Earth Day will occur on Thursday, April 22, 2021 this year, marking 51 years of celebrating green living and eco-friendly issues. Earth Day is a great opportunity to help students understand the importance of caring for the environment and the land and the role that plays in our health. Check out our ideas to grow your Earth Day celebration at school and home all year long.
- Brainstorm ways to make every day Earth Day.
As a class, look at the National Geographic Kids Green Tips article and talk about what it means to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Students can brainstorm other cases of making small changes that have a big impact on the world around them
2. Challenge students to think about what they already know.
Ask students if they have heard of Earth Day. What do they already know about the event? What is Earth Day all about? You will be amazed at you find out!
3. Spring Cleaning.
Spend the day spring cleaning. Arm your little cleaners with spray bottles filled with a mixture of half vinegar/half distilled water and a few drops of scented oil. Your classroom or house is sure to sparkle.
4. Bring your own bags.
On Earth Day and every day, bring reusable bags to the grocery store. Have the kids pick out healthy foods while shopping for foods and then bag them using reusable bags.
5. Plant a tree.
You’ll have an ideal new, green friend that will grow along with your kids. Plant a tree in your yard either at school or home and take picture to scale the growth of the tree.
- Make a green family pact.
Earth Day is the perfect day to create a green family pact. Discuss ways that your family can protect the earth. Can you turn off lights after you leave the room? Turn the faucet off to save water while brushing your teeth? Start recycling?
7. Plant flowers.
Head to your local garden center and deck out your home the way mother nature intended – with flowers! Perennials (flowers that come back every year) are easy to plant and will be a colorful reminder of your gardening efforts year after year.
8. Host a crafting contest with garbage-bound odds and ends from around the home.
Give your kids a selection of garbage bound odds and ends from around the home (boxes, ribbons, extra buttons, sandwich bag ties, etc.) and ask them to create a piece of art or a useful/unusual item.
Need other inspiration? Visit earthday.org for other ways to take action in caring for our environment.