On Earth Day, April 22, there were screams of joy and squeals of excitement outside GEARS in Elizabethtown. Students in the preschool and kindergarten programs at the center released thousands of ladybugs into the environment, a culmination of a classroom project.

"The students spent time learning about the ladybugs - getting some background knowledge on them like how they grow, learning vocabulary, learning about their habitats," said Anthony Carothers, lead kindergarten teacher and site director. "It's an opportunity to engage the students in hands-on learning, which is something we strive to do here."

Wendy Musser, GEARS director, came up with the idea for the ladybug release last year. "She wanted to do something different, since a lot of classes do butterflies," Carothers recalled. "The kids loved it last year, and we were really excited to do it again this year."

In preparation for the ladybug release, the students not only learned about the different parts of the insect, but also completed arts and crafts projects including paper ladybug hats they wore during the release. "We read books on ladybugs and incorporated literacy into the project," Carothers stated. "We worked in math themes. We compared and contrasted the ladybugs to butterflies. We talked about how butterflies undergo metamorphosis as they change from a caterpillar to a butterfly, while ladybugs hatch from an egg. It was such a good topic that we could use across multiple content areas."

The students also discussed the benefits of releasing ladybugs into the environment. "They learned that ladybugs are great for plants," Carothers noted. "Ladybugs eat aphids, which can destroy plants."

On the day of the release, more than 30 students - ranging in age from 3 to 6 years old - lined up, donned their paper hats and waited patiently for their teachers to open the mesh cage containing the ladybugs. Some students eagerly approached and accepted a ladybug on their outstretched hands, while others held back, a little unsure. After a few moments, all of the students were engaged in gently placing ladybugs on trees or allowing the insects to fly off on their own. Giggles and squeals permeated the air as the students watched the small creatures get used to their new home.

"This project has been a lot of fun, and the kids have been really excited about it," Carothers said. "It's a great way to get them excited about learning."