It’s not very often that art and science are used in the same lesson, but when it comes to Earth Day and the students and faculty at Dana Road Elementary, nothing is impossible.

Recently, the entire school student body was encouraged to create Litter Critters, an art project where the children create something out of garbage.

“They must use something that would normally be thrown in the trash,” STEM lab PreK through third grade teacher April Farrell said. “They’re not allowed to go buy anything new or waste anything that wouldn’t normally be thrown away.”

As each critter is completed it is set out on display near the front doors of the school. Farrell said most students make their own critter while some classes are working together to make one. A contest for first, second and third prize critter will be held Friday which is Earth Day.

In addition to the litter critter contest, students will be wearing trash outfits and carrying conservation or endangered species themed posters made for the Earth Day parade set for 1 p.m. Friday.

“They’re basically just trying to give other students awareness of the things that are going wrong with our planet,” Farrell said.

The student will line the halls for the parade where there will also be a first, second and third place winner. Farrell said last year a girl made a tutu out of Wal-Mart bags and others have made dresses out of newspaper or even dressed up as trees.

“Everything about the parade is about awareness for protecting our planet,” Farrell said.

She said this is about the eighth year the school has done these Earth Day projects.

Specifically in her classroom—the science lab— Farrell has discussed oil spills with the students.

“We’re learning about how oil affects water and animals,” Farrell said. “I’m showing them how Dawn dishwashing liquid can clean oil off of feathers.”

She said the students have washed oil-covered feathers in class to witness it first hand. The classes also did an experience by sprinkling pepper in an oil-filled tub of water. The pepper soaks up and separates out the oil making it easier to clean up.

“I know all the classroom teachers are doing things [for Earth Day],” Farrell said. “Most every teacher participates in Earth Day week, and we all try to stress the importance of conservation.”

It can be difficult to get the point of recycling and the idea of fossil fuel use across to such young students, but Farrell said it is important for them to learn and a good time to do that is during the week in which Earth Day falls.

“A lot of times the children are amazed, especially PreK and kindergarten, at what’s happening to the planet. They’ve never really heard of global warming,” Farrell said.

PreK student Kelly Landrum, 5, has learned a few things, like cleaning up after yourself, from the Earth Day lessons.

“You can clean off the beach if there is some trash in the water,” Landrum said recommending the trash be put in the recycling bin. “Because you try to help the world.”

She made a spider litter critter out of an old soda bottle.

Students can choose to participate in the Earth Day projects and those who do earn five Jaguar paws that can be used toward permission to attend a party at the end of the school year.