Ongola Barasa has created the project "Seeds of Change: Local Trees, Global Impact as a tool for Neurodiversity Awareness" in Class2Class.org
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Seeds of Change: Local Trees, Global Impact as a tool for Neurodiversity Awareness
What is this project about?
Students design and launch a collaborative tree-planting project with their partner classes, creating a practical plan that includes species selection, planting locations, care instructions, and long-term monitoring tailored to each region's eco...
- Age of Students
- 13-15 years
- Project Duration
- 16 weeks
- Starting Month
- January 2027
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to identify and describe local environmental challenges and tree species suitable for their region while recognizing how similar issues affect partner classrooms globally.
Students will be able to apply critical thinking to demonstrate how collaborative tree-planting strategies can address environmental needs across different ecological and cultural contexts.
Students will be able to analyze and compare tree-planting approaches, ecological impacts, and sustainability practices between their local community and international partner classrooms.
Students will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of their collaborative tree-planting plan by assessing resource feasibility, cultural appropriateness, long-term environmental impact, and alignment with SDG goals.
Students will be able to design and construct a comprehensive, low-tech tree-planting initiative that integrates partner classroom perspectives, includes monitoring systems, and creates measurable global environmental impact.
Skills to develop
Project Activities
Our Trees, Their Trees: Local Ecology Meet-and-Greet
Students introduce their local environment, identify native tree species in their region, and share photos or drawings with their partner class. Each student describes one tree they know and why it matters to their community, building initial connection and understanding of different ecosystems.
Research and Compare: Tree Species and Environmental Challenges
Students research tree species suited to their local climate and soil, identify environmental problems trees could help solve (erosion, air quality, wildlife habitat), and create a comparison chart showing how their region's challenges and solutions differ from their partner class's context. They exchange research findings asynchronously via the platform.
Design Our Planting Plan: Collaboration and Decision-Making
Working in small groups, students co-design a tree-planting initiative with their partner class by deciding which species to plant, where, when, and why. They create a low-tech action plan document that includes planting locations, care instructions, cultural considerations, and links to SDG goals. Groups share drafts with the partner class for feedback and iterate based on input.
Prepare and Execute: From Plan to Ground
Students prepare for the actual planting by gathering materials, training peers on planting techniques, and coordinating logistics with their partner class. They document the planting day with photos or simple sketches, record what was planted where, and create a basic monitoring log to track seedling survival and growth over the coming weeks.
Monitor, Reflect, and Share Impact
Over several weeks, students regularly observe and record the health of their planted trees using a simple low-tech checklist (height, leaf color, signs of damage). They compare growth data with their partner class, reflect on what worked and what was challenging, and create a final visual summary (drawing, poster, or infographic) showing the environmental and social impact of their collaborative effort.
Global Greening Showcase: Celebrate and Commit
Students present their tree-planting journey and results to their school and partner class, sharing photos, growth data, lessons learned, and their vision for expanding the initiative. They reflect on how collaboration with a distant classroom changed their understanding of global environmental action and commit to next steps for long-term tree care and future planting cycles.