Paintsville High students write and perform play for K-1 students
September 7, 2011 by clackey
The PRIDE Environmental Education Project of the Month Award was presented Aug. 31 to these Paintsville High School students, who were members of the PRIDE Club in 2010-2011. On the left in the center row are Mark Davis of PRIDE and Hans Doderer, PHS teacher and PRIDE Club sponsor.
For creating a play to teach children about the environment, the Paintsville High School PRIDE Club won southern and eastern Kentucky’s PRIDE Environmental Education Project of the Month Award.
PRIDE Club members wrote the play, entitled I Am the Earth, and performed it May 18 in the PHS cafeteria for an audience of 110 kindergarten and first-grade students from Paintsville Elementary School. The play’s message was expanded through the use of a coloring book that connected how pollution in the watershed impacts aquatic ecosystems.
“The aim of the play was to increase environmental literacy among our young people,” said Hans Doderer, the PHS science teacher who sponsors the PRIDE Club. “I hope the play will motivate youngsters to become more aware, recognize environmental concerns and to become better stewards of their environment.”
Doderer said the high school students plan to improve the play and present it again this year.
“What a creative way for high school students to pass on their knowledge of the environment,” said PRIDE’s Mark Davis, who presented the award Aug. 31 to PHS students who were involved in the project.
“PRIDE encourages mentoring projects like this because they benefit all the students,” Davis explained. “The older students really learn the topic well when they prepare to be mentors. The children always enjoy the special attention from older kids, so the message sticks with them.”
“Mr. Doderer has inspired so many students as a PRIDE sponsor over the years, and we appreciate his leadership,” Davis added.
PRIDE awarded $4,000 for environmental education to Paintsville High School last year. Those funds were used for the play and PRIDE Club expenses, as well as outdoor classroom improvements and educational materials.
Kaleidoscopes donated the ice cream social that the elementary school students enjoyed after the play.
The PRIDE Environmental Education Project of the Month program rewards creative, effective ways of promoting environment awareness and stewardship.
“We give awards to thank people and to showcase the great things going on in our region, so please contact us if you want to nominate a person, school, business or organization that is helping our environment or inspiring others to care for nature,” Davis said. “Our toll-free number is 888-577-4339.”
Click here to submit a nomination for the PRIDE Environmental Education Project of the Month Award.
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