May 2008 Nature’s Partners Earth Day celebration reaches beyond environmental education

Nine-year-old Keiara Lewis was excited when she got to the front of the line. Taking the pencil from the adult volunteer’s hand; Keiara used the sharpened tip to carefully push flower seeds into the center of a soggy peat pellet, exactly as her classmates had before her. Keiara then picked up the pellet and placed it gently into the bottom of her clear plastic cup, brushing her hands on her jeans to remove the dirt as she walked away.

“We’re celebrating Earth Day,” said Keiara, a third-grader at Triton Central Elementary School in Fairland, looking into her cup. “We’re putting seeds in dirt to grow them for Mother’s Day. We’ve learned a lot about Earth Day. It’s about plants and how to help Mother Earth. I learned that littering is bad and that if (Mother Earth) isn’t here, we won’t be here either.”

Although Earth Day was April 22, all the students within Northwestern Consolidated School Corporation participated in an early Earth Day celebration on April 15.

While the K-3 elementary students planted flowers, the upper grades landscaped the front of the school, including planting shrubs and laying mulch.

“These students are the ones who will be our future and we want to not only provide them with a clean planet, but teach them to continue to keep it clean,” said Crystal Benner, guidance counselor. “This has been a wonderful experience and the students have learned a lot.”

The early Earth Day celebration was made possible through community businesses as well as the Pacers organization donating time and materials. Boomer, the Pacers mascot, greeted the middle school students.

Another great part of the day was that it was corporation-wide, said Todd Crosby, assistant principal of Triton Central High School. “We had our students help the elementary kids do their landscaping. It allowed them to mentor to these kids all while helping the environment. This isn’t just about Earth Day. It’s also about service-learning and philanthropy. Events like this produce more well-rounded students.”

Projects at the high school included beautification of the front entrance, cleaning up trash in the parking lots and around the school, planting flower pots at the entrances, mulching around the flagpole and much more. “These students are all volunteers,” said Crosby, adding there were approximately 40 students involved at the high school. “They have done such a great job. And I think they are having a great time. This allows them to give back to the community – all while learning more about the environment.”

A convocation with Boomer pumped up the students at Triton Central Middle School as they did their part to help. Eighth-graders Caitlin Hensley, 13, and Shelby Martin, 14, volunteered their time to post recycling signs on all the recycling bins. “I think it’s good to help clean up our school,” said Caitlin. “Recycling is good and we should all do it.”

For Benner, Crosby and Triton Central Middle School Principal Scott Kern, the entire day was a success. “I think our students walked away with so much energy, knowledge and an understanding of the importance of taking care of the Earth,” said Kern.

Click photo for larger version

Is your school already participating in green activities? We want to know about it. Please contact Lynelle Miller at lamiller@doe.in.gov to pass on your innovative classroom and project ideas as well as share photos.