In 2015, the UN adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries, in its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These goals recognize that improving health and education, reducing inequality, and spurring economic growth is essential to the goals of ending poverty and other deprivations, as well as addressing climate change and preserving our oceans and forests.

Our 6th graders learn about the 17 SDGs and generate a Top 10 List of action items that all students have the power to implement. From this jumping off point, students are inspired to research an organization of choice that supports an SDG and create a persuasive poster advocating for the organization to share with the Hillbrook community.  After presenting their pitches to a teacher committee, finalists go on to make their cases to the student body who select three winners. These votes equate to real-life donations to the winning organizations from the Scott Center for Social Entrepreneurship.

Social Impact and Reach Beyond: Learning about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; identifying real-world issues on which to focus; researching, and choosing organizations that work in support of the issues that matter most to students

Language Arts: Understanding the impact of the organization they select to represent; strategizing about their advocacy and producing persuasive writing; engaging in oral advocacy and articulating compelling arguments to sway voters to support students’ own passions

Fine Arts: Creating visuals to highlight issues and support oral presentations