Vision

Our fascination with climate change started after a presentation where a university student came in to educate our class on its negative effects. This presentation brought to light the need for us to take action and ensure we all are doing our part in reducing the impact of climate change. After that presentation, my class continued the conversation and started an inquiry about climate change and the issues in our community and across the globe. Students were put into research groups where they were responsible for posing questions, researching them and then educating the class on their findings. One of the research teams discovered that pollinators are struggling to survive due to the fluctuating temperatures from climate change and deforestation. We focused on this topic for two weeks and students were shocked to learn about how much we rely on pollinators for plant growth. The thought of not being able to grow certain flowers and foods because of the decrease in pollinator population was scary for them. A group of students then posed the question, “What can we do to help the pollinators?” and through research, we discovered the positive impact of pollinator gardens. From here, we decided to create a pollinator garden at our school to help undo some of the damage caused by climate change and deforestation.

Action

We started by conducting research on which pollinator plants were native to our region. Once we determined which plants were best suited for our garden, we placed an order with a local greenhouse. While we waited for the deliveries, we weeded the gardens at the school to ensure they were ready for plants and mulch. Multiple classes at the school got involved in this and helped with weeding and eventually planting these plants. Once our order arrived, we planted the plants and added mulch and items to help pollinators survive, like a water source and bee houses.

Reflection & Celebration

As a way to celebrate our achievement, we will be unavailing our garden officially at the school BBQ where families can come and learn about why the pollinator garden is so important. We will also be giving out Canadian wildflower seeds to families so they can continue to make an impact by planting them in their backyards. As a school, we plan on using this space as a mindful reflection area to remember the impacts of climate change and that we can all be change-makers. My grade 6/7 students will be presenting a small presentation on our pollinator garden at our June assembly to ensure everyone reflects and learns from this experience.