Elementary Schools

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

GCP Pathways: Academic Content, Career & Technical Education (CTE), Cultural Proficiency, Environmental Stewardship (Get2Green), IB MYP (International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program), Language Acquisition & Intercultural Competence, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics)

Portrait of a Graduate Attributes (POG): Collaborator, Communicator, Creative & Critical Thinker, Ethical & Global Citizen, Goal-Directed & Resilient Individual

*Indicates Showcase Presenter

FCPS Region 1

Flint Hill Elementary and Luis Calixto Leiva (Garzon Huila, Colombia)

FCPS Teacher: Gloria Diaz Gonzales*

Partner Teacher: Arlin Prada Arias

Pathway: Language Acquisition & Intercultural Competence; Spanish FLES, Grade 4

POG: Communicator

SDG 13: Climate Action

Project Description: Students from Flint Hill ES (Virginia) and Institución Educativa Luis Calixto Leiva (Colombia) will investigate the impacts of climate change driven by global warming. Through bilingual collaboration in Spanish and English, students will strengthen their verbal and written communication skills while developing creative solutions to promote environmental awareness and sustainable actions.

Great Falls Elementary and Kobe Bilingual School (Kobe, Japan)

FCPS Teacher: Lili Kennington

Partner Teacher: Janina Tubby

Pathway: Language Acquisition & Intercultural Competence; Science, Grade 5

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 7: Affordable & Clean Energy

Project Description: In this project, students will explore SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. The goal of SDG7 is to ensure that everyone in the world has access to reliable, sustainable, and modern energy. Students will learn about how energy is produced, how it is used in different countries, and how renewable energy can help protect our planet. As part of this project, students will compare energy use in Japan and the United States, examining the similarities and differences between the two countries.

Hutchison Elementary and St. Michael Fitzroy Harbor (Ontario, Canada)

FCPS Teacher: Madhuri Karandikar*

Partener Teacher: Andrew Wilson

Pathway: Environmental Stewardship; Science, Grade 2

POG: Communicator

SDG 15: Life Below Land

Project Description: After watching the video on The Great Pacific Garbage patch, we found out how and why the garbage went there using an Enviroscape. We decided to clean up our school turf area a few times a year to stop trash from going through the water drains, to the watershed, and finally to the ocean. Apart from the Milkweed for Monarchs, we planted a flower/pollinator garden to help Life on Land. We worked on getting a water source for our garden visitors. On Arbor day we participated in planting trees around the school.

Mosaic Elementary and Mihail Sadoveanu School (Botosani County,Romania)

FCPS Teacher: Peyton Avery

Partner Teacher: Oana Sulic

Pathway: Environmental Stewardship

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Project Description: Our project focuses on evaluating and redesigning our schoolyards to improve sustainability, safety, and accessibility. Students will observe their current schoolyard conditions, analyze green features and inclusivity, collaborate with their American/Romanian partners, and design an improved version of their schoolyard. The final outcome will be a redesign proposal shared virtually between both schools.

Terraset Elementary and Escuela Basica N 42 Lic. (Atrya, Paraguay)

FCPS Teachers: Angie Callaghan*, Maria Elena Prieto, Jennifer Szczesniak, Lauren Boyd

Partner Teacher: Dinhora Olmedo

Pathway: Environmental Stewardship; Science, Grade 3

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 15: Life on Land

Project Description: Working alongside our partner school, students will research, and share knowledge about invasive and native species across different biomes with students and the local community. Students will support SDG 15-Life on Land through small group and whole class activities.

Wolftrap Elementary and Wanfu Elementary School (Taipei, Taiwan)

FCPS Teacher: Eun Kwon*

Partner Teacher: Ming Yao Hsiung

Pathway: Cultural Proficiency; Chinese FLES, Grade 6

POG: Communicator

SDG 4: Quality Education

Project Description: We will exchange handwriting letters and interact with Padlet for exchange information about culturally and educationally appropriate.

FCPS Region 2

Bailey's Elementary for the Arts and Sciences and San Rafael de Heredia (Heredia, Costa Rica)

FCPS Teacher: Lorena Cervantes-Racanelli*

Partner Teacher: Beatriz Quesada

Pathway: Environmental Stewardship; Grade 1

POG: Creative & Critical Thinker

SDG 15: Life on Land

Project Description: First the students learn the life cycle of a tree, next they learn about the rainforest layers and the rain falling. Then they learn about the animals and the relationship to the their environment, especially the trees . Last ,someone wants to cut the trees so they have to come up with solutions of why they shouldn't cut the trees. It is a dance!

Bailey's Elementary for the Arts and Sciences and CIFS Centrum för Integration och Flerspråkighet (Sollentuna, Sweden)

FCPS Teacher: Yina Meeker*

Partner Teacher: Araceli Calle

Pathway: Language Acquisition & Intercultural Competence; Science, Grade 1 Spanish Immersion

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 15: Life on Land

Project Description: Through the project students have developed curiosity, respect, and care for nature through observation comparing and contrasting animals and plants in Virginia and Sollentuna, Sweden.

Beech Tree Elementary and ASN Senior Secondary (Delhi, India)

FCPS Teacher: Nadya Abu-Rish*

Partner Teacher: Anju Chaudhary

Pathway: Environmental Stewardship; Science, Grade 3

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 13: Climate Action

Project Description: Students will research the impact of climate change on the environment. They will examine how small steps can contribute to these changes. Through their research, students will gain a deeper understanding of both global and local environmental challenges. In addition to building their knowledge, they will educate others by creating presentations, posters, social media campaigns to raise awareness about climate change and its consequences. By combining research, education, and action, students will become informed and responsible advocates for protecting the planet and preventing further environmental harm.

Fairhill Elementary and Chaosheng Elementary (Pingtung, Taiwan)

FCPS Teacher: Lynn Cook*

Partner Teacher: Peiwen Juan

Pathway: Cultural Proficiency; Social Studies, Grade 5 Global Awareness

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 13: Climate Action

Project Description: Fifth graders will learn to write about their daily schedule. Through this activity, students will learn about activities, subjects, transportation, and related phrases in the target language (Chinese). After mastering key vocabulary and expressions, they will write a pen pal letter to students in Taiwan of the same grade level and age group. In the letter, students will introduce themselves, ask cultural and personal questions, and share details about their school schedule and how they commute to school (e.g., by bus, car, or on foot). Through this exchange, students will gain a deeper understanding of and compare the similarities and differences between the two countries’ environments and school life.

Students will research the environmental and cultural differences of the target region. They will interact with their international partners by exchanging letters and audio recordings, fostering cross-cultural communication and language practice.

Kent Gardens Elementary and College Alexis Kandelaft (Chazay d'Azergues,France)

FCPS Teacher: Desiree Tchommo*

Partner Teacher: Karine Milan

Pathway: Language Acquisition & Intercultural Competence; French FLES, Grade 6

POG: Collaborator

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production

Project Description: This Global Classroom Project engages 6th grade students in an international collaboration focused on Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Partnering with a school in France, students explore the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion, analyze global clothing consumption habits, and study the lifecycle of textiles. Moving from learning to action, students lead a collective sustainability campaign that might include a clothing swap, upcycling workshops, and schoolwide awareness initiatives, empowering them to make responsible consumer choices and advocate for ethical fashion practices.

Parklawn Elementary and Scoala Gimnaziala Nr 5 (Dorohoi, Romania)

FCPS Teacher: Ingrid London

Partner Teacher: Elena Chicos

Pathway: Environmental Stewardship: Science, Grade 4

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 13: Climate Action

Project Description: Partner classrooms share: Our location; local water sources (ocean, river, lake); one ocean-related issue in our region

Westlawn Elementary and Adarsh Public School, Bali Nagar (New Delhi, India)

FCPS Teacher: Robyn Roundtree

Partner Teacher: Preeti Arora

Pathway: Cultural Proficiency; Grade 2

POG: Collaborator

SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being

Project Description: Global Bites will help students grow in independence, confidence, and global awareness through hands-on gardening, cooking, and cultural exploration. One of the most powerful anticipated impacts is increased independence. Students will take ownership of their learning by planting, preparing, and serving food, building practical skills and self-efficacy that extend beyond the classroom. They will collaborate with peers, share cultural traditions, and reflect in their Passports of Possibility, strengthening empathy, communication, and critical thinking. Families will engage through a culminating Global Family Night, deepening connections and celebrating student growth. From a developmental standpoint, the project will support critical Portrait of a Graduate attributes such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and global citizenship. Confidence is a throughline of this project. Each hands-on activity: planting, cooking, hosting gives students the opportunity to take ownership of their learning. By connecting learning to the world around them, students will leave the classroom with the confidence, skills, and perspective to act responsibly, make meaningful contributions, and carry these lessons forward into life.

Region 3

Cameron Elementary and Hiadna High School ( Kelaa Sraghna, Morocco )

FCPS Teacher: Dannette Redmond

Partner Teacher: Ariba Rida

Pathway: Environmental Stewardship; Science, Grade 6

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production

Project Description: This is the core SDG for the project. Students measure waste, analyze patterns, and propose solutions that make consumption more sustainable.

Fort Belvoir Upper Elementary and Wiesbaden Elementary (U.S. Army Garrison, Wiesbaden, Germany)

FCPS Teachers: Scott Deane, Kara Fahy, Isaac Snowden

Partner Teacher: Elizabeth Rhoten

Pathway: Environmental Stewardship; Science Grades 4 and 6

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 15: Life on Land

Project Description: Students will investigate their schoolyard to identify problems or issues that affect an organism in the local ecosystem by noticing ways that humans are negatively having an impact on nature. Students will consider a possible solution to their identified problem or issue and design a plan for humans to make a positive change. Our 6th grade students plan to help fix a flooded area on our playground by planting a rain garden and maintaining native plant garden beds. Our 4th grade students plan to improve our raised garden beds and plant seeds to attract pollinators to our edible gardens. Students will engage in global learning by connecting with students from another country to educate them about the importance of protecting the organisms in the Virginia ecosystem. Students will use data collected through observations, the FCPS science curriculum, our partnership with Arcadia Farms and the PoG skill of Ethical and Global Citizen to accomplish the goal of taking action towards the UN Sustainable Development Goal #15: Life on Land.

Mount Eagle Elementary and Vinschool Green Bay Primary School (Văn Giang, Vietnam)

FCPS Teacher: Ania Mervis*

Partner Teacher: John Harold Gordoncillo

Pathway: Content, Science Grade 4

POG: Creative & Critical Thinker

SDG 14: Life Below Water

Project Description: Students will present , over a series of virtual meetings with the partner school, on the effects of ocean pollution on sea turtles. The research will start on a general introduction to sea turtles, their ecosystems, and the negative effects of pollution. Students will then present proposed solutions to the partner schools.

Region 4

Halley Elementary, Colegio Madison (Caracas, Venezuela) and St. Andrew's RC Secondary School (Glasgow, Scotland)

FCPS Teacher: Matthew Lasky

Partner Teacher: Valerie Robinson (Venezuela), Fiona Harkess (Scotland)

Pathway: Content; Science, Grade 6

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 13: Climate Action

Project Description: Students are planning to build Lego models of structures/buildings that will be environmentally friendly.

Orange Hunt Elementary and Campus di Monaco International School (Munich, Germany)

FCPS Teacher: Denise Belmega

Partner Teacher: Diana Yakubova

Pathway: Language Acquisition & Intercultural Competence

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 13: Climate Action

Project Description: "Our Schools Care for the Earth" is a global exchange where students build friendships while investigating environmental responsibility through SDGs 7, 12, and 13. Classes collaborate asynchronously to compare energy and waste habits, culminating in a joint digital showcase of their findings and a collective "Promise to the Earth." This partnership empowers students to see how small, local actions contribute to a significant global impact.

Terra Centre Elementary and Xhafer Nikoceviq (Gusinje, Montenegro)

FCPS Teacher: Kristin Bauersfeld

Partner Teacher: Anita Kukaj

Pathway: Environmental Stewardship; Visual Arts, Grades 3, 4 and 5

POG: Communicator

SDG 14: Life Below Water

Project Description: : Students Unite to Save the Bay! In art class this year at Terra Centre, all grade levels created works of art connecting to the theme of climate action and the efforts we can make individually and collectively to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This culminated in a schoolwide Watershed Festival & Art Show in April.

For the GCP, students were partnered with a school in Gusinje, Montenegro-- a country which also has a bay-- and students interested in climate change issues. A 3rd, 4th and 5th grade class were selected to share their artwork with the partner school including collage postcards with messages that celebrated how they spend time in the watershed (3rd grade), countertop compost pots and "how-to" digital posters about composting (4th grade) and nature journal pages in which students made observations about seasonal changes and issues effecting water quality such as trash and pollution getting into our stormdrains (5th grade). Students posted and exchanged messages using Padlet to encourage each other in their efforts to educate themselves and take action to save the bays.

Region 5

Cub Run Elementary and Hua Wen Global Institute (Taipei, Taiwan)

FCPS Teacher: Martha Mishkin

Partner Teacher: Jason Chang

Pathway: STEAM; Grade 6

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities

Project Description: My students are making a Passive Solar House. They are designing and building a model and testing the indoor and outdoor temperature to see if the house is effective at retaining heat in the winter and cool in the summer. This is a sustainable model of a home. The students in Taiwan are designing and building sustainable urban plans.

Daniels Run Elementary and Jarvikyla School (Nivala, Finland)

FCPS Teacher: Emily Meeks*

Partner Teacher: Elina Jussila

Pathway: Content; Grade 5

POG: Communicator

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities

Project Description: We began our project by creating school tours to share about our daily lives and schedules. Students then explored connections between our content and the SDG's by researching on the United Nations website and learning about each of the SDG's. WE then narrowed our focus down to SDG 11. Students created a plan for a "smart school" using what they have learned in science this year about renewable energy sources. We will share our project with an authentic audience by sharing it on the news show and with younger classes.

Greenbriar East Elementary and Samia Islam (Morocco)

FCPS Teacher: Saguna Mehra*

Partner Teacher: Samia Oueld Kalbi

Pathway: Language Acquisition & Intercultural Competence; Social Emotional Learning, Grades 4 & 5

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being

Project Description: Students in the US and their counterpart in Morocco shall be exploring the meaning of happiness. They shall write and sketch and mindmap happiness stories from their personal experiences and share them using Padlet/Google Slides.

Mantua Elementary and American International School of Zagreb (Zagreb, Croatia)

FCPS Teacher: Katy Mankin

Partner Teacher: Dan Klassen

Pathway: Environmental Stewardship; Language Arts, Grade 6

POG: Creative & Critical Thinker

SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation

Project Description: Transatlantic book partnerships. Students will develop intercultural relationships, and build environmental, geographic, economic, and political background knowledge of the water crisis in Sudan. Students will read the novel, A Long Walk to Water, and analyze the story through multiple lenses: literary perspective as well as a sociocultural perspective.

Shrevewood Elementary and 9th Kindergarten of Tripoli (Tripoli, Greece)

FCPS Teacher: Kaylin Daniels, April Done, Coreen Pinkerton

Partner Teacher: Eleni Katsiavou

Pathway: Environmental Stewardship; Science, Kindergarten

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 15: Life on Land

Project Description: We are learning about the impact of bees and how to help bees live in our communitites.

Shrevewood Elementary and Seth Anandram Jaipuria School (Delhi, India)

FCPS Teacher: Robin Malave*

Partner Teacher: Heena Sharma

Pathway: Cultural Proficiency; Language Arts, Grade 6

POG: Communicator

SDG 3: Good Heath and Well-Being

Project Description: 6th - 8th grade students will focus on SDG goal 3: Health and Well Being; with a focus on identifying and sharing strategies to cope with stress and reduce anxiety. They will begin by creating a self-reflection poster that highlights their individual strengths and talents as well as identifying things they find challenging and stressful, including strategies for dealing with stress. Students will share these posters with each other via Padlet. Then students will discuss and research different healthy ways to deal with stress. Finally, students will create self-help tools to share their ideas with others.

Westbriar Elemetary and Scoala Gimnaziala Alexandru Ioan Cuza Dorohoi (Dorohoi, Romania)

FCPS Teacher: George Ligon IV

Partner Teacher: Paula Mihaela Stoleru

Pathway: STEAM, Grade 6

POG: Collaborator

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Project Description: Students will create a plan and model for a sustainable city considering environmental factors like location, climate, and community culture.

Region 6

Braddock Elementary and American Cooperative School (La Paz, Bolivia)

FCPS Teacher: Margarita Rodriguez Ortiz*

Partner Teacher: Emel Kilic

Pathway: Environmental Stewardship; Science, Grade 5

POG: Communicator

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

Project Description: Students will engage in a Project-Based Learning (PBL) experience centered on Sustainable Development Goal #2: Zero Hunger, as identified by the United Nations. This global goal focuses on ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture. Throughout this project, students will investigate the causes and impacts of hunger at the local and global levels. They will examine how food insecurity affects communities and explore sustainable agricultural practices as a solution. Students will study hydroponic growing systems, including the Lettuce Grow Project at BES, to understand how innovative planting methods can conserve resources, reduce environmental impact, and increase access to nutritious food. Students will collaborate with partner classrooms to observe and compare hydroponic growing devices and other planting methods. Through shared photos, discussions, and reflections, students will develop global awareness and recognize how communities around the world are addressing food security challenges.

Bren Mar Park Elementary and Iris Gelly Primary (Kingston, Jamaica)

FCPS Teacher: Yetta Williams

Partner Teacher: Kendra Thomas

Pathway: Environmental Stewardship; STEAM

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure

Project Description: Our plan targets many areas. Life on Land, Sustainability all encompassing II&I. We are analyzing bridge structures to determine one bridge structure than can handle high flood waters, volcanic and seismological shifts to determine materials that would make the ultimate structure that will allow humans to resume life during and after natural disasters.

Crestwood Elementary and Hoang Mai Star School (Vietnam)

FCPS Teacher: Victoria Spino

Partner Teacher: Hoai Tran

Pathway: Environmental Stewardship; Science, Grade 5

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 13: Climate Action

Project Description: Our students are going to look at soil and water similarities and differences and the effects of growing plants.

Lane Elementary and Wells International School (Bangkok, Thailand)

FCPS Teacher: Alison Carlson, Xena Morales, Linda Simon*

Partner Teacher: Paul Heymans

Pathway: Cultural Proficiency; Language Arts & Social Studies, Grade 3

POG: Ethical & Global Citizen

SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions

Project Description: 3rd graders worked with students in Thailand to take action on SDG #16 (as well as SDG #4 and SDG #10) by researching people who have made a difference in the world and creating a video about how that person was a change-maker. Our partner school studied Civil Rights and then took action to make a difference in their community. After sharing videos with each school, our students then created proposals for how they could make a positive impact on our local community.

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