Young Upstanders for People & Planet: HMS Students Study Resources During IB PYP Unit

One of the many benefits of a High Meadows education is the ample meadows, woods, and forests to explore around its campus, and what better time to utilize them than this unit? To capitalize on the resource of our beautiful campus, students hiked the scenic nature trails to collect colorful fall leaves before cross-grade collaboration brought students together to dip the leaves in beeswax for preservation. The process was both scientific and artistic as learners observed how beeswax protects the leaves while marveling at the beauty of the finished product.

 

 

The rich Georgia clay became the starting point for Pre-K students as they worked to produce small replicas of wattle and daub structures, which were used by the Indigenous peoples who lived on this land long before High Meadows School existed. This activity gave the classes a tangible connection to history and culture, showing that resources are not abstract concepts but part of everyday life. Students honored native traditions and reflected on how communities across time have relied on the land.

Multiple guests also visited HMS to help enhance students’ knowledge of resources. Pre-K students welcomed two friendly faces, Officer Dixon and Sergeant Jones, from the Roswell Police Department, and learned how “911” is a vital human resource during emergencies. The officers explained how to use the number responsibly. The highlight for many students was meeting K9 officer “Goose,” who happily soaked up all the love and attention. Even animals can be important resources, offering protection, companionship, and service. Later, students marveled at an excavator in action, watching the wonder of a capital resource at work. Seeing the machine up close helped them connect the idea of “capital resources” to real life — tools and equipment that help communities grow.

In Chats for Change, students reflected on how they could be “changemakers.” In groups, students discussed which resources they would protect and what steps they could take to care for the planet. These conversations showed that HMS students are thinking deeply about their role in shaping a better world. Through these experiences, students not only demonstrated a zeal for learning but also displayed compassionate leadership and a desire to be upstanders for people and the planet. By connecting classroom learning with real-world resources, they came to understand their power to shape communities and make a positive impact.

At High Meadows, students do not just study these ideas; they live them. They hike the trails, mold the clay, meet the helpers in their community, and reflect on how their choices matter. The result is a powerful lesson that resources shape communities, and communities thrive when individuals care for the world around them. HMS students are learning that they are part of something bigger, and that their voices and actions can protect the community and its people.