In Mrs. Mull's 4th grade ELA class, reading turned into real-world impact as students embarked on a journey to help elephants in need. After reading The Amazing Life of Flora the Elephant, a story about a circus elephant who found a better life at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, the students were inspired to take action.
While exploring The Elephant Santuary's website (www.elephants.com), they discovered the live elephant cam and learned that for a $50 donation, anyone could symbolically adopt an elephant. With a total of 12 elephants at the sanctuary—including Flora—Mrs. Mull, Mrs. Winters, and the students set a bold goal: adopt them all!
To make this happen, the class organized a Read-a-Thon, where students wore pajamas, read books about elephants to each other, and used the website to research the sanctuary’s elephants. They also worked on answering questions about each elephant’s story, making the experience both educational and meaningful.
The math was simple—if every 4th grader raised just $12, they would meet their goal. But the students didn't just meet it—they shattered it! In total, they raised an incredible $3,683.81—more than six times their initial target. Out of the 37 participants, 19 students raised $100 or more, earning an Elephant Sanctuary t-shirt of their choice as a reward.
As a special bonus, the students participated in a virtual field trip with The Elephant Sanctuary, where they learned even more about these gentle giants and got to share their exciting news about the donation.
“This experience was a powerful lesson in both literacy and activism,” said Mrs. Mull. “Our students saw firsthand that their actions can make a real difference in the world. They set a goal, worked together, and exceeded all expectations!”
Through their dedication, the students not only supported the sanctuary’s work but also walked away with a deeper understanding of the importance of conservation. And, most importantly, Flora and her elephant friends now have even more people looking out for them—thanks to a group of compassionate 4th graders who believed in making a difference.
