Monday marked the 49th annual celebration of Earth Day — a global event to spotlight environmental issues that affect Mother Nature. The theme for 2019 was “Protect Our Species,” chosen by the Earth Day Network.
Neighborhood cleanups, tree plantings, citizen education and classroom activities were held in the weeks leading up to Earth Day.
Highland Students Recycle Paper
Highland Elementary School preschool teachers Tina Helwig and Sarah Tennant taught a unit on Earth Day that focused on recycling, reusing and everyday ways children could participate in protecting and caring for the earth.
Students learned about recycling and then had the opportunity to create their own recycled paper by combining water and shredded paper.
“They took turns mixing it with some students using their hands to mix and others preferring to use a wooden mixing stick,” said Tennant. “The students talked about what it felt like with the water and what they saw happening to it as they mixed it.”
After creating a pulp overnight, the students pressed the pulp onto a screen to allow the paper mixture to dry.
“If it felt gross, we didn’t have to do it or could use a spoon,” said preschool student Preston Harrington.
Using the theme of 2019 Earth Day, the preschool teachers filled a baby pool with clean water and pretended it was the ocean. After a discussion on animals and plants that live in the ocean, students threw trash in the water and, to simulate oil, poured in a Coke.
“Students then had to brainstorm how to make the water clean again,” Tennant said. “They figured out they could physically pick out all of the trash they had thrown, but when it came to making the water clean again after we had poured the Coke in it, they were a little stumped. One student suggested dumping the water out, but we talked about how we can’t just dump the ocean and fill it up again.”
Tennant said the students were able to connect the importance of not littering and contaminating the water with how to protect the species that live in the ocean.
Another project that Helwig and Tennant introduced to the students was to reuse plastic water bottles to make artwork based on David Chihuly’s blown glass creations.
“They loved seeing the outcome [of their project],” Helwig said. “Parents that have seen the art [students made] have loved it.”
The teachers also encouraged their students to think of ways they could conserve water and energy at home and encouraged parents to bring their recycling up to the school’s recycling bin.
Preschool student Finley Phelps said that she has been picking up more trash and also turning the water off while she brushes her teeth in an effort to do her part in conservation.
Monday afternoon, students participated in a scavenger hunt around the school and picked up items on the hunt. Tuesday they will discuss whether the items collected are trash or need to be recycled.
“Incorporating the hands-on activities allows students to get involved at an early age and lets them see firsthand the ways they can help protect the earth,” Tennant said.
Estes Students Learn About Environments
Estes Elementary School students in Jessica Lusk’s first-grade class completed several Earth Day-inspired activities including making a bird or squirrel feeder out of a pinecone and hanging them on trees and bushes at the school.
“Even the yarn holding the pinecones is biodegradable,” Lusk said. “I wanted everything to be helpful.”
Lusk’s students do not have nut allergies, so they were able to put peanut butter and honey on a pinecone and then sprinkle bird seed on it and then tie on a string. Students then hung them on trees outside the school and were even able to play a quick game of tag while enjoying the warm temperatures.
“Estes is our environment, so we want to be able to see the kinds of birds we attract,” Lusk told the students.
Lusk feels that it is important to teach all kids how to take care of the earth and also to recognize the animals that live in their habitats, she said.
The first Earth Day celebration was held in 1970 after a devastating oil spill in 1969 off the coast of Santa Barbara, Ca. that killed more than 3,500 birds. The United States Environmental Protection Agency was created because of the march attended by 22 million Americans across the country.
Earth Day celebrations have grown internationally with organizers estimating more than 1 billion people will participate in events, according to Earth Day Network.
Reducing plastic waste, switching to reusable bags, switching to e-bills and creating bee-friendly gardens are some ways every person can protect the earth.
“Plastic pollution and waste challenge every community, every day, and these cleanups offer a chance to make a real difference,” the organization’s website said.
