First graders at St. Mary Catholic School and second graders at Taft Elementary School in Humboldt got an Earth Day presentation from Kalene Berte, AITC coordinator for Farm Bureau, and volunteer LuAnn Christopher recently.

The kids learned that what started 56 years ago with 20 million people has grown into a worldwide movement with more than 1 billion participants. This year, Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22.

Students discovered how even the smallest actions — like recycling, planting trees and picking up litter — can make a big difference for the planet.

“Students were also reminded that almost everything starts on a farm, which means we all need to help keep the air, water and soil healthy,” Berte said.

-Submitted photo
Students in Krystal Miller's second grade class at Taft Elementary School in Humboldt show off planters with soybean seeds they planted as part of an Ag in the Classroom program.

The real fun began with interactive activities. Students created their own seed germination necklaces and planted a variety of seeds, including corn, soybeans, pumpkins, and sunflowers. They explored the fascinating world of seeds — comparing colors, shapes, and sizes — from tiny, sweet-smelling vanilla orchid seeds to massive coco de mer seeds weighing up to 40 pounds.

Students got their hands dirty while exploring different types of soil, from potting soil to topsoil from a corn field. The kids used peat moss pellets to plant their seeds. Gasps of amazement spread across the room as the pellets quickly expanded with water, transforming before the kids’ eyes.

One of the biggest hits? Milkweed seeds.

“Many of the students had never seen a milkweed seed and loved the opportunity to blow them around the room like the wind,” Berte said.

To think like real farmers, each student created a planting journal — tracking seeds, watering schedules, and even sketching what they imagined their plants would look like when fully grown.

AITC shows students that protecting our planet starts from the ground up. The lesson wrapped up with a look at how farmers care for the Earth every day, from planting windbreaks to seeding cover crops. The kids also watched a short video of farmers installing bioreactors to help protect water quality.

By the end of the day, these young learners walked away not only with new knowledge, but with inspiration and confidence that they (and the farmers in the area) can help make a positive difference when it comes to conservation.