From Greta’s Inspiration to Community Impact

Project Summary

Fourth-grade students at Wylie Elementary School were inspired by Greta Thunberg’s activism to take local climate action, focusing on waste reduction, composting, watershed protection, and Monarch butterfly conservation through hands-on projects including garden restoration, rain garden recreation, and community education presentations.

Detailed Story

Inspired by the book “Our House Is on Fire” about Greta Thunberg and her climate activism, 25 fourth-grade students at Wylie Elementary School embarked on a year-long climate action journey asking “What can our class do to fight climate change?” Students made observations around their school and community while learning from multiple experts including the Washtenaw County Water Conservatory, SEMIS Institute, and Great Lakes Science Center. The class focused on various climate change impacts affecting their community including severe weather, composting and food waste, watershed and rain gardens, waste and recycling, and climate impacts on living things, specifically Monarch butterflies. Students participated in large collaborative projects such as cleaning up and rebuilding garden beds to plant milkweed for butterfly support, teaching kindergarteners about Monarch migration, and recreating an old rain garden on their school campus. Students then chose individual areas of focus that they found most compelling, breaking into smaller groups to research specific issues more deeply. Each group created educational infographics explaining their chosen problem, its relationship to climate change, and actionable solutions. Additionally, students designed engaging activities to share with their community. The project culminated in a school-wide community event where families, students from their school and others, and stakeholders came to learn from the students’ presentations. Seven students were selected to share a 30-minute presentation at Eastern Michigan University, where they learned from students across Southeast Michigan with similar environmental interests.

Impact Statement

Students successfully restored garden beds and recreated a rain garden on school campus, benefiting the entire school community and local watershed. The project engaged 25 fourth-graders in hands-on climate education while teaching kindergarteners about Monarch migration. Students developed deep understanding of local climate impacts and created community education materials through infographics and presentations. The work extended beyond the classroom as students voluntarily continued garden work during recess time, demonstrating genuine engagement and environmental stewardship.