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On Earth Day (celebrating every April 22), millions of people around the world spend time thinking about how they protect the planet and its resources for future generations. This day may be an opportunity to discuss with students about environmental issues of plastic pollution and deforestation in a timely manner and allow them to think creatively about how they can become good stewards on the planet. From scientific experiments to creative writing tips, here are some Earth Day children who can instill a love for Mother Nature.
What is Earth Day?
The idea for the first Earth Day came from Sen. Gaylord Nelson, Wisconsin, who has long cared about air and water pollution in the United States. He recruited activist Dennis Hayes to organize a national event on the university campus to enable American youth to invest in the deterioration of the environment. On April 22, 1970, more than 20 million Americans took to the streets to prove the negative impact of opposition to industrial development.
Since then, Earth Day has transformed into a global event, with more than 192 countries participating in activities that support sustainability, protection and pollution reduction. It is estimated that 95% of schools in the United States and millions of schools around the world are also observing Earth Day every year.
Quick and easy Earth Day activities at the school
Earth Day is a great time to get students beyond textbooks and show them the importance of taking care of our planet. Many of these ideas are consistent with NGS, helping students gain a deeper understanding of key environmental science concepts while engaging them in meaningful hands-on learning.
Here are some quick Earth Day activities for elementary school students you can try:
- Perform a natural treasure hunt: Go outside and let students observe different plants, insects and animals and their interactions. Discuss the role of each species in the ecosystem and what may happen if one species disappears.
- Establish a classroom recycling center: Create designated recycling bins in the classroom for paper, plastic and other recyclables. Discuss how recycling can reduce pollution, protect resources and protect habitat.
- Create a soil erosion experiment: The effect of running water on soil erosion on different types of soil in the container is explained. Discuss things like how erosion affects plant growth and lets them brainstorm prevent plants.
- Engineer Solar Oven: Let students use the power of the sun and use cardboard boxes, aluminum foil and plastic wrap to build a sun oven. After that, talking about what renewable energy is and how solar energy can help reduce our carbon footprint.
Introduction to students about environmental science
Get your students excited about Earth Day courses and introduce them to a broader concept about the environment.
Plan Earth Day theme mini unit
The mini unit provides students with a focus on learning a specific topic. By combining environmental units with hands-on Earth Day activities, students can celebrate the planet and learn how to become more environmentally friendly.
Earth Day is a mini unit for pre-K and kindergarten
By interested mother
Results: Prek-K
Topic: Mathematics
This 38-page Earth Day mini unit includes math, language and literacy courses. It’s great to work in the morning in April or to work in the morning in kindergarten or classroom center.
Earth Day Mini Unit: Events and Printable
By Course Castle
Results: K-2nd
Topic: Environmental Science
Get your students excited about Earth Day with this fun and interactive unit! You will find a large number of Earth Day activities for kids, such as mini books, handicrafts, scientific exploration, math and language artwork, and more.
Attract students to reduce pollution
Exploring and raising awareness around the concept of pollution is an important part of any Earth Day course. With these Earth Day events, you can inspire your kids to keep our planet clean and green.
Investigate the impact of oil leakage
Oil spills have a destructive effect on marine life. By allowing students to study historical oil spills, simulate pollution and test cleaning techniques, they can learn more about how pollution can damage ecosystems.
Lava lamp | Oil and gas experiment
Kimberly Scott Science
Results: Fourth to Seventh
Topic: Environmental Science
Standard: NGSS 5-PS1-3, 5-PS1-4
This hands-on lab can be done in 30 minutes and provides excellent leadership activities for discussion of pollution. It uses simple supplies to demonstrate how oil and water are immiscible, including teacher background information, tips, scientific activities and reading paragraphs.
Lead a task force to reduce pollution
Many students studying the effects of pollution may choose to participate in environmental activism. By giving them the skills to engage in collaborative analysis and discussion, you will better equip budding environmentalists to advocate for policies and solutions in the future.
Earth Day Events | Pollution Control Committee
By happy people
Level: 5-8
Topic: Environmental Science
Standard: CCRA.R.1
In this collaborative learning activity, students play a role in the committee to reduce environmental pollution. They will meet in groups, analyze several different situations, and determine which polluters are the most destructive to the environment. They will then compare with the other groups in the class.
Teach the ins and outs of recycling
Teaching lessons on recycling is a great way to introduce children to the importance of preserving resources, repeating materials, and reducing waste. From classification activities to hand-on crafts, students can develop sustainable habits that will benefit in the years to come.
Play Category Games
Recycling is a small step that children can take to make an impact on the environment. But before they start, they need to learn how to identify recyclables. Classified games and activities are the best Earth Day activities for elementary school students to learn about what can and cannot be recycled.
Earth Day Recycling Process | Earth Day Announcement Board
By the teacher of the paw
Results: K-3rd
Topic: Writing
Use this activity to help students find ways to help the planet. Students can classify real pictures of materials that can be recycled and write answers on the recording table. Includes two versions of sorted images, one used with the picture tag. You can show students’ finished work in classrooms, corridors, and even around the school to remind others of the importance of recycling.
Turn garbage into treasure
Let students create works of art or invention works with cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, bottle caps and other recycled materials. Kids will learn that upgrading and reusing objects is not only fun and useful, but also a great thing for our planet.
Paper tube upgrade stem steam challenge, Earth Day craft recycling project
By roots and wings
Level: Prek-2nd
Topic: Engineering
Standard: NGSSK-ESS3-3
Under this STEM art challenge, children are encouraged to use paper tubes to make new things. Use it in the classroom maker space when learning recycling.
Cross courses on Earth Day
As an educator, you have the opportunity to inspire students’ enthusiasm for the environment and inspire them to do their part to take care of the planet – whatever topic you teach. Math games, creative writing and reading texts are fun ways to connect students to environmental topics and help them imagine a better world.
Analyze texts about Earth Day
Nonfiction passages about Earth Day history are a great way to help students understand their existence and their meaning. After reading, make sure to have students discuss to deepen their understanding.
Earth Day activities (reading, writing, writing features, snacks)
Hollie Griffith
Level: 1-2
Topic: Read
This non-fiction unit celebrates the style of Earth Day, which tells students about the history and importance of Earth Day. It comes with a comprehensive guide, original text on Earth Day, an activity to review text features, a manual for the main ideas and details, a student booklet, and additional paragraphs to further review text features and discover main ideas and details. Plus, it includes a simple recipe that ends the course on high notes.
Solve Earth Day-themed mathematical puzzles
Earth Day lessons are not only science and English art. In fact, there are a variety of fascinating ways you can incorporate into your math guidance! From Earth Day-themed word problems to puzzles, you can give your kids some math exercises while sharing information about the Earth.
Earth Day skip calculations for elementary school students
By teaching me
Results: Prek-1st
Topic: Mathematics
These Earth-themed picture puzzles for the day are fun ways for primary school students to actively practice 2, 5 and 10 and learn how they make our planet a healthier place to live. You can use these in a center, standalone, partner work, or group settings.
Complete creative writing challenges
Creative writing challenges are a wonderful way to combine art and environmental education to help students express ideas about conservation and sustainability.
Creative Writing: Change the Narrative! Earth Day as the theme
Through real local learning
Results: Third place
Topic: Creative Writing
Standards: CCSS RL.3.6, RL.4.6, RL.5.6; W.3.3, W.4.3, W.5.3, W.5.3a, W.5.3b, W.5.3C, W.3.3a, W.3.3b, W.3.3c, W.4.3a, W.4.43a, W.4.4.3b, W.4.43C, W.4.4.3d, W.4.3d, W.4.3e, W.4.3e
This activity allows Earth Day-themed spins to learn a variety of perspectives and perspectives. Students will read a short story from the perspective of a bystander and then write stories from two different perspectives.
Discover more Children’s Earth Day Activities
Whether you want to celebrate Earth Day with hands-on projects and learning, or promote a love for STEM, you will find everything you need (and more) on TPT. Discover planet-friendly programs and activities to inspire your students to be interested in everything in nature on the market. (If you are looking for Earth Day activities for schools that are more suitable for older students, learn about Earth Day activities for high school students.)
