Why We IGC: Chagrin Falls Middle School
Each month leading up to IGC 2024, we are highlighting the educators and schools that have been instrumental in inspiring and motivating their students to support clean water projects in South Sudan. Next up is another long-time supporter, Chagrin Falls Middle School (CFMS)!
CFMS Teachers Brian Johnson and Jessica Johnson shared, “Our students were moved by the book and wanted to raise money to help build well in South Sudan. As they read the book, they were moved by the struggle for water that the South Sudan people were having, and they really wanted to do something. They had it in their head that they wanted to at least raise enough money to help build part of a well.“
“As a 7th-grade team, we knew the kids wanted to raise money for WFSS. We came across the idea of a cardboard boat regatta. We thought we could make this an interdisciplinary unit for the middle school that would involve math, language arts, science, STEM, social studies, and smaller parts of all classes. The idea was to have the students raise a certain amount of money, and this would be their entrance fee into the regatta. Students made commercials, flyers, and other media to help spread the word about South Sudan. By the end of our first year, we raised over 12,000 dollars, and it has grown every year since.”
“Our first group of students that participated in the IGC still come back and talk about the impact that raising money and building wells had on them. Students are so motivated to raise money and get so excited when they see their wells being built.”
We are so inspired by Brian, Jessica, and the entire Chagrin Falls Middle School Family. Thank you and your students for sharing your time, passion, creativity, and dedication to making a difference in South Sudan.
Join teachers like Brian and Jessica and register for the Iron Giraffe Challenge today to have fun while making a local and global impact
