Linden Meadow's grade 5-8 UNESCO team selected runner-up for their Tall Grass Prairie Pollinator Corridor (video)

Linden Meadows' UNESCO team has been selected as a runner up for the Learning for a Sustainable future (LSF) for our student action project "Tall Grass Prairie Pollinator Corridor."

LSF is a charitable organization that has been working for 30 years to integrate sustainability education into the school system.

Our team will be receiving a prize to recognize our outstanding work and the positive impact we have had on the sustainability of our community and our planet.  

Some of our UNESCO club attended the LSF Climate change conference and were inspired when they learnt about tall grass prairies. They heard about the benefits of this type of natural area and wanted to see if this could work for our school community. It fits with our Inquiry goal – What actions can we take to better protect, restore and promote sustainable local and global ecosystems that will allow us to live in harmony with Mother Earth?

The students researched our school site and located a 180 by 2-foot corridor between our natural play space and teacher parking lot. This site would be ideal because it is protected from potential student trampling by a fence. Benefits to our school and community as researched by students: 

• Increased carbon capture in our soil -most of the grassland carbon is stored in the soil. Grasses play a significant role in the global carbon cycle because of their vast areas and high soil carbon density. 

• Re-establishment of an important ecosystem which has been declining. 

• Grasses anchor soil and are resistant to weeds 

• Drought resistant so low maintenance. 

• Grasses help to build soil quality as their roots break down 

• Aesthetically pleasing 

• Attract pollinators such as monarchs, skippers 

• Wind buffer 

• Contribute to conservation of wildlife diversity - shelter for birds, food for birds 

• The UNESCO team hopes to provide education to our students and community through posters and presentation to classes in school and signage onsite about the benefits of our grassland corridor. Grasses and wildflowers planted LITTLE BLUESTEM Schizachyrium scoparium, big bluestem, Canada wild rye, Golden Alexander, Green needle grass, June Grass, Giant Hyssop, Aster, Back eyed Suzy,

Action: We have learnt, brainstormed, researched, measured, collaborated, called landscape companies, ordered supplies, made presentations, dug holes, and watered to plant a tall grass prairies ecosystem on our school grounds.

Congratulations to everyone involved in this fantastic project!