Earth Day for Kids

Earth Day

April twenty-second is Earth Day. What does this mean for you and your class? Have some fun on Earth Day with your class by using some of these activities to teach your students about recycling and the impact of wasted energy on the Earth.

• Go through an inspection of your house or classroom. Are all appliances off that are not being used at the time? Turn off all computers and lights when not in use. Appliances that are plugged in but are not being used sometimes store energy while plugged in. Unplug all appliances that do this until they are needed.
• Do you have scrap papers in the garbage? Reuse your old papers for taking short notes or even to do a paper making project in your classroom.
• Eat a cold lunch such as a salad or sandwich to avoid using the microwave or stove.
• Leave the lights off when the room is well lit. Many of us turn on lights when it is actually daylight out, wasting electricity.
• Reuse old containers such as egg cartons for storage or for use as planters.
• Plant a tree.
• Plant seeds using only hand tools and natural mulch for fertilizer.
• Turn the television off. The television has become as frequently used as the kitchen table. Give the planet a break and get yourself some exercise by shutting off the television and going outside to play!
• Play a board or card game instead of a video game.
• Look around the room. How many items in the room are recycled? How many items in the room could be recycled or replaced with recyclable materials?
• Try to think of ways you can do more to protect the planet and help it heal itself.
• Walk or ride a bike instead of getting a ride or driving.
• Make a list of things you need to survive. These should include food, shelter and air. Now make a list of items that are not necessary to survive. How do the things we use and don’t actually need impact our planet? What can you do to change this?
• Start a Paper Retreiver Program at your school or local community center.