Pupils Take Earth Day Message to the Streets

Students from Granada Elementary School celebrated Earth Day on Thursday by marching along Chatsworth Street, picking up trash and displaying signs reading, “Honk if you care about the Earth.”

The second- and third-graders enthusiastically snatched up litter, carried balloons and wore silver party hats in recognition of the day to celebrate ecology and the environment.

Gray skies and a brisk breeze couldn’t cool their fervor to clean up their neighborhood.

“We’re helping Mother Nature by picking up trash today,” said third-grader Jessica Kim, 8. “We want people to know that if they pollute, all the animals will die, and if they die, we die.”

The 40 children studied the environment and the Earth this year in their combined science class. Teachers said the march was a culmination of their learning experience.

“It’s an important project to teach the students about environmental responsibility,” said third-grade teacher Mark Ellis. “This march was their idea because they wanted to clean up their own community.”

Students stopped at shops along Chatsworth Street between Encino and Zelzah avenues, encouraging owners to recycle. The children also gave the merchants hand-drawn Earth Day posters and small papier-mache globes to hang in their stores.

“They sure got our attention, and this is important for their awareness of the world around them,” said Linda Huntington, owner of Granada Hills Tile. “I think it’s great because this will heighten their awareness of the world around them.”

Bottled water and cans of soda were served to the children as they took a break at the Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce. Children waved as cars whizzed by, some honking.

“I want to help save the Earth and nature so when I grow up we have a beautiful world,” said 9-year-old Daniel Pohl, a third-grader.

For some children, the march was a pleasant break from this week’s Stanford 9 student achievement tests.

“I’m really happy because we don’t have to do any schoolwork right now or have to worry about those tests,” said third-grader Michael Lim, 8, as he threw paper into a trash can. “Besides, it’s fun picking up the trash because we get to wear these cool plastic gloves.”