6th Grade Aquatic Activism Volunteer Trips

To close our Aquatic Activism unit, our sixth graders are taking part in volunteer days. They are helping out a variety of organizations including the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, the Billion Oyster Project and the Partnership for Parks. Families are welcome to help pitch in on our final sixth grade Exploration days (6/17 & 6/18).

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy:

We learned about the importance of keeping waterfront parks cleaned and helped out by cleaning up the salt marshes.

Partnership for Parks:

Billion Oyster Project in Red Hook:

We raised over 300 baby oysters in our classrooms and reintroduced them into the NYC Waterways in Red Hook on a very rainy day.

Billion Oyster Project on Governor's Island:

Students presented their $1628.36 check to the Billion Oyster Project. They also cleaned donated oyster shells from restaurants and created bags of shells that will be used for oyster reefs.

Hudson River Trust:

We helped by cleaning up trash along the Hudson River Park. It was too rainy to take pictures, but we got great feedback from the organization.

6th Grade Aquatic Activism Action Plans

In our final sixth grade unit, Aquatic Activism, sixth graders are learning about the threats to our
NYC Waterways. In response, they are creating individual action plans to help make a positive change. The students were given several different choices: fundraising, volunteering, making a personal change, advocacy and education. Some students are raising money for organizations like River Keeper, Gowanus Canal Conservancy and the Billion Oyster Project. We have compiled over $1000 to donate to the Billion Oyster Project through our students' fundraisers. Other students are volunteering by cleaning up or planting in parks near waterways. Some chose to make personal changes in their water usage by tracking their water use and decreasing it over time. Others chose to write letters to our politicians advocating for legal changes. Some are choosing to educate others about the threats and how they can make a difference.

Sonia gave an educational talk at the Community Bookstore about our waterways. She drew quite the crowd!

Ian and Craig held a bake sale at Prospect Park to raise money for the Billion Oyster Project!

Clara created a blog to educate people about our waterways.

Gianluca also created a blog to educate people about our waterways. 

Noah volunteered with River Keeper:

 Koby wrote letters to politicians asking them to clean up the Gowanus Canal:

Will G created a model to educate people about wastewater run-off:





















Genovia and Sasha held a bake sale to raise funds for  aquatic life at Prospect Park Zoo:

Brisa and Amelia held a bake sale to support the Billion Oyster Project

Pippa created a movie to educate people.

Max also created a movie to educate people.

Holly quizzed her family and then created an educational video.

Ivan created a parody of the song Something Big by Shawn Mendes to educate people about CSOs.

Zellie created the amazing comic story: Hydro Girl!