This paper reports an action research study aimed at understanding how to sensitize young English language learners towards caring for the environment. The pedagogical intervention in a 5th grade class consisted in the use of creative writing strategies to express learners' ideas. Three stages were followed: "recognizing facts," "reflecting on them" and "proposing a solution to a problem." The progress learners made at each stage was analyzed. The findings suggest that learners made significant gains in language development and environmental awareness from the opportunities offered by self-expression and debate.