Fairfield, CA - In honor of Earth Day, students and staff at Rolling Hills Elementary School dedicated this week to learning about environmental stewardship through a variety of hands-on projects and lessons. This initiative aimed to instill a sense of responsibility for the environment among students of all grade levels.
One of the activities during the week involved a long-term experiment conducted by 4th-grade teacher Gayle Gonsalves and her class. The experiment explored two essential questions: 1) What happens to our trash? 2) Why is it important to recycle? For the past three years, Gonsalves has brought in a pumpkin from her family's Halloween decorations, which students then filled with trash collected from an earlier lunch period. The class buried the pumpkin and made predictions about what they would find when they dug it up on Earth Day.
"Each year, it's been such a fun activity!" said Gonsalves. "The students are always shocked that the pumpkin completely decomposes while most of the food inside also breaks down. It’s a fantastic way to teach the concept of decomposition and show the students the impact of waste on the environment."
In addition to the 4th-grade experiment, 1st-grade classes learned about the role of decomposers in the environment by creating "Dirt Dessert," a fun treat that resembled dirt and worms. They also engaged in art projects by painting pictures of planet Earth and completed worksheets on what can and cannot be recycled and how to care for the planet.
These activities were designed to bring environmental education to life and foster a deeper understanding of the importance of recycling, composting, and reducing waste. Through these hands-on experiences, students at Rolling Hills Elementary are encouraged to think critically about their role in preserving the environment and to take action in their own communities.