Clearwater, Florida, March 16, 2026 — Take Action Global (TAG), a nonprofit organization advancing climate action education through global collaboration and student-led action, today announced a collaboration with Apple to support their 2026 Coding for Climate program.

Through this collaboration, Take Action Global will introduce a new App Design Playbook for educators and students participating in Coding for Climate. The playbook is designed to help classrooms explore environmental challenges through creativity, coding, and solution-driven thinking, empowering students to see themselves as problem solvers in a changing world.

Coding for Climate is a free, global program led by Take Action Global that brings together classrooms from more than 120 countries. Open to students of all ages and subject areas, the program blends climate education with computer science, inviting learners to build foundational digital skills while collaborating across borders to design solutions connected to real-world environmental issues.

The App Design Playbook supports this experience by guiding students through the full design process, from understanding a challenge to imagining and prototyping solutions by following Apple’s four step Challenge Based Learning framework: Engage → Investigate → Act → Document, Reflect, and Share.

Throughout the program, students apply computational thinking, digital literacy, and creative design skills as they develop app concepts using freely available tools, including Keynote and offline student workbooks. The focus remains on exploration along with experimentation, helping students approach climate topics with curiosity, optimism, and a sense of positive agency.

“Coding for Climate reflects our belief that some of the most powerful learning happens through play, creativity, and shared problem-solving,” said TAG Executive Director and Co-Founder, Koen Timmers. “By connecting climate education with computer science and design, students gain practical skills while developing the confidence to engage with global challenges in thoughtful and optimistic ways.”

“With the right tools and resources, young people around the world have the power to achieve anything they put their mind to,” said Alisha Johnson Wilder, Apple’s Senior Director of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. “We’re proud to support Take Action Global’s Coding for Climate program to help students develop creative solutions to protect the environment in their own communities.”

The 2026 Coding for Climate program launches on March 16th, 2026 and will be open to educators worldwide.

For more information, visit www.coding4climate.org and www.takeactionglobal.org.

Today was a phenomenal Climate Action Day, and I had the privilege of hosting alongside Take Action Global. What an extraordinary celebration of creativity, courage, and connection!

Throughout the day, one message rang loud and clear: the time to act is now — and the best part? How you act is up to you.

From music to comedy, speaking to singing, dancing to creating — every story, every voice, every act of courage matters. This year’s event reminded us that climate action isn’t just about policy or science; it’s about people, purpose, and passion.

I was especially proud to see our incredibly talented youth interns Caitlin Riordan, Whitney Burton and  Nishad Pawar, stepping into the spotlight as youth cohosts — a moment that truly embodied the spirit of intergenerational collaboration.

We had representation from around the world and from a wide variety of programs—it was truly inspiring to see so many Climate Action Schools champions featured as speakers. Students from Sierra Leone at EducAid Primary School Maronka along with their teacher Mohamed Alhaji Fornah shared their bold,

community‑driven work to protect our planet. Meanwhile, Angelika Shatilova’s students from Private Secondary School Polish Noblistow N2 in Kraków presented how they’re applying both the Climate Action Schools program and the Writing Our Future Together curriculum—specifically implementing the Nature Speaks lesson plan into their activities. Their voices remind us: climate action is global, collaborative, and powered by students rising up to meet the moment.

Highlights from the Day

Climate Change is one of the most urgent issues of our lifetime–Macklemore 

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The singer, songwriter and father reflected on the world we’ll be leaving our children and challenged the youth in the room: “Your generation can be the one to reverse course and give our planet a more hopeful future.” He stressed that we are all connected, we are all in this together, and we ALL have a role to play. One of the most memorable moments of the day was the “Dance Off” challenge he introduced—a metaphor and movement that brought climate action into body, rhythm and community. Through movement, music, laughter and participation, Macklemore underscored that serious issues don’t always need to feel heavy; they can be activated through joy, creativity and unity. He celebrated the work of the Climate Action Project, which already has millions

of participants across 180+ countries, and shouted-out classrooms around the globe for stepping up. His encouragement was clear: be creative, be bold and take action—because when we move together, we make change, and if the beat is right, the planet will hear us!

Leveraging comedy for climate conversations – Dr. Matt Winning showed how humor opens doors to hard truths.

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In his session, Matt brought a fresh and compelling perspective to climate communication: humor as a gateway to deeper engagement. He demonstrated how leveraging comedy can open doors to hard truths—helping people who might otherwise shy away from climate conversations lean in, listen, and think. Matt reminded us: people care about people, so make the message people‑centric and keep it simple. Using comedy doesn’t dilute urgency; instead, it gives us space to cope, connect, and ultimately act. He shared how youth-led efforts (like the school strike movement) show that young voices are essential — and that comedic storytelling can reach those who wouldn’t normally engage with climate change. Research supports this: studies show that humor in climate messaging can boost awareness, increase engagement, reduce anxiety, and invite people to explore the issue rather than pull away.

Matt’s message was clear: you don’t need to wait for the perfect platform or the perfect script. Use your voice. Use your style. Bring the story of the planet into the space where people already live, laugh, create, and relate — and you just might inspire someone who thought they were off‑limits for this kind of change.

Social responsibility – Lewis Akenji reminded us that small steps lead to big change.

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When Lewis took the stage, he reminded us that social responsibility—small steps lead to big change. He helped us clearly see how our everyday behaviours ripple out and shape the health of our planet. He broke it down into six key areas where our actions matter most: food, driving, heating and cooling, consumer goods (like mobile phones), leisure, and services (education and health). He pointed out that while over‑consumption is a major concern, there are also communities that consume too little and lack meaningful ways to participate in society—so conversations about climate and sustainability must include equity and fairness.

Lewis introduced the REDuse framework as a way to turn awareness into action:

• Refuse the options that are harmful to the environment (for example, fast fashion or single‑use plastics).
• Effuse—go a bit further by choosing repair, reuse, recycling.
• Diffuse—share, collaborate, act in community, not just individually.
  

He challenged us to apply this responsibility across three spheres: at home, in school, and in politics—including how we choose to vote. He reminded us that youth today are inheriting problems they did not create, and that what we need isn’t competition—it’s collaboration. Because there is hope: when young people stand up and say, “If you don’t do the right thing, you’re putting the future of your children and grandchildren at risk,” we know change is real.

 “Don’t wait until you’re an adult; you can take action now.” – Santiago Lefebvre words echoed the urgency of youth leadership.

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Santiago’s message was personal and powerful: “We can’t just wait for another generation to solve this — at some point, they were talking about me, about my generation.” He reminded us that too often the burden of solving global issues is deferred to “future generations,” but the truth is: the time to act is now. Santiago shared how, over the last ten years, he’s dedicated himself to accelerating concrete climate and environmental solutions because waiting is no longer an option. He encouraged the audience: find a cause that speaks to you, talk with your friends about how you’ll tackle it, form a team, and get moving — because each of you can have a positive impact, you can be change‑makers. He made it clear: as challenges grow, so must solutions. Change must and can happen now.

“You never know who you will inspire.” – Sunita Narain’s reminder that every story sparks another.

Sunita reminded us that climate change is an existential threat — it is taking lives, property, livelihoods, and making the poor poorer. Yet she didn’t leave us in despair. Instead, Sunita reframed this threat as an opportunity: an invitation for us to rebuild our relationship with Mother Earth. She urged us to have the courage and imagination to fix it, to recognize that this is a human‑made problem and thus we humans hold the power to solve it. As students, teachers, champions of climate action — you are vital to this movement. Your stories, your actions, your communities are the spark. Because if we practice the change we want, we will see change in the world we inhabit.

Storytelling that Rocks– Ethan Baxter revealed how ancient chalk rocks tell the story of our climate future.

Ethan invited us into a world where even a rock can tell a climate story. He reminded us that the climate is changing, our global ecosystems are shifting, yet our human society often isn’t keeping pace. We continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels—even though rocks themselves record the consequences of that dependence. Through his “Every Rock Has a Story” series, Ethan uses rock‑stories to unlock hidden chapters of our planet’s past and invite students into geoscience. He emphasized that science only begins when we ask, “What’s your story?” and he challenged each of us to find our interest, find our passion, and recognize that you have a story too—and it matters. When we seek the connections between our lives and the planet, we open a path for learning, engagement and real contribution. Ethan’s call to action was clear: the Earth has always been changing, and so must we. Everyone has the opportunity to do more, to learn more, to engage more.

My story

My journey has always been about building bridges, not walls — working with those who came before me, and connecting with the youth of the world. I’ve sought out opportunities to learn and teach, aiming to build a legacy of activists who will carry this work forward. My first step came in the form of advocacy and creating learning opportunities for others.

Then I realized: I also needed to enjoy the journey. As Edward Norton emphasized, we don’t just fight for change — we must appreciate the process, because when we value it deeply, we understand it more fully. 

So, my family and I dove into gardening this year. We built six raised beds, learned about companion planting and harvesting, and introduced composting. We started vermiculture with worms, then planted a pollinator garden beside our food garden. We learned and grew things — and in doing so, we began to appreciate the work that goes into the food we eat every day.

With so much of what we need being automated, this experience reminded us to appreciate the journey — to consider the by‑products, the waste, and to come up with creative ways to fix them.

And a beautiful thing happened. My children shared our story with their friends and other family members. Our neighbor created a little garden, our cousins built one and even my kids’ school is in the process of adding one on sight too. The way in which we told stories of our garden and the fruits of our labor inspired others to take action.

So if I learned anything from Climate Action Day it’s that we must find ways to take care of the planet by doing things we love and sharing our stories.

I recently heard Hoda Kotb share some advice she received from a stranger that really resonated with me: 

“Don’t hog your journey. It’s not just for you. You can take your stuff and put it deep in your pockets and go to your grave. Or you can help somebody. You decide.”

Your Turn

Start right now. There’s no perfect time or perfect way — only the courage to begin. Use your voice. Create something meaningful. Enjoy the journey, and most importantly:

Tell your story — because you never know who it will inspire next!

Watch the full recording on YouTube

However, the most recent species to evolve on Earth, has evolved the ability to manipulate the environment, thus accelerating environmental change to the point where nature can not keep up. One of the most impactful environmental changes has been to Earth’s climate. 

Take Action Global’s goal is to empower students and communities to take action for the climate and the future.  Climate Action Day 2025 featured Change Makers from around the globe. The story they tell is one of inspiration and hope.

Sunita Narain, Director General at the Centre for Science and Environment, perhaps described the TAG’s mission best stating, “We become the change we want to see in the world” 

Everyone can be a part of this change. “Small practical actions matter” notes Anu Bazarragchaa, a PhD student in Mongolia. 

Each individual action contributes to a collective whole. By taking action locally, we can make a big impact globally to be part of the story’s next chapter.

Watch the full recording on YouTube

The Vision Ahead: Education as Our Driving Force

Imagine a world where every young mind is equipped to innovate, adapt, and build a resilient future. This is the urgent imperative championed by global leaders. A July 2025 UNESCO report warns climate change could cost children up to 1.5 years of schooling, highlighting education’s crucial role in building resilience. This aligns with the UNFCCC’s Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), emphasizing education, public awareness, and training as vital for our global response. To future-proof our planet, we must first future-proof our education systems.

Untapped Potential: The Proven Power of Informed Action

Comprehensive climate action education is our most potent, cost-effective, and far-reaching solution. At Take Action Global (TAG), we witness this power daily throughout the free, global Climate Action Project program. Our latest impact data from last year’s program reveals transformations already shaping a greener future:

• Action Multiplied: Nearly 5.4 million students and educators across 175+ countries have moved beyond passive learning to actively implement climate solutions.
• Carbon Conscious Communities: Students’ efforts, including planting millions of trees and EarthProject app usage, have contributed to thousands of tons of carbon avoided.
• Homegrown Habits: A remarkable 67% of students sparked climate discussions with parents, leading to immediate positive lifestyle changes in 83% of those homes.
• Confidence Soars: An empowering 92% of student participants feel confident their actions make a difference.
• Teachers as Trailblazers: 92% of educators report professional growth through their involvement, building a robust global network.

These powerful statistics are a blueprint for the expansive impact we can achieve by universalizing climate action education.

Beyond the Classroom: Cultivating a Global Culture of Solutions

Climate education transcends textbooks, sparking curiosity and a deep, empathetic connection to our planet. It ignites intergenerational dialogue, extending into homes and communities.

A May 2025 GlobeScan and BBMG report indicates nearly 4 in 10 Gen Z individuals feel stressed or anxious about climate change—double the rate of older generations. This highlights the critical need to equip young people with agency. As EarthDay.org’s 2025 Climate Education Report states, “Good climate education doesn’t stop at awareness. It creates agency,” easing anxiety and building essential sustainability skills for a future green job market.

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4 & SDG 13) are intrinsically linked, with recent reports confirming climate change integration into education is vital for progress. Initiatives like the UNDP’s 2025 Youth4Climate Call for Solutions further invest in this generation’s capacity for innovation.

Pioneering Tomorrow: Our Path to Universal Climate Education

To truly drive change, we must aggressively scale universal climate action education. This involves:

• Transformative Teacher Training: Empowering educators with dynamic curricula and practical tools.
• Interdisciplinary Integration: Weaving climate themes into every subject.
• Experiential Learning: Fostering hands-on projects and real-world problem-solving.
• Global Collaboration: Connecting classrooms across borders to share ideas and co-create solutions.
• Technology for Accessibility: Making climate education accessible to every student, everywhere.

A Call to Build the Future

The horizon of 2025 gleams with unprecedented opportunities. Climate Action Day 2025, culminating the Climate Action Project on November 6, will be a powerful testament to the global community already charting this course.Join us at Take Action Global as we commit to expanding this vital mission. By investing in universal climate action education, we’re not just preparing the next generation for the future; we’re empowering them to actively build it. Let’s collectively drive the change our world so urgently needs.

Interested in joining this year’s Climate Action Project? Sign up here.

Through a four-part series, the curriculum helps students explore climate justice, reflect on their personal connection to nature, and create tree-planting proposals rooted in community impact. Take Action Global designed a curriculum that is “thoughtfully tailored to meet the needs of our students” and rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The program has already produced impactful results. A student from Walden Crossing School within the Multnomah Education Service District collaborated with her teacher to create a winning proposal to plant trees as a memorial space at Rainier Riverfront Park in Oregon. Take Action Global has sponsored the student’s project, providing $500 to cover the purchase of the tree and any necessary supplies. This initiative is funded in part by a grant from the Longview Foundation.

“This project means the world to our client. I am so happy and grateful to help her carry out this memorial tree and plaque in memory of her best friend. This tree will provide the City, communities, and visitors of Rainier, Oregon a beautiful grove of Quaking Aspen trees at Riverfront Park for years to come.”

Jamison Holtz, Recreational and Vocational Manager, Nexus Family Healing.

“We are incredibly proud to partner with BreakFree Education to ensure that all students, regardless of their circumstances, have the opportunity to engage with climate education and take action. This program goes beyond a simple lesson; it nurtures a sense of agency and belonging by helping students make a tangible, positive impact on their communities.”

Dr. Jennifer Williams, Co-Founder, Take Action Global.

“We are thrilled to partner with Take Action Global to bring climate education to students in juvenile justice facilities. Our Earth Day Challenge gives students the chance to explore their personal connection to nature and create tree-planting proposals for their communities. We’re so proud of the student from Walden Crossing School who won a $500 grant to plant memorial trees at a local park in Oregon, creating a beautiful way to honor her friend while also making a lasting, positive impact on the environment.”

Kaylah Holland, Director of National Practice and Innovation, BreakFree Education.

The event is scheduled for Monday, October 6th, at 10 a.m. at Rainier Riverfront Park. The event will bring together community members, family, friends, and city leaders to plant an Aspen seedling.

About Take Action Global:

Take Action Global (TAG) is an organization dedicated to empowering students and educators to take meaningful action on climate change. Through collaborative projects and innovative educational resources, TAG works to build a global community of climate-conscious individuals ready to drive change.

Take Action Global Partners with Walden Crossing School and
BreakFree to Sponsor Student-Led Tree Planting Project

Learning Through Action

In Access classrooms, students are taking the lead, designing projects, setting goals, and reflecting on their learning. From creating interactive climate campaigns to testing sustainable solutions in their neighborhoods, these young changemakers are actively shaping their world. For instance, a group of students recently joined the Earth Project app, tracking their environmental habits, setting personal goals to reduce waste, and promoting clean-environment initiatives digitally. One student, Ayesha, used the app to monitor her habits and then organized a one-week Plastic-Free Week and Water-Wastage Week at her school, inspiring her peers to make measurable changes. Every activity sparks curiosity, builds ownership, and encourages students to ask: What matters to me? How can I make a real impact?

Creativity with Purpose

Whether sketching ideas for community gardens, designing posters about clean energy, or collaborating online with peers abroad, students are discovering creativity as a tool for change. These experiences enhance critical thinking and allow each student to contribute a unique perspective, making learning personal, meaningful, and action-driven. Teachers joining this movement actively support students, guiding them to reflect, set goals, and amplify their impact locally and globally.

Building Bridges Beyond Borders

Virtual exchanges connect Pakistani students with peers worldwide, showing that environmental challenges and solutions are universal. Through these collaborations, students develop empathy, teamwork, and a sense of global responsibility. An online class-to-class exchange paired Faisalabad students with international students to co-create climate action posters, exchanging ideas and feedback in real time. Complementing this, a 3R workshop encouraged students to design and build models entirely from reusable materials, allowing them to apply creativity while learning about reducing, reusing, and recycling. Student remarks from the workshop include: “I never imagined we could make something so useful from waste,” and “It made me realize how small changes in our habits can help the environment.”  

Practical, Playful, and Inclusive

Classrooms combine hands-on experiments, digital storytelling, and structured guidance with playful exploration. This inclusive approach ensures all students participate, becoming confident communicators and problem-solvers equipped to tackle real-world issues.

A Growing Movement

Education in Pakistan is evolving. Students are not just learners; they are changemakers. By engaging teachers and students in hands-on, reflective, and digitally connected projects, the Access program is nurturing a generation ready to take meaningful action for a sustainable future. Every idea shared, every habit tracked, and every initiative promoted contributes to a larger movement for environmental awareness and youth empowerment. Together, students and teachers are proving that local actions can have global resonance, inspiring hope, creativity, and collective responsibility for a cleaner, greener world.

Launching today, Writing our Future, Together aims to elevate the global conversation around sustainable development by empowering youth, teachers, parents, and community members to take tangible climate action. The program aligns with BIC’s commitment to fostering meaningful connections, joy, and a view to the future, while extending Take Action Global’s mission of providing climate education for all. The ambitious goal is to engage 150,000 teachers and 13.5 million students from TAG’s extensive network spanning over 180 countries, with special emphasis on high-engagement regions like India, the Netherlands, Australia, Kenya, Pakistan, Philippines, and Jamaica.

The initiative makes it easy for classrooms to get started with engaging lesson plans, hands-on activities, and access to a global community. Classrooms will have the unique opportunity to connect with peers worldwide through a special pen pal experience, exchanging ideas, feedback, and celebrations of their pledges. Teachers can choose their adventure from a library of one-hour lesson plans, including:

• Nature Speaks: Creative expression giving voice to the natural world.
• Where We Stand: Connecting identity and place to environmental action.
• Carried Forward: Honoring traditions and practices passed down through families and cultures.
• Everyday Earthkeeping: Celebrating small, daily choices that care for the planet.

“At BIC, we believe that education and empowerment are key to driving real sustainability. Our
partnership with Take Action Global helps us elevate young voices around the world and foster
a culture of creativity and care for the planet. This initiative isn’t just about encouraging students
to express themselves, it’s about giving them the tools to help shape a brighter, more inclusive,
and sustainable future. Our ambition to positively impact 250 million children starts by taking
action today.” – Helen Sahi, Group Sustainability Officer, BIC

“Empowering students to take ownership of their environmental future through creativity and collaboration is at the heart of what we do,” said Koen Timmers, Co-Founder of Take Action Global. “Our partnership with BIC amplifies this mission, providing accessible tools and a global platform for young voices to be heard. We are thrilled to see how ‘Writing our Future, Together’ will ignite passion and action across continents, fostering a new generation of environmental stewards.”

The program will run from August to December 2025. To learn more about taking the Pledge for the Planet and how to participate, visit the dedicated website at www.writingourfuturetogether.org. Program information and materials are available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Hindi, French, Dutch, German, and Portuguese, with more translations coming soon.

About Take Action Global

Take Action Global is a leading education non-profit committed to climate education for all. For over five years, TAG has served over 6 million students and educators from 180+ countries through online learning programs and has supported over 2 million tree plantings. Learn more: www.takeactionglobal.org.

About BIC

BIC is a world leader in stationery, lighters, and shavers. For more than 75 years, BIC has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, simple, inventive, and reliable products for everyone, everywhere. Through this partnership, BIC reinforces its commitment to fostering meaningful connections, joy, and simplicity, and building a positive view to the future through sustainable development initiatives. Learn more: www.us.bic.com

About Writing our Future, Together

Writing our Future, Together is a global initiative inviting children and youth of all ages to take a Pledge For The Planet considering local and global indicators through creative expression and writing. Classrooms will share pledges in an online community with opportunities to connect, collaborate, and exchange ideas and actions. Learn more: www.writingourfuturetogether.org.

Empowerment Through Action

Gone are the days of filling in blanks. Instead, students chart their own learning journey—setting personal goals, brainstorming project ideas, tracking progress, and reflecting on their experiences. Every section is crafted to spark curiosity and ownership, helping students turn ideas into actions. It’s all about asking: What matters to me? How will I make an impact?

Creativity Meets Purpose

The workbook blends structured guidance with creative freedom. Students can sketch plans, write narratives, draft project timelines, or design logos—whatever brings their vision to life. These creative outlets foster deeper thinking and reflection, making the CAS experience genuinely personal and meaningful.

Built for Inclusion—Available in Multiple Languages

Understanding that language should never be a barrier to growth, our workbook is fully available in English, Spanish, and Hindi (more coming soon). This multilingual approach ensures that students from diverse backgrounds can access, engage with, and lead their learning in the language they know best.

Practical, Flexible, and Fun

Designed with real classroom use in mind, the workbook includes checklists, calendars, reflection spaces, and project‑planning pages—all with a clean, student‑friendly layout. Whether used in small groups, full classes, or independent study, it adapts easily to different settings and learning styles.

Why We’re Excited

• Student-led learning: The workbook empowers young people to make choices, reflect on their own growth, and take initiative.
• Creative expression: It acknowledges that learning isn’t just logical—it’s artistic, emotional, and deeply personal.

Inclusive access: Multiple languages mean no student is left out.

In short, this workbook is a launchpad—encouraging students not just to participate, but to contribute, reflect, and innovate. It’s a bold step toward modern, equitable, and creative education.

Call to Action:

Are you ready to empower students to become real-world climate champions? Reach out now to discover how your school can join the transformative Climate Action Schools Program:

• Engage students in year-long, hands-on climate projects—from carbon audits and tree planting to community campaigns and school-to-school virtual exchanges.
• Train a dedicated Climate Champion—a certified school leader who guides climate action and connects globally .
• Expand creative and inclusive learning through arts, STEM, data visualization, and reflection.
• Leverage funding support: affordable sliding scales, grants, and scholarships make participation equitable
  

Take the first step! Contact Lindsay at Lindsay@takeactionglobal.org to:

1. Learn about program details and upcoming info sessions
2. Explore funding and scholarship options
3. Prepare your school application and select your Climate Champion

Help your students lead, create, and act—instilling lifelong climate skills and making an impact today. Send an email or schedule a chat now to start your school’s journey toward certification and global collaboration.

Five years later, Koen and Bram from the TAG team returned to Kakuma — not just to evaluate progress, but to launch a new initiative: the Solar Light Project. This time, their journey was followed not by a Hollywood film crew, like the one behind Heroes for the Planet, but by a passionate team of Swiss, French, and Kenyan filmmakers. A new documentary is now in the making. Stay tuned.

The TAG team meeting each other during the first day

Kakuma’s roads are both literally and figuratively bumpy. Reaching our Innovation Lab Schools requires a UN jeep, traveling from the compound through harsh terrain. With malaria and cholera always nearby and the scorching heat pressing down, progress is hard-fought. Yet that’s exactly what our African TAG team has achieved. Franco, Simon, and William have been leading a wave of new programs — launching ICT clubs, art and design sessions, coding classes, and most recently, a Climate Action Hub to support TAG’s environmental work and foster sustainable innovation among refugees.

Over the past five years, this school has transformed: trees have been planted, a water tank installed, a school garden cultivated, fast internet provided, solar panels added, and 100 laptops deployed. It has become a true community hub — a place where students thrive, people connect, and ideas turn into real-world solutions.

What began as a seemingly ordinary Tuesday became a day of deep impact. Students in Belgium and Kakuma were both working on solar lights — a shared STEM project exploring how small solar panels and batteries, charged during daylight, could offer sustainable light at night. In Kakuma, the solar lights were attached to water-filled plastic bottles to amplify the brightness.

Students at both sides creating their solar lights

What the Belgian students didn’t know was that most homes in Kakuma have no access to electricity. For their peers in the refugee camp, these lights weren’t just a project — they were life-changing.

We met one student who had been stung by a scorpion the night before. With no nearby medical services, he had treated the wound with toothpaste. Still, he showed up to class — determined to build his own solar light. In just three hours, all 56 students created their own lights. They soldered, used glue guns, and cheered each time a light flickered on. But the highlight was still to come: a live virtual exchange with the Belgian students over Zoom.

The Zoom call with Kakuma and Belgian students

Promise proudly showcasing her solar light

They began by sharing stories about their countries, hobbies, and daily lives. Then, they proudly presented their solar lights — explaining what light meant to them. And then, something magical happened: as they shared music from their cultures, they began singing and dancing together, separated by continents but united in joy.

Students at both sides started dancing during the virtual exchange

Still followed by the film crew, we visited the homes of three students. Their parents saw — some for the first time — the impact their children were having. We saw James’ sand-walled home illuminated for the first time. And we listened as Promise spoke about how this simple light would allow her to study at night and dream bigger dreams.

James proudly showing the solar light to his parents

The Solar Light Project is just one of many initiatives TAG has led in Kakuma in recent years. During this visit, Bram also taught 110 students about Artificial Intelligence — showing how AI can help them build knowledge about innovation and climate change. This matters deeply in a place like Kakuma, situated in the Kenyan desert, where some of the world’s first climate refugees now live.

Team TAG. Meet Angelo (left),  the newest member of Team TAG, joining us to drive innovation and empower climate action through education.

Over the past few years, Take Action Global (TAG) proudly hosted eight distinct LEGO® Build the Change cohorts, bringing together educators from diverse backgrounds—including librarians, technology specialists, middle school educators, art instructors, fifth-grade teachers, and STEAM coordinators.

Among our early participants was Wendy Johnston, the STEAM teacher at Stillwater Elementary School. Wendy approached the program with enthusiasm and curiosity, eager to explore its potential across various grade levels.

Upon completing the program, Wendy shared that it was exceptionally well-organized and clearly explained. As the STEAM coordinator, she implemented a diverse range of lessons spanning first through fifth grades. This approach allowed her to observe firsthand how students at different developmental stages engaged with the STEAM activities.

Inspired by Wendy’s experience, we reached out to her principal, Ms. Rebecca Toleman, to arrange a visit to Stillwater. We were fortunate to coordinate a two-day engagement: on the first day, we conducted a one-hour professional learning session with the school’s educators; on the second day, we interacted with nearly 500 students during their inaugural STEAM Symposium.

Our theme for both experiences was “playful learning.” We believe that play is just as important for adult learners as it is for students. Play is a powerful learning strategy that allows both students and educators to develop critical skills for learning. For students, engaging in playful activities enhances problem-solving abilities, fosters creativity, and supports emotional regulation. Educators, too, benefit from playful learning experiences as it encourages innovative teaching approaches and strengthens collaborative skills. Research indicates that playful learning environments promote cognitive flexibility and resilience, essential traits for navigating the evolving educational landscape.

The LEGO® Build the Change program, supported by the LEGO Foundation, empowers children to address real-world sustainability challenges through creative play. By engaging in activities that promote environmental awareness and problem-solving, students develop a sense of agency and hope for the future.

Our collaboration with Stillwater School exemplifies the transformative impact of integrating playful learning into education. We look forward to continuing our partnership and supporting educators in fostering creativity and sustainability awareness among students.

Setting the Stage

When we arrived at Stillwater Elementary, we were met with a beautiful school and kind teachers and staff helping us with whatever we needed. Even though the school was huge, it wasn’t a problem because of staff members like, and including Wendy. As we arrived at the cafeteria, we were able to set up at the round tables filling the room. They had a nice open space for us in the middle and a great tech team helping us with a smartboard. We set up carts including LEGO bricks, pipe cleaners, pom-pom’s, playdough, and more for the school to keep the activities for their students so they can experience them too. Throughout the session the teachers also used these carts to express their creativity more within the activities. 

The Power of Play

Play isn’t just fun—it’s fundamental. In the classroom, play becomes a powerful strategy for teaching and learning, helping students build essential skills through experiences that are joyful, actively engaging, meaningful, iterative, and socially interactive. At Stillwater, these principles came to life through a series of playful learning activities that were both creative and educational.

1. Free Play: Free play gives students the freedom to explore their ideas without strict guidelines. Whether building imaginative creations with LEGO® bricks, sketching designs, or crafting their own stories, students tapped into their creativity, problem-solving, and emotional expression. This unstructured time nurtured autonomy and encouraged them to follow their curiosity—sparking deep learning in the process.
2. Structured Play: Structured play offers a balance between guidance and exploration. During our sessions, educators and students engaged in goal-oriented building challenges designed to solve real-world problems like ocean pollution and bee habitats in cities. These activities were scaffolded by clear instructions but allowed room for personal expression and group collaboration.
3. Role Play: One of the most powerful ways to support empathy and communication is through role play. While we didn’t do a traditional role play session, many of the builds and group discussions encouraged participants to take on different perspectives—thinking like engineers, city planners, or environmentalists. This type of play helps students develop social-emotional skills and understand complex, real-world scenarios.
4. Game-Based Learning: From the LEGO® Duck Challenge to build-a-solution tasks, participants experienced learning through games. These playful, low-stakes activities were designed to activate over 24 cognitive, emotional, and motor skills, including working memory, imagination, perspective-taking, and fine motor coordination (as highlighted in the LEGO Foundation’s research).

In every form, play fuels development—not only in young learners but also in adults. Educators at Stillwater embraced play as a dynamic teaching tool, reinforcing that structured learning can still be fun, and that joyful learning environments spark engagement, curiosity, and collaboration.

Engaging Activities

When the educators entered, they sat at tables in groups of approximately four. Each table had a printed mini mission, LEGO base plate, a pile of various LEGO bricks and two or three bags with yellow and orange bricks in them. To start, educators were asked to use the yellow and orange bricks to assemble a duck. Each group had the exact same pieces, the same directives, the same amount of time to build. Once we had assembled our ducks, teachers were asked to walk around the room and observe the different creations. We then asked them to reflect on what they noticed or observed. They shared that, while each of the ducks looked different, they all accomplished the same goal of building a duck. While the goal was clear, we allowed the learners to have the autonomy to design the path to get there. This activity showed how different people can think and encouraged them to bring a different approach to their lessons. Instead of showing them the way, we should consider giving our students an answer and looking at the different possibilities of problems instead of one problem and a fixed solution.

In the next activity, educators engaged in a hands-on, collaborative project designed to mirror student-centered, problem-solving experiences. Each table group was presented with two distinct “mini missions”—real-world climate challenges such as ocean pollution, humidity in caves, or urban bee habitats. Teams selected one mission to focus on, encouraging them to think critically and creatively without limitations. Using LEGO bricks, they worked together to devise and construct innovative solutions to their chosen environmental issue.

This exercise exemplified the principles of the LEGO® Build the Change program, which empowers students to tackle environmental challenges through creative design and problem-solving. The activity not only fostered teamwork and ingenuity among educators but also served as a model for engaging students in meaningful, playful learning experiences that address pressing global issues.

Playful learning is a way to bring engaging experiences for students while still teaching them and giving them structure. The power of play can result in a healthier classroom environment and help spark creativity in students. This concept is not only proven through research but heavily encouraged by specialists. The playful nature of these activities sparked new, more creative ideas, and overall so fun. This led to engaged participants and a good time for all.

Key Takeaways

The Build the Change experience—comprising the stages of immerse, create, and share—demonstrates a versatile framework that can be seamlessly integrated across all grade levels and subject areas. This approach fosters an environment where students are encouraged to engage deeply with real-world challenges, promoting active learning through hands-on activities.

• Empowering Student Voice: By tackling authentic environmental and societal issues, students develop a sense of agency, realizing that their ideas can contribute to meaningful change.
• Fostering Creativity and Critical Thinking: The open-ended nature of the challenges encourages students to think innovatively and critically, skills that are essential for problem-solving in various contexts.
• Enhancing Collaboration and Communication: Working in teams to design and build solutions cultivates collaborative skills and effective communication, preparing students for future academic and professional endeavors.
• Integrating Playful Learning: The use of LEGO bricks and other creative materials makes learning engaging and enjoyable, which can lead to increased motivation and retention of knowledge.

Educators observed that implementing the Build the Change methodology not only aligns with curriculum standards but also enriches the learning experience by making it more dynamic and student-centered. The adaptability of this approach allows for its application in diverse educational settings, making it a valuable tool for fostering holistic student development. In addition, they recognized the importance of integrating play into their own process as well. In short, they had fun and truly found this playful experience as a valuable one.

Day 2: Student Engagement at the STEAM Symposium

Overview

On Thursday, May 29, 2025, Stillwater Elementary proudly hosted its inaugural STEAM Symposium, marking a significant milestone in the school’s commitment to Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education. The event brought together educators, students, and community partners to celebrate and explore the multifaceted world of STEAM.

Event Highlights:

• Interactive Exhibits: Participants engaged with a variety of hands-on exhibits and demonstrations, showcasing the practical applications of STEAM concepts in everyday life.
• Student Engagement: Approximately 480 students, from kindergarten through fifth grade, rotated through the symposium in scheduled intervals, allowing them to experience diverse STEAM activities tailored to their grade levels.
• Community Collaboration: Local organizations and professionals contributed to the symposium by sharing insights into their STEAM-related fields, providing students with real-world connections to their classroom learning.

TAG’s Interactive Table Stations

At the 2025 Stillwater Elementary STEAM Symposium, Take Action Global (TAG) hosted two engaging and creative table stations designed to inspire students through hands-on, playful learning experiences.
Engineering Challenges: Our station at the STEAM Symposium was split between two tables. At the first table, we had LEGO’s set up with base plates and gave the students the mission to create their perfect classroom. There were no rules around what they could and couldn’t build and not much of a structured time other than the allotted time to go back to class and the other groups to come in. The students had an amazing time creating anything and everything they put their minds to. We saw students build things from rollercoasters to a garden and animal center, one student saying he loved the activity because, “It lets me use my very own imagination.” There was no pressure and it was wonderful to see the students’ creativity and teambuilding flourish.

• Artistic Explorations: The second table set up was a coloring station where students were given a piece of paper with the outline of a LEGO mini figure and drew themselves as a mini fig. They were encouraged to include things that they did to help their community, their environment, and the world. They included things like a bike to ride instead of a car, recycling, and helping animals. This was a great experience for the less outgoing and more artsy students who prefer a less extreme environment. It also provided them with something to take home and a reminder of the importance of fun, creativity, and our world around us.

Impact and Reflections

Facilitating these stations taught me the importance of creating an inclusive and supportive environment. By actively engaging with students, asking open-ended questions, and encouraging them to share their ideas, I observed increased participation and deeper thinking. This experience highlighted how facilitation strategies that prioritize student voice and choice can lead to more meaningful learning experiences .

Overall, being both a facilitator and observer at the station was incredibly rewarding. It reinforced my belief in the power of interactive, playful learning to inspire creativity and develop a sense of responsibility towards our planet. It also demonstrated the power of play. Every student who came to our table could participate. The LEGO bricks made the learning more engaging and accessible. All students and ideas were welcomed and celebrated.

Call To Action

Our recent trip to Stillwater Elementary and the STEAM Symposium highlighted the transformative power of play in education. As educators, it’s essential to recognize that play isn’t just for students—it’s a vital component of our own learning and growth.

Why Integrate Play into Education?

Research underscores the benefits of playful learning across all age groups. Incorporating play into professional development can lead to deeper engagement, enhanced creativity, and stronger collaboration among educators. For instance, using manipulatives like wooden cubes to generate project-based learning questions has been shown to produce higher-quality outcomes compared to traditional methods.

Action Steps for Educators:

1. Incorporate Play into Lessons: Design activities that allow students to explore concepts through games, role-play, or creative projects.
2. Embrace Play in Professional Development: Participate in workshops that use playful methods to explore teaching strategies, fostering a deeper understanding and retention of new concepts.
3. Foster a Playful Culture: Encourage a school environment where experimentation and creativity are valued, allowing both students and teachers to take risks and learn from failures.

By embracing play, we not only enrich our students’ learning experiences but also rejuvenate our passion for teaching. Let’s commit to making play an integral part of our educational journey!

Action Steps for Students:

1. Engage in Creative Problem-Solving: Participate in activities that challenge you to think critically and creatively. 
2. Reflect Through Artistic Expression: Use art to express your understanding of big concepts. 
3. Take Ownership of Your Learning: Look for ways to guide your own learning experiences. 
4. Advocate for Playful Learning: Encourage teachers and school administrators to incorporate more playful learning opportunities into the curriculum. 

Don’t be afraid to share your positive experiences and suggest activities that have helped you learn in enjoyable and meaningful ways. Learning should be fun. If it isn’t, then it is up to you to take action!

By: Lindsay and Riley Zilly