Jennifer Lynn’s students at Arvon Township School in Skanee completed several ecology-related projects. Students planted vegetable and flower seeds, which they are caring for indoors until the weather warms up. Then, they will be moving the plants outdoors to their new garden plot, which they prepared. Students have also been learning about composting. They have a compost pile out in their schoolyard, as well as a worm-composting bin in the basement. Students feed up to a pound of leftover food wastes from their lunches to the worms everyday day!

CJ Sullivan, L'Anse

All three of the first grade classes at C.J. Sullivan Elementary helped clean up litter around their schoolyard. Students also made posters to remind students at the school not to litter, have been growing plants in their classroom from seed, and made birdfeeders with pinecones! The first grade teachers are Michelle Seppanen, Helen Kujansuu, and Christy Marta.

Calumet High School

The Envirothon Team at Calumet High School, advised by teacher Corey Soumis, researched native plants, and have made plans for establishing a native plant garden at their school. Students have worked extensively with local resource professionals, and will be completing the first phase of the planting project during the month of May. This year students will be preparing a 900 square foot area to plant the following types of plants: Highbush Cranberry, Bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, and Pale Purple Coneflower. MTU Volunteer Melissa Jarvie assisted this group with their project.

CLK Elementary, Calumet

Julie Fenton’s fifth grade students (with the assistance of MTU volunteer Loralee Miller) at C-L-K Elementary in Calumet were studying about ecology, and planned several projects related to providing habitat for wildlife and improving their schoolyard. Students built several bluebird boxes and some bat houses to hang up around their community. Students are also picking up litter around their schoolyard, and planting gardens in their schoolyard. In May, students plan to participate in a tree-planting project at their school.

Dollar Bay Elementary

All 156 elementary students at Dollar Bay School decorated grocery bags with Earth Day messages for Richie’s Grocery Store!

Houghton Middle School, Hancock

Jim Louma and student teacher Michael Roush’s 8th grade students at Houghton Middle School built solar collectors/ovens as a part of their study of energy resources. Students also conducted a clean up of the Huron Creek.

Houghton Elementary, Houghton

Lois Jambekar’s fifth grade students at Houghton Elementary sponsored a school-wide recycling program throughout the school year and conducted a neighborhood clean-up, picking up litter in an eight block area around the school.

Jeffer's High School, Painesdale

Students from the National Honor Society at Jeffers High School coordinated a school wide recycling program for paper. Students transported the paper to Michigan Tech once a month during the school year.

Lake Linden-Hubbell Elementary, Lake Linden

Laura Rowe’s fifth grade class at Lake Linden-Hubbell School prepared puppet shows with environmentally-friendly messages for the kindergarteners and first graders. Some topics addressed by in the puppet shows were littering, taking care of animals and recycling. Students made some very creative puppets from paper mache.

Sleight Elementary, Ironwood

Mrs. Pisani’s third grade students at Sleight Elementary in Ironwood collected much needed old blankets and newspapers to donate to the HOPE Animal Shelter. Students were visited by a puppy and kitten who had been residing at the animal shelter, as well as some volunteer animal shelter staff.

Wakefield School

Patricia Houle and Michele Anzalone’s High Five Mentoring group, consisting of elementary and high school students, conducted a school yard clean up. On the first day of their clean up, they estimated a collection of around 50 pounds of litter!

Washington Elementary, Bessemer

Debbie Lekie’s fourth grade students at Washington Elementary in Bessemer have been learning about plants. They worked with Master Gardeners from the community and started marigold plants from seeds. They have been taking care of the plants and doing some experiments related to what plants need to grow.

2004 Grand Prize Winners!

Congratulations to our Grand Prize winners, selected in a raffle drawing from all entries!

Earth Day Tool Kit - Grade K-5 Age Group
CCISD: Houghton Elementary: Lois Jambekar, Grade 5
GOISD: Sleight Elementary: Carol Pisani, Grade 3 and Washington Elementary (Bessemer): Debbie Lekies, Grade 4

$250 Field Trip Awards went to the following Grade 6-12 groups:
CCISD: Hancock Middle School: Michael Roush/Jim Louma, Grade 8
CCISD: Calumet High School Envirothon Team, Corey Soumis, Grades 9-12
GOISD: Wakefield School: Mary Toomey, Grades 7 & 8
GOISD: Wakefield School High Five Mentoring Group, Grades 9-12