Grade 4 students become advocates for wildlife conservation

Grade 4 teachers and students at the American International School of Lusaka, as well as several community partners from conservation organizations in Zambia, met online to participate in an interview about a recent unit called “Sharing the Planet”, and the deep learning and service as action that emerged from the unit.

In a unit called “Sharing the Planet”, grade 4 students at the American International School of Lusaka (AISL) recently engaged in a dynamic research and advocacy experience that exemplifies many transformative aspects of service learning.

The core of service learning is creating transformational learning experiences where students can apply knowledge and skills (rooted in a curricular unit of study) to local and global contexts in a way that generates positive, purposeful change. Students may experience internal change (in the form of mindsets, understandings, and connection to others), as well as create external change (through various forms of taking action in thoughtful, meaningful ways).

In this unit, teachers Anne-Marie Phiri-van Hooijdonk and Fiona Bullard, and teaching assistant Ben Mukwatu, engaged their students in a deep learning journey that involved:

• interviewing several representatives from conservation organizations in Zambia (including some long-term AISL community partners)
• synthesizing learning by creating scripts that included research information and advocacy for specific animals
• creating digital stories (using iMovie) to advocate for endangered animals in Zambia
• using a culminating storytelling showcase to display the films, as well as student-created art, in partnership with the conservation organizations (which set up display tables so AISL community members could learn more)
• building deeper relationships with existing community partners, launching new community partnerships, and creating intentional opportunities for community organizations to network and explore opportunities to collaborate
• follow-up extension possibilities for students to continue advocating for animals in Zambia through a co-curricular club at AISL called the Wildlife Club
• creating thematic threads that connect to the grade 4 year-long unit of “Values and Beliefs Influence how We Communicate with Others”, as well as other units such as the Human Body, and Exploration

Students were able to interview conservation experts from six wildlife organizations in Zambia.

A slide deck created by Anne-Marie and Fiona captures the learning journey of the grade 4 students in this excellent unit.

Students worked on their interview skills to conduct research rooted in primary sources. As you’ll hear in the interview, at first the students found this was challenging, and even a bit “scary” as they met new people and interacted with them in conversational ways to learn about their work. As the interviews continued, students became much more comfortable with asking questions and learning about conservation field work, and the students became excited to meet more experts and hear more stories. This primary source research became the foundation for additional research (using books and internet sources) and prompted deep engagement with the unit’s content and context.

The digital stories created by the students also demonstrate the deep learning that occurred, as well as the passion ignited in students to apply this learning by advocating for animal protection and conservation. Community partners (you’ll also hear this in the interview) noted this engagement and feel the students were becoming the next generation of conservationists because of their learning in this unit.

In the interview with Anne-Marie, Fiona, Ben, four students, and several community partners, you’ll hear more detail about the unit and its impact. You can also check out some student digital stories, as well.

I was lucky to spend time with Anne-Marie, Fiona, and Ben in October 2024 while I was in Lusaka facilitating sessions about service learning with teachers from AISL, the International School of Lusaka (ISL) and Lusaka International Community School (LICS). These three educators are committed to teaching in a way that models an approach that is dynamic, applied, relevant, and impactful. I am grateful they took the time to share their story with us through the blog!

Students became impactful digital storytellers by taking action using their films to advocate for animal conservation in Zambia and beyond. They learned a variety of important digital citizenship and storytelling skills as they created their movies and then shared them through the final showcase event.

Below: Photos from the digital storytelling and community partnership showcase event at AISL that wrapped up the unit.