*Note:  This is a working draft and hasn’t been tested in a classroom yet. Feedback is more than welcome to refine and improve it at globalgreensprouts@gmail.com. 

Hey, explorers! 🌍 Imagine your neighborhood 10 years from now—what do you see? Are there tall, shady trees lining the streets? Are butterflies and birds fluttering in green spaces? Or is it hot, dry, and missing the nature we all love?

In this adventure, we’ll use our imaginations and problem-solving skills to dream up a better future—one where every neighborhood has trees, clean air, and thriving wildlife. And guess what? We won’t just imagine it—we’ll take real steps to make it happen! 

Gary the Acorn had grown into a young sapling, but something still felt unfinished. As he swayed in the breeze, he began to notice things around him. Some parts of the forest were lush and full of life—birds chirped, squirrels played, and cool shade covered the ground. But when the wind carried him past the edge of the trees, he saw something different.

In some places, the ground was dry, the sun beat down on empty sidewalks, and there was no shade to be found. The air felt hotter, and fewer animals scurried about. Why do some places have so many trees while others have so few? he wondered. How do people and animals feel in places without trees? Does everyone have the same kind of environment?

As Gary pondered these questions, Chickadee swooped down, landing lightly on his branch. "Gary, you look deep in thought! What’s on your mind?"

Gary sighed. “I’ve been noticing how different places have different amounts of trees. Some neighborhoods are full of green spaces, but others have hardly any. It doesn’t seem fair.”

Chickadee tilted her head. "That’s a great observation! And I have something that might help us understand it better—Future Goggles! They show what the environment could look like depending on how we take care of it."

Gary’s eyes widened. “Let’s try them!” He quickly gathered his friends—Douglas the Squirrel, Rabbit, and Owl—and together, they put on the goggles.

Suddenly, the forest around them transformed. They saw three different futures:

🌿 The Fair and Green Future – Trees lined every street, keeping neighborhoods cool and full of fresh air. Children played in the shade, and birds, bees, and butterflies had homes everywhere. Every neighborhood had parks, gardens, and green spaces—no matter where people lived. People worked together to create Miyawaki forests, plant garden beds, build pollinator gardens, establish a Nature Discovery Area, create outdoor classrooms, add rain gardens, and make bike paths. These changes helped keep the air clean, provided homes for wildlife, and made the city a healthier, happier place for everyone.

🏙️ The City with Some Trees – In this future, some areas had parks and green spaces, but others had barely any trees. Some neighborhoods were much hotter in the summer because they had more pavement than plants. People were trying to fix this by planting trees and adding small gardens, but some places still needed more green spaces.

🌪️ The Barren Future – This world looked dry and gray. Some neighborhoods had trees, but others had none at all. The air felt hot and dusty, and the streets were too warm to walk on. People in the tree-filled neighborhoods were much cooler, but in places without trees, it was harder to breathe and play outside. Animals had trouble finding food and shelter. Some people wanted to help, but others didn’t think it was a big deal.

The goggles faded, and Gary and his friends looked at each other. “This isn’t fair,” Gary said. “Some places have lots of trees, but others have almost none.”

“That’s called tree equity,” Mother White Oak explained. “It means making sure that every neighborhood has enough trees and green spaces, so everyone can stay cool, breathe fresh air, and enjoy a healthy environment.”

“But why don’t all places have the same kind of environment?” asked Douglas.

“A long time ago, when people built cities, they didn’t always think about fairness,” Mother White Oak said. “Some neighborhoods got lots of trees, while others were left with mostly roads and buildings. But we can change that.”

Chickadee flapped her wings. “We must change that! Everyone deserves shade, clean air, and a place to play!”

“So what can we do?” asked Rabbit.

Douglas perked up. “We can plant trees in places that need them most!”

Chickadee added, “We can build pollinator gardens and plant garden beds to help birds and bees!”

Owl nodded. “And what about creating Miyawaki forests, outdoor classrooms, and Nature Discovery Areas so people can learn and play in a greener environment?”

Gary wiggled with excitement. “Yes! We can also add rain gardens to soak up water and bike paths to help people travel in a way that’s good for the environment!”

With new determination, Gary and his friends set out to spread the message: A greener future is possible—but only if we work together to create it!

𖧧 Teacher Notes 𖧧

Pictorial Chart Set Up:

• Large chart paper or interactive whiteboard

• Sapling picture (Gary)

• Chickadee

• Squirrel, Owl, Rabbit

• Thriving nature

• Urban Nature

• Barren Land

Guiding Questions for Discussion: 

Observing the Forest

• What do you notice about the forest in each future? How do the trees, plants, and animals change?

• How does the air, water, and land look in each version of the future? What details stand out?

• What clues can we find in nature to tell if an environment is healthy or struggling?

Thinking About Equity and Change:

• Why do some areas in our city have fewer trees than others?

• What happens to wildlife and people when there are fewer trees?

• How can planting trees help create a more equitable and healthier city?

• What actions can we take to make sure all neighborhoods have enough trees?

Steps That Might Have Led to Those Futures

• What choices might people have made to create the thriving forest future?

• How did people help bring back nature in the second future, even in a city?

• What actions might have caused the barren land in the third future? Were there warning signs?

• If no one acted to protect the trees and streams, what might have happened over time?

• What steps can we take today to make sure the best future happens?