Young Students, High School Mentors Address Environmental Issues Together
Source/Author: Shorecrest Ebytes
October 09, 2015
Shorecrest fourth graders have joined forces with Upper School Honors Environmental Studies students to investigate environmental sustainability problems affecting our local and global communities.
The high school students’ projects focus on designing solutions for challenges specific to the Shorecrest campus, while fourth graders may select a Shorecrest-specific issue or those that affect the community at large.
The collaboration began with a research share as fourth graders presented their findings from their recent trip to the Pinellas County Solid Waste Operation, as well as the mini landfills they’d designed to test biodegradability in different soil types.
According to Upper School Science teacher Lisa Peck, “Upper School students were impressed by the level of environmental knowledge that the fourth graders had to share, and they learned a lot about the solid waste treatment plant.” The Upper School students will visit the facility later in the semester. The research their younger peers shared made a good addition to the work the high school honors students had just begun in their ‘Drastic Plastic’ Sustainability Challenge.
According to Upper School Science teacher Lisa Peck, “Upper School students were impressed by the level of environmental knowledge that the fourth graders had to share, and they learned a lot about the solid waste treatment plant.” The Upper School students will visit the facility later in the semester. The research their younger peers shared made a good addition to the work the high school honors students had just begun in their ‘Drastic Plastic’ Sustainability Challenge.
For their study of plastics, Upper Schoolers have researched its lifecycle - what happens when it goes into a landfill? What happens when it is recycled? They formed a trio of groups to focus on plastic grocery bags, plastic zip sandwich bags or plastic disposable water bottles. Each group was challenged with creating solutions for decreasing the amount of the different types of plastic that make their way on the Shorecrest campus.
Together, fourth graders and high schoolers learned the process for this Sustainability Challenge. Students asked questions about specific topics related to their sustainability and waste unit - Why do we send our recyclable trash to foreign countries? What if we used only reusable bottles and bags? What happens when our landfills are full? How do you recycle electronics? Why do we have artificial reefs?
After the group discussion, the students generated a brainstormed list of possible solutions. No matter how simple or fantastic - each idea went on the list. The fourth graders narrowed down that list to the best ideas that solve a sustainability problem. They will work over the next three weeks to research, design, and build a prototype of their idea.
To further the cross-campus collaboration, SAGE dining service staff are also lending a hand to the fourth grade’s sustainability mission. For the second year in a row SAGE is working with the students to collect compost materials for Zoe's Garden at All Children's Hospital. Students bring collection bins to SAGE four days each week and collect them after SAGE has finished serving lunch.
Fourth grade will present their projects to visitors on Monday, October 19. Parents and friends are welcome!
(video of Upper School visiting fourth grade)
(video of Upper School visiting fourth grade)
(photos)
