From a young age many of us may learn the basics about trees and the water cycle, but it’s not often that environmental issues are thoroughly discussed as early as elementary school. Through New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill’s new pilot program, Growing Green, fifth and sixth graders in the City of Worcester are being introduced to plant-based solutions to environmental issues and environmental justice topics.  

Students at Goddard School create sustainable communities during the third portion of the Growing Green program.

Created by the Garden’s education department, the program launched in March 2022 and was offered as a three-part workshop series to the fifth-grade classrooms at the Goddard School of Science & Technology. The first of the workshops, Urban Water Cycle, taught students about ways to keep water clean. The second, the Benefits of Trees, invited students to explore the characteristics of trees while learning about their impact on Worcester and how to care for them. The third, Tree Equity, introduced the concept of environmental justice and allowed students to design a more sustainable and equitable neighborhood.  

The Growing Green program aligns with Next Generation Science and Massachusetts state Science and Technology/Engineering standards. At each 60-minute session, a Garden educator guides students through discussions and hands-on activities. Students are encouraged to make observations, explore, and ask questions as they actively participate in games and collaborative projects related to the day’s topic. With school back in session, the same students, now sixth graders, will participate in three more classroom lessons focused on designing solutions to combat and mitigate the effects of climate change in their communities.  

Growing Green is part of an ongoing commitment with the City of Worcester. The program makes learning these important topics accessible and provides students and schools with the tools they need to make positive change.  

The Garden hopes to expand the program to every school in the city, empowering the next generation with the skills and knowledge they need to become urban tree stewards for their communities. 

Learn more about Youth Education programs through New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill here.  

 

—Megan Stouffer, New England Botanic Garden, September 2022