These are the words that a class at Allisonville Elementary School in Indianapolis tries to live by.

Children's Express, curious about how third-graders could save the Earth, interviewed these children late last spring. We found that they upheld the Kids for Saving Earth promise by recycling their discards and using recyclable products, educating adults and children about environmental concerns and keeping up-to-date on the latest issues.

Last fall, the class started a Kids for Saving Earth (KSE) club at their school after their teacher, Betsy Gee, brought in one of the organization's newsletters, which she picked up at a Target store.

Kids for Saving Earth, a nonprofit corporation sponsored by Target stores, is operated by William B. and Theresa Hill of Plymouth, Minn.

Inspired by child who died

The Hills were inspired by their 11-year-old son, Clinton, who dreamed of a healthier environment. Before his death from cancer in 1989, he started the first Kids for Saving Earth Club at his school. Clinton's KSE Kids, with local citizens, persuaded their City Council to reduce the number of trees being cut down to create playing fields. They also transplanted trees to replace those that had been cut down.

Now there are about 3,600 KSE clubs in the United States and in 13 other countries, with more being created every year.

Like Clinton's club, the Allisonville Elementary students are aware of environmental problems. One way Gee kept her class informed of current issues was by having 30-minute discussions every Friday.

"We would sit down in a circle and, you know, read Kids for Saving the Earth newspaper," said one student, Sarah Millermaier, age 9. "We read one article at a time and discuss it. And basically our whole day revolves around the Earth."

The top concerns the class has addressed are the diminishing ozone layer, acid rain, rechargeable batteries, global warming, recycling, the safety of whales and rain forests.

"I think we're really concerned about the rain forests," said Jeff Buck, age 9. "They're really the most endangered part of the Earth."

Drew Hollinberger, age 9, agreed. "(The trees) in the rain forests, they give up a lot of oxygen and when we like cut those down, we ruin lots of oxygen. So, I mean, we could die."

Nick Essling, age 9, had other ideas. He said he was most concerned with "Antarctica, because, you know, it's got that hole over it (in the ozone) and the sun is going to like melt Antarctica and it's all going to turn into water and it's probably going to flood all the land."

To better understand the Earth, the class constructed a life- size kelp forest out of construction paper. They also wrote letters to officials, including President Bush, about such concerns as the dumping of trash and saving dolphins who get trapped in tuna nets. Gee is planning further projects, both inside and outside the classroom, with this year's third-grade class.

Tips on recycling

One of their biggest projects last spring was their Clean the Scene book, which gives tips on recycling, careful shopping, compost piles, reducing use of plastics, energy conservation, trash management, plants and carpooling. The students got information for the book from discussions in their class. The books were then distributed to each class at the school during Earth Day 1991.

"We thought it would spread the word that our Earth really needs our help and here are a few really easy, simple ways to help," Sarah said. "I mean, it's not going to take a whole bunch of work just to start recycling."

The book helped inform the students, too. "We had to think of it all by ourselves," said Drew. "And that was pretty hard and it really helped (us) to be more environmentally conscious."

The students also try to teach the "three Rs" _ reduce, reuse and recycle _ to their families. Based on what they have learned in the classroom, the students have taught their parents about the benefits of rechargeable batteries and carpooling, to name a few things.

"We encourage our parents to buy things (to help) the environment," said Kevin Mayo, age 9.

"We have a compost pile in our yard and . . . instead of throwing old rotten food away we put it in the compost pile. And it turns into dirt again," Sarah said. "We try to conserve water and electricity."

We asked the students, who will be continuing the club in the fourth grade, why they think the program is important.

"I think (what we're doing) is pretty important because we're starting other people to start to do this. And if they start people to do that and it keeps going on and on like that, then almost everybody in the world will be aware," Drew said. "And if everybody's aware, then they'll be helping the Earth and then the Earth will be real good to live on."