News Details

April 2026

Julia Stipek wants her students at Wayne Township Preschool to learn to appreciate the beauty and importance of the planet on which they live.

“Preschoolers are naturally curious about nature - they love bugs, dirt, plants, and weather,” says Ms. Stipek. “I want to build on that curiosity by helping them understand that they can care for the Earth in small but meaningful ways.”

As Earth Day 2026 approaches, Julia’s students will be well equipped to connect with their environment in new ways. Thanks to funding from the Wayne Township Education Foundation and DonorsChoose, students will have new materials to teach them about caring for the natural world.

“Earth Day is a wonderful opportunity to introduce simple, hands-on lessons about recycling, planting, and protecting our environment,” says Ms. Stipek. “Starting these conversations early helps build lifelong habits of responsibility and respect for our planet.”

For her grant project called “Earth Day is a Great Day,” Ms. Stipek has purchased little Earth “stress balls,” a picture book about making environmentally-friendly choices, and environmental protection stickers. “Stickers are great for preschool because they're hands-on, visual, and exciting!” she says.

During the week of Earth Day (April 20-24), Ms. Stipek’s students will engage in lots of activities aimed at raising their awareness of our planet.

“We have a recycling sorting game,” Ms. Stipek says. “We have bins labeled “Trash,” “Recycle,” and “Compost.” Each student will take turns to pick an item and decide where it goes. We also plan to take a nature walk as an ‘earth detective.’ As detectives they will be looking for something green, or alive, or for something that shouldn't be on the ground, such as trash.”

Ms. Stipek hopes the lessons her students learn this Earth Day will last a lifetime.

“Earth Day provides a way to create simple, hands-on lessons about caring for our world,” she says. “At this age, even small experiences can plant the seeds for lifelong awareness and responsibility.”

ABOUT THE WAYNE TOWNSHIP EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The Wayne Township Education Foundation (WTEF) provides community leadership to enrich, engage, and stimulate teaching and learning in the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township. WTEF accomplishes this by supporting school programs and resources, while recognizing excellence among students and staff. To learn more about WTEF, call 317-988-7966, visit wtef.wayne.k12.in.us, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter @WayneTwpEdFound.