“What better way to celebrate Earth Day than to walk to your local Goodwill store and to a local business to learn about reducing, reusing and recycling.” – Loveland first-grade teacher, Jennifer Miller.
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – On April 22nd billions of people around the world celebrated Earth Day. Loveland 1st grade teacher, Jennifer Miller, decided to celebrate the day by taking her class on a field trip to two Loveland businesses to learn about just why reducing, reusing, and recycling is so important. Loveland Magazine’s very own, David Miller, got the opportunity to be a part of the Earth Day-themed field trip, when Ms. Miller’s class stopped by to learn about composting, rechargeable batteries, and LED light bulbs. David Miller also showed the students how individuals, families, and businesses can lower their negative impact on the environment. The tour of our offices highlighted some of the many pieces of office equipment, furniture, and everyday items that were re-claimed, repurposed, and purchased at the Loveland Goodwill Store.
For several years, the father and daughter duo have collaborated on practical writing lessons for the students, showing them how their writing can be published in their local newspaper.
Axel said, “Earth Day is made of kindness.”
When Ms. Miller was planning a field trip for her students, she wanted to be sure that everything the students did connect back to the importance of protecting our environment. The class began the field trip at The Loveland Goodwill Store where the students learned the importance of reusing and recycling clothing, household goods, books, and toys. The staff showed the students the donation center and explained why it is important to donate items you no longer use rather than throwing them away. Ms. Miller had each student bring an item from home to donate to the center in order to not only really understand the concept of reusing and recycling, but the satisfying feeling you get after doing it!
Ms. Miller had each student bring an item from home to donate to the center in order to not only really understand the concept of reusing and recycling, but the satisfying feeling you get after doing it!
After celebrating Earth Day at Loveland Goodwill, the class then walked to Loveland Magazine. Though the distance was short, Ms. Miller thought this activity would really get the students thinking about energy conservation. Once the students arrived at Loveland Magazine they enjoyed a snack, but of course, it was also Earth Day themed! She gave the students the option of eating an apple or cutie so that they could then later put the core or the peel into Loveland Magazine’s compost bin. They were told how composting yard waste, fallen leaves, and kitchen scraps at a business can lower business expenses because the compost is turned into the potting soil for spring plants. It was explained that by not purchasing potting soil, what is basically dirt, it didn’t have to be shipped around the country using fossil fuels which contribute to carbon in the atmosphere. Mr. Miller said, “It doesn’t make sense to transport things like dirt using fossil fuel driven vehicles, and businesses need to be aware of this kind of impact on the climate whenever they purchase goods.”
After learning how to compost, Mr. Miller talked to the students about the importance of rechargeable batteries and LED light bulbs. He was able to get really interactive with the students by doing light bulb as well as battery demonstrations so that the students could visually see the importance of reusing, conserving energy, and recycling batteries instead of putting them into landfills.
“What better way to celebrate Earth Day than to walk to your local Goodwill store and to a local business to learn about reducing, reusing and recycling,” said Ms. Miller.
Ms. Miller followed the Earth Day presentation at Loveland Magazine by walking with her class back to school and straight into the classroom to write about the field trip! So just what did the students write? Let’s read some excerpts from the written reports!
Natalia – “We should take care of our environment.”
Samira – “I learned about recycling batteries.”
Hanna – “I learned that some kinds of light bulbs can be recycled and my favorite part of the trip was looking at the compost pile.”
Dean – “I was happy to see the awards on the wall David Miller received for helping the earth. Earth Day is made of showing kindness and respect for our earth. We re-used and recycled. We celebrated in Loveland, Ohio. My favorite part was looking at the earth.”
Charlotte – “We went on a field trip on Earth Day. We looked at the compost pile. Earth Day is made of showing kindness and respect for our earth. We re-used, reduced, and recycled. We’re celebrating Loveland. My favorite part was the compost pile.”
Abdulloh – “We donated stuff that we don’t need.”
Lillian – “I liked learning about how certain light bulbs can save on energy use, about recycling batteries, and that using rechargeable batteries can help the environment. My favorite part was going to the Goodwill store.”
Tommy – “Walking to Goodwill was my favorite part.”
Constance – “My favorite thing was learning.”
Muhammadjon – “I noticed the toys and clothes at Goodwill that were there for recycling and reusing.”
Dylan – “I liked taking the peels left from our cuties and apple cores and putting them in the compost bin after snack.
Natalia – “ I liked composting the food scraps.”
Ben titled his report, “The Earth is my Friend” and said, “My favorite thing was visiting Loveland Magazine.”
Ashlynn – “My favorite part was the backyard at Loveland Magazine.”
Avery – “I learned to put food scraps in a compost bin.”
Axel – “Earth Day is made of kindness.”
After reading the students Earth Day reports, Ms. Miller was pleased with the impact she and her father had on the students. “My students learned firsthand the importance of donating items that their families no longer needed – to a local organization that helps others. We also learned the importance of making small changes in our daily life at work and school such as using LED lightbulbs, rechargeable batteries, and how to have a compost pile in your own backyard.”
Mr. Miller said he was really pleased that the students were so engaged in what might seem an adult topic because they are a long way from owning their own company or working in a business or corporation. “They did, however, most appreciate the compost bin and the contents – perhaps it was the playing in the dirt looking for worms and microbes!” he commented. “I am extremely pleased that so many moms came along on the trip as well. It’s important the children are safe while walking the busy street and I want them to be safe while here at Loveland Magazine also. It helps too that the class was so well behaved and polite.” He also talked about the wonderful hospitality showed toward the students at the Loveland Goodwill Store.
If you would like to experience the Earth Day field trip Mrs. Miller took her first graders on, watch the video below that Ms. Miller created! Also, take a look at the photos that her father took during the field trip.
Not only did Ms. Miller’s class have fun, but they had fun learning! It’s never too early to start protecting the environment!
Watch this video that Ms. Miller created for her students of their Earth Day activities.
