Community Mapping

Saturday, January 11th, 2014, I attended world renowned scientist and activist Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots training at UCF in Orlando. Dr. Goodall challenges youth to make a difference in their community by choosing a cause and planning a campaign for change. It begins with investigating human, animal and environmental issues in our area through mapping our community around our school. After viewing a third grade project from Colorado on YouTube called, K.Klaver-Roots and Shoots Video, I was inspired to work on a campaign with my students. The project is to be student driven. The children investigate, choose an issue and plan the campaign, with adults in the background for guidance and support.

Here my students are creating their maps.

Once my students became familiar with our community and current issues in the area, the children communicated with me the issues they felt were most important to them. Then they cast their vote for the top issue by placing a sticker on a poster representing that issue.

The class voted to inform the local public about safely co-exisiting with the Florida Black Bear. In recent months there have been bear attacks on people and pets in and around our area. As the black bear population is making a come back from being dangerously close to extinction, human population in Florida is increasing as well. Bear habitats are being destroyed by developing communities, decreasing accessible habitat for bears, which means less food for them. Bears are on the hunt for food and their hunger is overriding their fear of humans. Garbage cans, dumpsters, deer feeders and bird feeders are all bear attractants. People have been feeding bears unintentionally and intentionally. The day after my students chose a Black Bear campaign, there was an article in the newspaper about a local woman being arrested for feeding bears. I felt so  proud of my students and validated with their community service project choice.

Check back with us soon, as we develop our project plan...sooooo exciting...