Tucked among gum trees where kookaburras laugh, Menzies Creek Primary (K-6) may be the last place you’d expect to encounter whales and glowing deep-sea creatures. But that’s exactly what students created in this small school in outer Melbourne, Australia.
Led by visual arts teacher Kate Watkins and Menzies Creek staff, students spent weeks learning, then carefully crafting an immersive ocean exhibit that ran the length of the school’s hallway. The goal was to “foster a deep understanding of marine environments and the significant impact human activity has on them,” said Kate.
The school invited families and friends to the grand unveiling. As they entered near the pier, excited visitors met a pair of cheeky seagulls.
They walked past fishing nets, then ducked “underwater,” past blue-lined windows and hundreds of paper fish. Beyond the whales, an anemone-covered reef rose, crafted from recycled bottles, fabric, and cardboard.
At the far end of the hall, a mysterious curtain greeted visitors. Behind the curtain, a magical world of deep-sea creatures glowed under blacklights, creating a bioluminescent wonderland.
Delicate jellies dangled from the ceiling. Tucked in a corner, a neon-colored, tentacled arm reached out from an ill-fated ship.
Fishing nets, plastics, and other human artifacts lurked in the reef and also sat in plain sight. Our ocean is in trouble. But Menzies Creek students have a message for their community: We can act to protect marine life!
Students shared easy steps we can take to help. Organize a cleanup. Be mindful of the liquids we pour down the drain. Reduce our use of single-use plastics, such as straws and shopping bags.
Images by Megan Strauss.
“By learning about the challenges facing marine ecosystems — and creatively engaging with these ideas — students are empowered to make informed, sustainable choices in their daily lives. We hope families walked away inspired as well, seeing the importance of environmental awareness reflected in their children’s learning and creativity,” said Kate.
This schoolwide project is a powerful example of how students can learn, celebrate biodiversity, and spread a message of awareness and action.
Have your students created something amazing in celebration of the environment? Or organized a bioblitz or sustainability campaign? We’d love to hear from you — send us a message at kids [at] mongabay.com.