Earth Day is a special occasion that offers a wonderful opportunity to teach children about the importance of taking care of the environment and the impact they can have on preserving our planet. Here are some engaging and educational activities to do with kids on Earth Day:
1. Plant a Tree or some seeds
Planting a tree is a classic Earth Day activity that helps children understand the role trees play in our ecosystem. It’s a hands-on way to discuss topics like photosynthesis, the oxygen cycle, and habitat creation.
Planting seeds is a fun activity to do with kids. Similar to planting trees, it’s a great way to get hands-on experience with learning the natural process of nature. It’s also a great way to explain how insects and others like bees and butterflies use the flowers.
2. Recycled Art Projects
Gather materials from your recycling bin and let kids unleash their creativity by making art from recyclable items. This activity promotes resourcefulness and emphasizes the importance of recycling.
3. Nature Walk and Scavenger Hunt
Take a walk in a local park or nature reserve and turn it into an educational scavenger hunt. Prepare a list of items for kids to find, such as a pine cone, a feather, or a smooth stone. It’s a fun way to explore biodiversity and the natural environment.
4. DIY Bird Feeders
Creating DIY bird feeders from recycled materials not only provides food for local birds but also offers a chance to observe and learn about different bird species. This is the bird feeder build kit I built with my daughter.
5. Earth Day-themed Story Time
Select books that focus on the environment and read them with your children. Stories can be powerful tools for teaching about conservation, wildlife, and the impact of human actions on the Earth. Here’s a few Earth day themed books my kids love.
- Happy Stories for Nature Lovers
- What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet
- Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth
6. Start a Herb Garden
Starting a small herb garden can be done even in limited spaces like balconies or windowsills. It teaches kids about growing food and the satisfaction of harvesting their own herbs.
7. Clean-up Challenge
Organize a local clean-up in your community. Equip kids with gloves and bags and challenge them to collect as much litter as they can. This activity instills a sense of community service and responsibility.
8. Bake some Earth Day themed goodies
Kids love to bake! The idea of using multiple ingredients and pans gets them excited. Don’t be surprised they demand their own apron or chef’s hat. Emphasize the use of natural and raw, earth friendly ingredients and explan the source of where these ingredients come from. Check out this recipe for Earth Day themed cookies. I’ve used this recipe a few times now and the kids at my child’s school loved them!
9. Energy Saving Game
Turn energy conservation into a game. Have kids go around the house looking for ways to save energy, like turning off lights in unoccupied rooms or unplugging devices not in use.
10. Earth Day Pledge and Poster
Encourage kids to make an Earth Day pledge about one thing they will do to help the planet and create a poster to remind them of their commitment. Check out these example Earth Day themed writing exercises for kids
By engaging children in these Earth Day activities, we can instill in them a sense of responsibility and reverence for the planet while creating lasting memories and fostering a deeper connection to the natural world. Let’s celebrate Earth Day not just on April 22nd, but every day, by taking actions both big and small to protect and preserve our precious planet. 🌍💚
