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Everyday is Earth Day at Dobbins
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .First-graders at Dobbins Elementary participated in an interactive reading activity conducted by a Green Team leader. They hold up Lorax character puppets they made and used during the story.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Dobbins Elementary second-graders Jared Tucker (left), Emily Frost, Dylan George, Megan Berndt and Dante Parente dress up as a tree and its leaves as they participate in the story, "It's a Logs Life." The story goes through the lifecycle of a leaf and explains the benefits of compost recycling.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Once the leaves have died, they are broken down into the earth by air, bugs and rain. Second-grade students sprinkle raindrops on the fallen leaves to aid in their natural recycling process.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Fourth-grader Bella Gajdos contemplates where to place the can she is holding. Her teammates anxiously wait behind her in this game of "Recycling Relay."
By SHAIYLA HAKEEM
Earth Day may be weeks away, but Dobbins Elementary students began preparation for the big day Mar. 31 with the help of the Mahoning County Green Team.
“We appreciate the support of the Green Team as we kick off our Earth Day theme for April,” said Dobbins Elementary Principal Cheryl Borovitcky.
Each grade level was allotted 30 minutes during the school day to participate in interactive activities that revolved around recycling and the benefits of going green.
All activities were coordinated and conducted by Green Team Environmental Educator Peg Flynn. She visits Dobbins annually to aid in recycling awareness and the importance of considering Earth Day as an everyday occasion.
“Peg Flynn does such a nice job involving our students in creative, hands-on activities to promote the understanding that Earth day is everyday,” Borovitchy said.
Kindergarteners were able to watch a puppet show showing how hazardous materials can harm the environment. First-graders worked on their arts and crafts skill by making a Loraz puppet from brown paper bags. The puppets were used during a storytime session where they were able to follow along with the story and act out different parts of the book.
Second-graders were transformed into a tree, leaves, air, heat and the sun as they physically went through the life cycle of a leaf. The students were enlightened on what happens to leaves once they fall from the trees and how compost recycling can help the environment.
Bingo was modified from its traditional format to a more green-appealing style. The third-grade students played bingo on topics such as conservation, litter prevention, reusing, recycling and reducing.
Two teams of fourth-graders challenged their recycling knowledge as they raced against each other in a game of Recycling Relay. Each team member had to grab an object and decide if it was recyclable or not by placing it in the appropriate container, a trash bin or recycling bin.
“Our students enjoy the grade level sessions which focus on recycling awareness,” Borovitcky said.
Dobbins will conduct several more interactive activities throughout the month leading up to the 40-year anniversary of Earth Day April 22.