Dr. Calvin J. Watts Superintendent | Gwinnett County Public Schools
Dr. Calvin J. Watts Superintendent | Gwinnett County Public Schools
Each year, students from Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) take part in The Great Southeast Pollinator Census. During this event, students identify and count pollinators over a 15-minute period in designated areas. The collected data from Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida is submitted to the University of Georgia Extension and The Center for Urban Agriculture. Schools such as Stripling, Roberts, Norcross, Lovin, Lilburn, and Peachtree Elementary participate in this initiative.
Pollinator censuses are valuable for tracking the health and population trends of pollinators. Understanding these trends is essential for the reproduction of more than half of flowering plants and crops. Pollinators like bees and butterflies play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity and supporting ecosystems that provide clean air, stable soil, and diverse wildlife.
"This is an exciting project for elementary school students because they learn how to create sustainable pollinator habitats while generating useful data about pollinator populations in their school communities," says GCPS K-5 Science Director Kristin Luthi. "It is a true integration of mathematics and science to solve real-world problems!"
Through participation in the census, students gain hands-on experience in environmental awareness, data collection, and creative problem-solving. Their efforts contribute valuable data that aids farmers, researchers, and policymakers.
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