My name is Dr. Jennie Warmouth.  I am a 2nd grade teacher and a Learning Scientist. 

I am also a  Grosvenor Teacher Fellow with National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions.

 

In June 2019 I traveled to Arctic Svalbard to learn more about polar bears and climate change. 

Our team collected water samples for evidence of microplastics. Much to my surprise, we found macroplastic! I was troubled by this discovery and invited my 2nd grade students to investigate why this occurred. 

 

We examined the causes of the observed problem, considered our OWN use, and then took action to change our school's single-use plastic policy. Within one month we successfully removed 70,000 single-use sporks from our school's environmental footprint. We are now using reusable metal silverware instead. This action alone is not a solution...but it is a step in the right direction. My students and I hope to inspire other children to lead similar movements in their schools.

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This was a student-centered project anchored by the National Geographic Learning Framework. 

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