Earth Angels
An Overview
An Overview
Earth Angels is an organization begun by some of the members of the St. Marys Garden Club in 2013. It grew out of a love of plants and a recognition of their value in our lives. It was out of this love of gardening and an appreciation of all that the Earth provides, that seeds for engaging children in our community grew. We want each child to know and appreciate their role in maintaining a healthy, balanced Earth.
It was decided to plant the pilot program in the second grade classrooms in three of our nearby elementary schools. Chosen were St. Marys, Crooked River, and Mary Lee Clark elementary schools. Two of the schools have science labs, but only St. Marys has a designated science teacher for all grade levels. All of the schools readily agreed to our proposal and have proven to be significant supporters.
Four instructional units were designed for our first year. The first unit, Composting and Other Recycling Projects that Can Make a Difference, utilizes I Can Change the World. The second unit, The Value of Worms in Healthy Plant Growth is designed around another book, Wiggling Worms at Work. This is our way of introducing the connection between plant growth, animals and human involvement in a successful ecosystem. The Life Cycle of a Plant is the third unit. Members and friends of the St. Marys Garden Club saved seeds for this unit over several months to show the students where plants have their beginning and how, through their involvement, plants can be propagated from a variety of seeds found in their own yards and gardens. The fourth unit is built around Earth Day. This unit involves the use of recycled items in art. This is a project designed to demonstrate the value of “upcycling.”
The Earth Angels utilize a multidisciplinary approach with the young students in sharing knowledge and experience. The methodical scientific approach to observing nature is utilized throughout the curriculum. Art, music, and mathematical analysis of our observations are included in the hands-on experiences we use in teaching the fundamental concepts.
The Earth Angels program is enlarging as plans are being made for an expanded program in the future. Gail Steier, Angel Bernier, and Karen Widing in preparation for next year’s offerings, adding additional schools to our list. An unofficial Earth Angel, Woodsy the Owl, was introduced in some of our classrooms. Woodsy was constructed by Geri Shaw of our garden club for a Hay Days project last year and has been viewed, hugged, and admired at the St. Marys Visitor Center since retiring.
Woodsy was our kick off for what is hoped to be another engaging experience in years to come. The Garden Clubs of Georgia sponsors a Woodsy the Owl and Smokey the Bear Poster contest each year and the Earth Angels hope to involve widespread participation in the schools served by the Angels.
The program has been supported by the teachers and schools involved: the Camden County Schools, the EarthKeepers (who funded the purchase of multiple copies of two of the books used for each classroom), and the members of the St. Marys Garden Club.
The following three instructional units were added in 2016 bringing the instructional units up to six. The fourth unit Composting and Other Recycling Projects that Can Make a Difference, utilizes I Can Change the World. While this course may have been chosen as one of the four a school might have selected for the year, recycling is emphasized throughout the curriculum as a core value. The fifth unit, The Value of Worms in Healthy Plant Growth is designed around another book, Wiggling Worms at Work. Even the most reluctant child is tempted to join her classmates in close examination of the composting worm from the palm of her hand. This is our way of introducing the connection between plant growth, animals and human involvement in a successful ecosystem. And the sixth unit, The Life Cycle of a Plant gave the young students an opportunity to learn where plants have their beginning and how, through their involvement, plants can be propagated from a variety of seeds found in their own yards and gardens. Classes actually dissected whole green beans to find the seeds and sprouted limas to see the growth of an embryo within the seed. One school even worked with hydroponics. Some of the schools actually planted marigold seeds and decorated small pots to give to their mother or significant family member on Mothers’ Day.
2013 - St. Marys Elementary, Mary Lee Clark Elementary and Crooked River Elementary Schools
2015 - Matilda Harris Elementary and Woodbine Elementary Schools added
2016 - Instructional units four, five, and six added to the original three units
2018 - David Lee Rainer Elementary and Sugarmill Elementary Schools added
2019 - First class for homeschoolers was held at the nature center at Crooked River State Park
2020 to 2023 - Unfortunately Earth Angels has been suspended due to Covid restrictions. Only parents are allowed in the schools.
2023 - The Earth Angels were able to purchase from the National Garden Club a set of 3 books titled "The Frightened Frog" an environmental tale by Brenda Moore & Jean Ohlmann, "The Saved Seed" by Brenda Moore and "Network with Nature" by Brenda Moore. These books were donated to all elementary schools and libraries in Camden County. Each school and library received 2 sets of this 3-book series.
Earth Angel member, Gail S. presented a program at the Saint Marys Library on Worms. She spoke to all children that attended about the importance of worms in our gardens and even brought a worm farm borrowed from member Angel B. who raises worms for her garden in Woodbine.
It was decided to plant the pilot program in the second grade classrooms in three of our nearby elementary schools. Chosen were St. Marys, Crooked River, and Mary Lee Clark elementary schools. Two of the schools have science labs, but only St. Marys has a designated science teacher for all grade levels. All of the schools readily agreed to our proposal and have proven to be significant supporters.
Four instructional units were designed for our first year. The first unit, Composting and Other Recycling Projects that Can Make a Difference, utilizes I Can Change the World. The second unit, The Value of Worms in Healthy Plant Growth is designed around another book, Wiggling Worms at Work. This is our way of introducing the connection between plant growth, animals and human involvement in a successful ecosystem. The Life Cycle of a Plant is the third unit. Members and friends of the St. Marys Garden Club saved seeds for this unit over several months to show the students where plants have their beginning and how, through their involvement, plants can be propagated from a variety of seeds found in their own yards and gardens. The fourth unit is built around Earth Day. This unit involves the use of recycled items in art. This is a project designed to demonstrate the value of “upcycling.”
The Earth Angels utilize a multidisciplinary approach with the young students in sharing knowledge and experience. The methodical scientific approach to observing nature is utilized throughout the curriculum. Art, music, and mathematical analysis of our observations are included in the hands-on experiences we use in teaching the fundamental concepts.
The Earth Angels program is enlarging as plans are being made for an expanded program in the future. Gail Steier, Angel Bernier, and Karen Widing in preparation for next year’s offerings, adding additional schools to our list. An unofficial Earth Angel, Woodsy the Owl, was introduced in some of our classrooms. Woodsy was constructed by Geri Shaw of our garden club for a Hay Days project last year and has been viewed, hugged, and admired at the St. Marys Visitor Center since retiring.
Woodsy was our kick off for what is hoped to be another engaging experience in years to come. The Garden Clubs of Georgia sponsors a Woodsy the Owl and Smokey the Bear Poster contest each year and the Earth Angels hope to involve widespread participation in the schools served by the Angels.
The program has been supported by the teachers and schools involved: the Camden County Schools, the EarthKeepers (who funded the purchase of multiple copies of two of the books used for each classroom), and the members of the St. Marys Garden Club.
The following three instructional units were added in 2016 bringing the instructional units up to six. The fourth unit Composting and Other Recycling Projects that Can Make a Difference, utilizes I Can Change the World. While this course may have been chosen as one of the four a school might have selected for the year, recycling is emphasized throughout the curriculum as a core value. The fifth unit, The Value of Worms in Healthy Plant Growth is designed around another book, Wiggling Worms at Work. Even the most reluctant child is tempted to join her classmates in close examination of the composting worm from the palm of her hand. This is our way of introducing the connection between plant growth, animals and human involvement in a successful ecosystem. And the sixth unit, The Life Cycle of a Plant gave the young students an opportunity to learn where plants have their beginning and how, through their involvement, plants can be propagated from a variety of seeds found in their own yards and gardens. Classes actually dissected whole green beans to find the seeds and sprouted limas to see the growth of an embryo within the seed. One school even worked with hydroponics. Some of the schools actually planted marigold seeds and decorated small pots to give to their mother or significant family member on Mothers’ Day.
2013 - St. Marys Elementary, Mary Lee Clark Elementary and Crooked River Elementary Schools
2015 - Matilda Harris Elementary and Woodbine Elementary Schools added
2016 - Instructional units four, five, and six added to the original three units
2018 - David Lee Rainer Elementary and Sugarmill Elementary Schools added
2019 - First class for homeschoolers was held at the nature center at Crooked River State Park
2020 to 2023 - Unfortunately Earth Angels has been suspended due to Covid restrictions. Only parents are allowed in the schools.
2023 - The Earth Angels were able to purchase from the National Garden Club a set of 3 books titled "The Frightened Frog" an environmental tale by Brenda Moore & Jean Ohlmann, "The Saved Seed" by Brenda Moore and "Network with Nature" by Brenda Moore. These books were donated to all elementary schools and libraries in Camden County. Each school and library received 2 sets of this 3-book series.
Earth Angel member, Gail S. presented a program at the Saint Marys Library on Worms. She spoke to all children that attended about the importance of worms in our gardens and even brought a worm farm borrowed from member Angel B. who raises worms for her garden in Woodbine.