After a successful first stop at our School-Age Program at Caltech, Earth 2 traveled to our La Canada Elementary School site.

With the globe in hand, the children discussed the place and space that is our Earth— what we can do to help the Earth, where we are located on the globe, and even where we are located in the solar system. To help visualize this, one of our teachers did a papier mache earth project with a few of the children. Using newspaper and liquid starch, they wrapped strips of paper around balloons, which they popped after two days. Creating a perfect shell, they were then able to paint their globes. They are now hanging in the window of our classroom as a beautiful display, offering the children a place to gaze and reflect.

Our second task with the globe was to identify an outreach project. We found an organization, OneTreePlanted, which collaborates with reforestation organizations to plant trees around the world, using the model of $1=1 tree. The children decided that a bake sale would be the best way to raise money for this cause. So, for three days, we baked pumpkin bread, scones, banana bread, and made lemonade. The children worked hard to set up a table each day with delicious treats in order to reach their goal of $40 for forty trees planted.

By the end of day one, we had raised a total of $37. The children were amazed! By the end of the second day, our initial $40 goal was blown out of the water, with sales reaching $87. We had a small meeting with the children to decide whether to continue for one more day or stop because we had already doubled our goal. With a ton of enthusiasm, it was unanimous— We were going to host the bake sale for one more day for a new goal of $100. The children were thrilled when, by the end of day three, we had raised $147!

For our final step, we will decide where we specifically get to plant the trees. Having the opportunity to plant 147 trees all over the world is a great privilege and responsibility. The children cannot believe the impact they are making. We are so proud of them and all their hard work!

With 147 trees planted, our little Earth 2 headed off to the CEC School-Age Program at Palm Crest Elementary School to see what other actions it could inspire.