Remembering Jane Goodall: How She Helped Me Inspire a Class of Young Learners

When the world said goodbye to Jane Goodall on October 1, 2025, we lost more than a pioneering scientist. We lost a voice for empathy, curiosity, and the belief that even the youngest among us can make a difference. Her passing made me reflect on how she influenced my own teaching journey, especially at the very beginning when I was still finding my way.

The Year Everything Began — 1995

In 1995, I was asked to take over a Kindergarten class after two teachers left within two months. Moving from being an assistant in grade 6, it was a big change. I was both nervous and excited to have a class of my own. Luckily, on that very same weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to meet Jane Goodall, my lifelong idol. Jane wasn’t there to talk about chimpanzees, though. She was working on a project about wolves, which were being reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park after decades of being hunted nearly to extinction.

She wanted children to understand that wolves aren’t the “big, bad” villains from fairy tales, but essential members of healthy ecosystems, what scientists call a keystone species. Their disappearance, she explained, had led to what ecologists term a “trophic cascade,” meaning their absence disrupted the balance of plants and animals across the park.

Jane’s mission was to help schools replace fear with understanding. She aimed to teach kids the real story of wolves and their vital role in nature. I left that meeting completely inspired. I decided that when I stepped into my new Kindergarten class, I’d carry her message with me.

Wolves, Masks, and a Mission

On my very first day, I told my students about Jane Goodall and her work with chimpanzees. We also talked about how wolves live in families called packs, how they care for one another, and how every animal plays an important part in keeping the Earth balanced.

To bring her lesson to life, we made wolf masks and practiced “wolf pack” teamwork activities. We learned to share, cooperate, and look out for each other.

That same year, Jane and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) announced a Big Book Making Competition for schools. The goal was to inspire children to create stories that help protect the environment. It was the perfect opportunity. My students and I combined everything we had learned—from wolves to recycling—to make our own big book called “Saving Trees and Chimpanzees.”

The book was handmade entirely from recycled paper and filled with stories, drawings, and ideas about how kids could take care of the planet by planting trees, reusing materials, and being kind to animals.

When I dropped it off at the UFT Headquarters, we didn’t expect much. But a few months later, I got the incredible news: our class had won 2nd place out of more than 1,000 entries in the New York Big Book Contest. For my students, it was like winning an Oscar! For me, it was the moment I realized just how powerful children’s voices can be when they feel connected to a real purpose.

A Thanksgiving to Remember — Beijing, 2001

Fast forward to Thanksgiving Day, 2001. Jane Goodall was announced to visit China for a Roots & Shoots conference at the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB). Upon hearing that, I decided to write a letter, telling her about the impact she had on my bonding with the class and the book we made together.

My friend Jenny, who was leading Jane’s Roots & Shoots program in China at the time, encouraged me to bring the winning book and to show it to Jane before the start of the event. As we approached, Jane herself walked towards us with a smile on her face and exclaimed, “So you’re that teacher! I loved your letter and would love to sign your book.” I was quite stunned, especially when a warm hug followed!

She then opened “Saving Trees and Chimpanzees” and carefully signed her name right next to those of my Kindergarten students. It was such a powerful gesture—like she was joining their team. To me, this was an unforgettable moment. It perfectly captured who Jane was: deeply compassionate, endlessly humble, and always thinking of others, especially children.

Carrying Jane’s Spirit Forward

When I think back on that day in Beijing, and now, as I reflect on her passing, I’m reminded of how Jane Goodall lived her message every single day: with compassion, optimism, and faith in the goodness of others. Her legacy lives on in every teacher who inspires curiosity, in every child who dreams of protecting the Earth, and in every act of care that brings balance back to the world. Jane taught us that hope isn’t just a feeling; it’s something we create, nurture, and pass along.

The Wolves That Changed the World

That experience with Jane stayed with me for the rest of my career. Whenever I taught about ecosystems or teamwork, I would share the story of wolves and how their return transformed Yellowstone. There’s a remarkable short film that beautifully shows how wolves, once reintroduced, restored balance to the park—reviving rivers, plants, and countless other species. Watch it here: How Wolves Change Rivers. It’s a powerful reminder of how one species—or one person—can make a difference that ripples through everything else.

Teacher Toolbox Bonus

FREE Book Genre Posters PDF

Interested in FREE Book Genre Posters to download for your classroom? Visit my Teacher Toolbox here: https://www.rgderouen.com/toolbox. The biography one also features Jane as well as my book, Mother To Elephants about Daphne Sheldrick (another great conservationist). Stay tuned: A printable activity of how we made the wolf masks is soon coming!

Greetings,

R.G.