MARYSVILLE – Liberty Elementary celebrated Earth Day April 22 by giving its first-grade students a hands-on lesson in horticulture.

Liberty Elementary first-grade teacher Corina Hansen explained that four classes of first-graders, with approximately 25 students each, planted flowers and bulbs in the school’s planter surrounding its sign.

“There was one plant for each student,” Hansen said. “Since the school’s not going to be rebuilt any time soon, this is the perfect time for them to do the planting, so that they can water and weed around the plants for the rest of the school year. In the process, they learn what it takes to care for plants.”

Although much of the school’s science curriculum focusing on plants takes place indoors, Hansen noted that the neglect of the outside planter helped inspire the move outdoors.

Jesse Mauer, mother of Liberty first-grader Evana, helped supervise the students during their planting.

“I’m excited to come here and be part of this,” Mauer said. “It teaches kids how to grow gardens and gets them outside, rather than playing video games or watching TV. It’s great to spend more quality time with the kids. I don’t think enough kids know about cultivating their own plants.”

Liberty Elementary first-grade student Daneya Williams enjoyed getting her hands dirty for what she saw as a good cause.

“Putting flowers in the dirt helps keep the Earth clean,” Williams said.