Better World Day 2021: Friday May 7, 2021
Each year thousands of students from the EL Education network take action on Better World Day to contribute to their local communities, connect with each other, and celebrate meaningful student work. It’s a day where we get to experience school the way our students do every day: as a place where learning is the key to changing the world. In past years we’ve watched students successfully lobby state representatives to pass greater protections for foster care children, launch a woman’s history exhibit at a local museum, come together virtually across seven states to create a nationally recognized video, and more.
What’s New for Better World Day 2021
Better World Day Media Grants
EL Education is sponsoring Better World Day Media Grants. These three (3) $2,000 Better World Day Media Grants will offer selected schools the opportunity to work directly with the EL Education media shop to create high quality Better World Day media! Schools will be selected by EL Education’s Student Advisory Council and their original Better World Day media will be featured and celebrated at the EL Education National Conference 2021.
Student Advisory Council
The Student Advisory Council (SAC) engages EL Education students as thought partners in the planning of key national events like Better World Day. This year, SAC will consult on Better World Day broadly including:
- Serve on the Selection Committee for Better World Day Media Grants
- Design the nationwide Opening and Closing Circles
Nationwide Virtual Gathering on Better World Day
EL Education will host a virtual Opening (11 am EST) and Closing (5 pm EST) Circle on Friday, May 7, 2021 to bring together participating schools nationwide in celebration. Designed by the Student Advisory Council, these two events will feature student speakers, performances, and expert guests, and are live streamed and open to any participating school.
In 2020, thousands of students took action for Better World Day by creating videos, paintings, sidewalk chalk creations, letters, and cards of appreciation for those who were demonstrating courage and kindness by helping others during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic—and posting them on social media with #BetterWorldDay. Follow hashtag #BetterWorldDay here and across social media to see how students took action in communities around the country!
From homeless outreach and advocacy in Bemidji, Minnesota, to trail maintenance in Kettle Falls, Washington, students at EL Education partner schools made their mark on the world in 2019! Below is a peek at the student-led events, representing just a handful of the 100+ activities that took place across the country.
Students and communities posted updates across all social media channels with hashtag #BetterWorldDay.
Brooklyn, NY: Launch Expeditionary Learning Charter School
Middle school students work to end hunger in their community by planting at two Brooklyn farm sites, stocking a local food pantry, and creating packages for area children experiencing homelessness for the Campaign Against Hunger.
Detroit, MI: Detroit Public Schools Community District
Fifth-grade students at eight schools in the Detroit Community District are working to make literacy a civil right for their city. After studying The Universal Declaration of Human Rights through the EL Education K-5 Language Arts curriculum, they'll apply their knowledge to building and painting Little Free Libraries, hosting a book drive to stock them, and donating them to deserving local aid organizations.
Chicago, IL: Polaris Charter Academy
Students from kindergarten through 8th grade conduct research, engage partners, and complete community-improvement projects to address the abandoned properties and disinvestment surrounding their school.
Bend, OR: Realms High School
Tenth-graders advocate for humane and thoughtful treatment of the people living in a homeless encampment near their campus. Their "Power and Privilege" expedition culminates in students presenting a well-researched action plan to local agencies and to the community during an unveiling and donation drive.
Sturbridge, MA: Old Sturbridge Academy Charter Public School
Students lead a community-wide tree planting, starting on their own campus with a ceremony and celebration. Then, students spread out to other district communities to perform identical plantings throughout the region.
Muncie, IN: Inspire Academy
Students help clean up the polluted White River as part of an expedition titled "Sustaining Ecosystems," based on the EL Education Language Arts curriculum texts, "A World Without Fish" and "Flush."
Alpharetta, GA: Amana Academy
Younger students beautify community spaces by creating seed pods, bird feeders, and decorative planters; older students work to combat flooding at a local park and help build a tiny house for a local person in need.
Dorchester, MA: Codman Academy Charter Public School
Older students partner with local organizations to address hunger and homelessness in Boston, while younger students create pollinator gardens at six sites in nearby Codman Square.
Kettle Falls, WA: Kettle Falls High School
Students partner with the city of Kettle Falls, the National Park Service, and the Kettle Falls School District to complete service projects including trail maintenance, campground cleanup, and landscaping for the local library.
Kenosha, WI: Vernon Elementary
Elementary students help provide for local children in foster care by creating "Sweet Cases" filled with blankets, activities, and stuffed animals. Their collaboration with Together We Rise, a nonprofit for Foster Children, helps children going to new homes.
Bemidji, MN: Schoolcraft Learning Community
Students create first-aid kits for people experiencing homelessness as part of their expedition "How To Save a Life." This follows their study of CPR and first-aid training and research on how natural disasters and weather affects communities.
Check out all 100 student events that took place on Better World Day 2019 here.
Better World Day caught fire last year! See highlights of 2019 media coverage from across the country:
- Escondido, CA -- Conway Elementarystudents took a variety of actions, including singing to seniors, distributing kindness door hangers, and cleaning up their neighborhood.
- Vallejo, CA -- Vallejo Charter School students placed kindness rocks in their neighborhood to inspire and connect their community.
- Durango, CO -- Park Elementary fourth graders developed women’s suffrage museum exhibits.
- Edgewater, CO -- Lumberg Elementary students developed built birdhouses, created pollinator gardens, and planted trees.
- Valdosta, GA -- Scintilla Charter Academy students spruced up their outdoor learning lab that includes two outdoor classrooms, gardens, a chicken coop, an orchard, and a frog pond.
- Bristol, IN --York Elementary students planted flowers and cleaned up their local mill and park.
- Portland, ME -- Students from Casco Bay High School, Presumpscot Elementary School, and King Middle School marched to call for solar panels in the city’s schools.
- Sturbridge, MA -- Old Sturbridge Academy students planted trees honoring the theme of their work: “What do we have in common?"
- Traverse City, MI -- Old Mission Peninsula School students cleaned up their local lighthouse and nearby beaches.
- Asheville, NC -- Franklin School of Innovation 8th graders taught Evergreen Community Charter School students about water quality.
- Columbus, OH --Graham Elementary and Middle Schoolstudents spotlighted mental health issues, focusing on different forms of therapy at Ohio State University.
- Hillsboro, OR -- City View Charter School students cleaned up their local park.
- Kettle Falls, WA -- Kettle Falls Elementary, Middle and High School students banded together to tackle a variety of actions including cleaning beaches, fixing a baseball field, and painting park benches -- all documented in a special Better World Day section in their local paper.
- Huntington, WV -- Explorer Academy students beautified their local parks and sold lemonade to raise money for the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District.
- Kenosha, WI -- Harborside Academy and other Kenosha Unified School District schools beautified their local parks.
Better World Day in Portland, Maine: A Higher Purpose from EL Education on Vimeo.