#WorldEnvironmentDay

World Environment Day is celebrated every June 5th to raise global awareness and inspire action to protect the environment. Established by the UN in 1972 and led by UNEP, it focuses on a specific theme each year. World Environment Day 2025 calls for collective action to tackle plastic pollution and is hosted by a different country. It encourages individuals, communities, and governments to take part through activities like clean-ups, tree planting, and awareness campaigns.

Here you can find a collection of useful resources if you want to bring this celebration into your classrooms.

https://trello.com/b/RcB4ftxn/world-environment-day-2025

Etymonopoly

Etymonopoly is a free, print-and-play board game designed for language enthusiasts, created by Ryan Starkey of Starkey Comics. Inspired by the classic Monopoly game, Etymonopoly replaces traditional properties with languages, and currency with "words." Players aim to collect languages and build reconstructions, ultimately striving to reconstruct Proto-Indo-European to win the game.

The game includes a board, cards, banknotes, and rules, all available as downloadable PDFs. It features linguistic humor and references, making it both educational and entertaining. The design and development were enhanced by graphic designer Antti Hukkanen, who helped transform the initial concept into a fully playable game.

https://starkeycomics.com/2025/01/16/etymonopoly/

AILit Framework for primary and secondary education

The AILit Framework for primary and secondary education is a forward-thinking initiative launched by the European Commission (EC) in collaboration with the OECD, and backed by Code.org and renowned global experts.

Designed to equip teachers and students for the digital age, the framework is part of the PISA 2029 innovation programme and plays a key role in supporting the EU’s mission to deliver high-quality, inclusive digital education. It offers practical guidance for integrating AI and digital literacy into your teaching, helping learners build critical skills while promoting equity and inclusion in the classroom.

Whether you're looking to update your teaching methods or explore new educational tools, the AILit Framework is a valuable resource for staying ahead in a rapidly evolving digital world.

https://ailiteracyframework.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/AILitFramework_ReviewDraft.pdf

Gender Parity in the Intelligent Age

The World Economic Forum's 2025 report, Gender Parity in the Intelligent Age, developed in collaboration with LinkedIn, examines the intersection of gender equality and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workforce. It highlights both the challenges and opportunities that AI presents for achieving gender parity.

Some of its key findings are:

Disproportionate impact on women: women are more likely to occupy roles susceptible to disruption by generative AI and less likely to benefit from AI-driven career advancements. 

Underrepresentation in AI skills: despite a narrowing gender gap in AI skills across 74 of 75 economies between 2018 and 2025, women still constitute less than one-third of AI-skilled professionals. 

Strategic imperative for inclusion: organizations that fail to integrate gender parity into their AI strategies risk missing out on a significant portion of talent, potentially reducing innovation and long-term competitiveness. 

You can access the full report here:

https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Gender_Parity_in_the_Intelligent_Age_2025.pdf

Enhancing education through learning for sustainability

Published by the European Commission (Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture) Enhancing Education through Learning for Sustainability: An Explorative Review of Broader Benefits – Analytical Report presents a compelling analysis of how integrating sustainability into education enriches both learning experiences and societal outcomes. It emphasizes that Learning for Sustainability (LfS) not only boosts students’ academic performance but also nurtures key competencies such as critical thinking, collaboration, and responsible citizenship.

The study also highlights how sustainable education fosters greater student engagement and motivation, empowering learners to become proactive in addressing local and global challenges.

You can find this report here:

https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/e1debc36-0936-11f0-b1a3-01aa75ed71a1/language-en

European Commission: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, Zenasni, S., Janssens, L., Stiers, I., Surmont, J. et al., Enhancing education through learning for sustainability – An explorative review of broader benefits – Analytical report, Publications Office of the European Union, 2025, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2766/350817

Amnesty International UK. Education Resources Catalogue

Amnesty International UK’s Education Resources Catalogue 2021 is a comprehensive guide designed to support educators in teaching human rights across various educational levels. It offers a range of curriculum-aligned materials aimed at fostering empathy, critical thinking, and active citizenship among students:

- Early Years (Ages 3–5). The First Steps pack introduces young learners to concepts like feelings, relationships, and well-being through interactive activities such as stories, games, and art.

- Primary Education (Ages 5–11). This section provides ten lesson plans covering topics like global trade, poverty, identity, and children's rights, encouraging students to understand and respect human rights.

- Secondary Education (Ages 11–18). Seven lesson plans focus on issues such as freedom of expression, LGBTI rights, and refugee experiences, promoting debate and deeper understanding among older students.

- Creative Engagement. The Words That Burn resource offers ten sessions that combine poetry, film, and PowerPoint presentations to help students explore and express human rights themes creatively.

- Supplementary Materials. The catalogue includes posters, films, and the My Rights Passport, a booklet summarizing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to reinforce learning and awareness.

Find the catalogue on:

https://www.amnesty.org.uk/files/2021-09/Resource%20Catalogue%202021.pdf?VersionId=CjLW05.2OA0BRidHc.LBwwT21o7324mh

Learning Corner. European Union

The European Union's Learning Corner is a comprehensive educational platform designed to engage students, teachers, and parents in exploring the EU's history, values, and institutions. It offers a variety of interactive resources, including games, quizzes, and activity books, tailored for different age groups to make learning about the EU both informative and enjoyable.

Every year on 9 May, we celebrate Europe Day, commemorating the signing of the 'Schuman Declaration' on 9 May 1950.  The Learning Corner provides special content to commemorate this significant event. 

You can utilize the Learning Corner to access lesson plans, civic education modules, and multimedia materials that align with EU themes. These resources support the development of critical thinking and foster a deeper understanding of European integration among students.

Find the Learning Corner on:

https://learning-corner.learning.europa.eu/index_en

Cambridge English Activities for Learners

The Cambridge English "Activities for Learners" platform offers over 80 free online activities designed to help learners of all ages and proficiency levels practice and improve their English skills. These activities cover various aspects of language learning, including reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary, and are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels from A1 to C2.

Users can personalize their learning experience by selecting their proficiency level, the skill they wish to practice, and the amount of time they have available. The platform then suggests suitable activities, making it a flexible and user-friendly resource for both self-study and classroom use.

For educators, this platform serves as a valuable tool to supplement teaching materials and provide students with additional practice opportunities. It can be integrated into lesson plans or assigned as homework to reinforce language skills.

Find this amazing resource on:

https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/learning-english/activities-for-learners

2025 Index on World Press Freedom Day

The release of the 2025 Index on World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on May 3rd, underscores the critical importance of safeguarding press freedom. This day serves as a reminder of the essential role of a free press in upholding democracy, transparency, and human rights. 

In 2025, the focus is on the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism, exploring both the opportunities and challenges it presents for media independence and the free flow of information.

The 2025 World Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), offers a comprehensive assessment of press freedom in 180 countries and territories. This annual ranking evaluates the state of journalism based on five key indicators: political context, legal framework, economic conditions, sociocultural environment, and safety of journalists.

In 2025, the Index reveals a concerning global trend: press freedom is at its lowest point since RSF began this assessment. The economic indicator, in particular, has reached a historic low, with media outlets in 160 countries struggling to achieve financial stability. This financial strain undermines the independence and sustainability of journalism worldwide.

https://rsf.org/en/rsf-world-press-freedom-index-2025-economic-fragility-leading-threat-press-freedom?year=2025&data_type=general

https://www.unesco.org/en/days/press-freedom