Growing Responsibility: The ISA Grades 4 & 5 Green Team
At ISA, students are encouraged to take action on the issues that matter to them. The Lower School Green Team gives students in Grades 4 and 5 the chance to turn their concern for the environment into meaningful action. Through hands-on projects and student-led initiatives, members learn how small, practical steps can contribute to a greener and healthier planet.
The ISA Green Team was first established in 2008, when a small group of parents, students and staff came together with a shared goal of making a positive ecological impact. Since then, the initiative has grown into a thriving student movement which encourages students to protect the planet through everyday actions such as reducing waste, conserving energy and caring for their local environment.
At the heart of the Lower School Green Team’s work is the ISA garden, a shared space where students grow flowers and vegetables. Students take responsibility for maintaining the garden, learning about soil, seasons and sustainability while seeing the direct results of their efforts. Harvesting what they have planted themselves gives students a strong sense of ownership and pride.
Choice and agency are central to students’ experience within the team. Students decide what they want to grow and how they want to contribute, whether that means planting flowers, developing compost systems, or learning how to improve soil quality. Rather than being directed, students are encouraged to explore their own interests, building commitment and developing practical skills through experience.
Working in the garden also gives students a personal connection to nature. Many take pride in seeing something grow through their own effort, and especially enjoy harvesting and tasting what they have planted themselves. The programme brings together students from different classes and age groups, helping them build new friendships while developing communication and self-management skills.
Students take real responsibility for their shared spaces. As ISA Librarian Nathalie, who is one of the Green Team’s advisors, notes:
“being part of the Green Team gives students real responsibility for their environment and community,” she explains. “The best attributes we see put into action are inquiry, knowledge and caring for our local environment.”
Older students also play an important role in the team, supporting younger learners and helping projects continue from year to year. This sense of shared responsibility ensures the Green Team remains a student-driven initiative.
Whether planting seeds, caring for soil, or planning future projects, students learn that environmental action does not have to be large-scale to matter. As Nathalie notes, even small actions can make a difference, and through the Green Team, students see that they have the power to create positive change in their community. Through small but consistent efforts, students learn that leadership can begin with simple choices. By caring for their shared environment, Green Team members experience how individual actions contribute to a healthier community and a more sustainable future.
