PONDER — A group of first-graders sent a little love across the globe Friday.

From a Ponder Elementary School classroom, the 19-member group was the opening act in a three-hour international videoconference raising awareness and donations for the people of Haiti.

Standing in front a large piece of red paper decorated to resemble a letter addressed from Ponder to Haiti, the smiling students performed “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” through sign language and song.

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Ponder Elementary School first-graders sang “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” to kick off a videoconference on Friday to raise awareness about Haiti and to collect donations. Pictured from left are: back row, Hayden Taylor, Triston Moore, Chloe Poole, Riley Jackson, Demetri Stowers, Trey Loyd, Jacob Romo and Kathy Watson; middle row, Amanda Lawson, Alexa Armijo, Kathryn Dejesus, Chase Taylor, Natalie Hidalgo and Zachary Clark; front row, Hallye Green, McKinzie Jenkins, Jordan Bearden, Mariah Shoemake and Ryan Allen.

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Offering up the lyrics “and the world will be a better place … for you and me, you just wait and see,” the students focused on what can still be done to help Haitians affected by a Jan. 12 earthquake.

The performance was a part of “The Crisis in Haiti: What Can YOU Do to Help?” — a live benefit program that aired online Friday morning. Featuring scientists, global representatives from federal and nonprofit organizations, and presentations from students across the United States, Rome, Taiwan and Portugal, presenters shared similar messages on how to offer help to Haiti.

“I just thought it was really cool because I knew we were really helping Haiti in some way and we just knew that they needed help,” first-grade student Riley Jackson said. “It’s just really cool to know that we are helping Haiti.”

For more than two weeks, the students have learned about the earthquake that hit the Caribbean island of Haiti and they rehearsed in preparation for Friday’s performance, first-grade teacher Kathy Watson said. She’s taught the song to her students each year to coincide with Valentine’s Day.

Watson said she hoped that the musical selection carried more meaning this year.

“I just hoped that the words to the song inspired someone to get involved and help others,” she said.

Friday’s videoconference, which was available around the globe as a live webstream, was also presented for a group of parents who congregated in the elementary cafeteria.

Ponder Elementary also helped offer relief to Haiti victims with a campuswide fundraiser collecting spare change. The school collected more than $1,200.

Principal Janell Wilbanks, who introduced the students prior to their musical performance, said she was thrilled to see them participate in the global event.

“It really brought almost a tear to your eye — the kids singing the song — and they really felt they were a part of something on a global level,” she said. “It’s really amazing to think that what we’re doing right here is being seen all around the world.”

The live videoconference was sponsored by MAGPI — the Mid-Atlantic Gigapop in Philadelphia for Internet 2 — a high-speed network that allows people to connect globally.

BRITNEY TABOR can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is btabor@dentonrc.com.