability. It’s not about changing what we teach—it’s about changing how we teach it. With small shifts, we can bring real-world relevance into the classroom and grow a generation that thinks sustainably."

Small Group Task:

With a partner or your table group, choose any 2–3 images from the map. For each image, answer:
— What subject does this connect to?
— How could I use this image to spark a discussion or mini-lesson in my class?”

Volunteers groups must share their answers:

• Which image did you choose?

• What subject did you link it to?

• How might you use it in your teaching?

Advocates are selected from across the globe and are provided with professional development, training resources, and global collaboration opportunities. They are tasked with:

• Promoting awareness of the 17 SDGs in school environments

• Supporting fellow educators in integrating sustainability into their teaching

• Creating action-oriented learning experiences

• Fostering a culture of global citizenship among students

Through this program, educators become leaders of change, helping shape a future generation that is informed, empathetic, and equipped to tackle global challenges.

Treat it as if it’s “waste” (something they’d normally discard after a session).

👉 “Now let’s rethink this. What if this paper wasn’t waste? What can you turn it into, sustainably, in your classroom?”

Upcycling ideas:

• ✂️ Fold it into an origami bookmark with an environmental message.

• 🪴 Roll it into a mini plant pot starter for seedlings (for science/sustainability lessons).

• 🎨 Turn it into a “gratitude leaf” or “eco-pledge” card—write one small sustainable action and post it on a classroom “green tree” board.

• 🎲 Make a quick DIY dice for green-themed quizzes or activities.