Category: Earth Day Activity

You probably are one amongst those who care about the environment, and would like to engage yourself in some sort of Earth Day Activity, but don’t know how to start and what to do. Now you’ll have a wide range of programs, you can do on the Earth Day with kids.

1. Re-use the junk materials – Have you finished eating the peanuts? then you can decorate the wrapper beautifully and use it as a bag. The leftover aluminum cans can be used as a pencil holder. It has really become necessary to use items wisely and one of the options is to re-use them. Kids must be encouraged to use recycled materials.
2. Plant a tree – The very apt thing you can do on the Earth Day. If you are a school teacher buy trees from the National Arbor Day foundation, and plant them in honor of each kid. This will boost children to plant more trees in their locality. ‘Plant-It 2000’ is a non-profit tree planting organization. For every 5 dollar you contribute to this forum, a tree will be planted. Try out projects where the main agenda would be to clean your school, community or any other area. The program should be made in such a way so that it goes for a longer period of time.
3. Earth Day Groceries Project – Earth Day awareness can also be increased by making special earth day bags for supermarket. School kids particularly should be engaged in the activities of decorating it and subsequently they’ll be handed to the shop owners.
4. Information quickie – An interesting activity for school children. Tell them to fold a sheet of paper into four equal squares, and then label each square with one of the headings such as bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and laundry. In each square, students should write two energy-saving tips related to that room.
5. Group Discussion – No conclusion can be drawn without a group discussion. By this program you can make the kids visit the EPA’s recycle city website. Then divide them in to small discussion groups, and let them talk about the different ways of recycling materials such as milk cartons, glass jar, cardboard box, newspaper etc. After this pull back the smaller groups into a bigger group and let them share the ideas so that the best ones can be picked.

Earth Day Activity can turn out to be an exciting combination of fun, knowledge and doing our bit for the environment.

The idea of Earth Day celebrations go back to the time of 1840s when Nebraska was a territory with very little vegetation, few trees to build homes and burn as fuel. It was during that time when J Sterling Morton and his wife moved to this area and planted trees to help revive the barrenness of Nebraska territory. And with the inhabitants of that place Morton decided to announce April 10 as a day to plant trees. Though the date was later changed to 22nd April, the day Morton was born. This was history and with this started the concept of planting trees.

Earth day activities today are not restricted to just planting trees but also critical emphasis is given to the environment. On 22nd April 1970 around 20 million Americans observed Earth Day, most of the attendees were students. The American public was made aware of the consequences of destroying earth’s natural resources through pamphlets and speech.

In 1980, Earth Day Celebrations were revived with “nationwide commemorations of a decade of environmental concern.” There were many positive signs observed with the kind of awareness raised previously.

Again in 1990, Earth Day was celebrated with equal splendor. People from all walks of life had gathered in the mall center of Washington D.C to see the activities of the Earth fest. Musical programs on Earth Day were conducted. Celebrities attended it too, who spoke about what Americans can do to recycle waste materials. Conservation allies told the masses about rain forests. It was clarified that how destruction of the environment such as felling of trees, industrial smoke and pollution can affect the mother earth.

The earth will continue to generate resources as long as we are here. But simultaneously we must also have the conscience to use it effectively, so that the irresponsible activity of ours doesn’t harm the environment. You can make Earth Day Celebrations creative and informative for you and for people around you. Infact all individuals and organizations have the mutual responsibility of making this world a better place to live.

What do you know about Earth Day history? Do you know how it came about and who is the founder of this special day? And if these questions remain unanswered then you should make an effort to know the past.

If we take a walk down memory lane we will find that the concept of the Earth Day originated for over a period of seven years since 1962. The founder of Earth day is Senator Gaylord Nelson.

History tells us that the deteriorating conditions of the environment was disconcerting to Gaylord Nelson who thought bringing the issue in the political scene would resolve it to some extent. He had first approached Attorney General Robert Kennedy and eventually the President. Though his efforts did not materialize it can well be said that it had inflicted the brainchild, which later developed into what we call the Earth day.

Gaylord Nelson seemed ever more determined to bring the environmental issue on the nation’s political agenda. However, the real breakthrough in the awakening of the Earth Day came by way of a conference in Seattle in September 1969 where Nelson invited key people to play a part in a nationwide working class demonstration on behalf of the environment.

The demonstration was scheduled in the spring of 1970 and the feedback of the people was incredible. So much so that The New York Times came up with an exclusive article which spoke of the shocking propagation of environmental events. Be it the common man, the students, the local communities, the working class or the U.S. Senate office staff of Gaylord Nelson everyone chipped in to make the Earth Day a huge success. Again, Earth Day’s foremost organizer Denis Hayes’s contribution goes beyond words.

Earth day no doubt created a platform for all to collaborate their efforts in improving the environment. There were big transformations like new legislations at the state and local level, perhaps an augment in scout troops collecting bottles and cans, activists or volunteers planting trees, environmental campaigns and many more.

Each year around March 21, the United Nations celebrates the Earth Day. John McConnell is the not only the one who first introduced the concept of a global holiday known as Earth Day but also who designed the Earth flag. San Francisco. Mayor Joseph Alioto is accredited for putting up the first Earth Day proclamation on March 21, 1970.

Today Earth day celebration is such an activity that imparts much needed life to the environment. We owe to all those people who have been a part of Earth day history and have introduced to us the Earth Day.

April 22nd is Earth Day and it definitely requires a concrete and elaborate Earth Day Lesson Plan. After all, you celebrate Valentines Day with roses and heart-shaped cookies, religiously keep Friendship Day and plan a bash for your boss on Boss Day even when you are cursing him at his back. Then why should Earth Day get the miss!

Earth Day lessons are great ways to inspire the importance of the occasion in your kids. And you should include fun-filled activities in your Earth Day lesson plans so as to appeal to your children. Planning an Earth Day activity doesn’t involve having to travel to the ends of the earth to acquire the raw materials.

For instance, you can arrange a lesson for your kids that will help them better appreciate the diversity and richness of the animal kingdom and especially the endangered species of the world. The kids are required to create an ABC Book of Endangered Animals after researching a particular animal’s habits and habitats and the reasons for its vulnerability. Named “ABC of Endangered Species”, this lesson is apt for kids in K-2 and 3rd-8th standards.

All you will need for this lesson are Internet access or library resources about animals and/or endangered species, a world map and the requisite stationary. With this Earth Day lesson, you can hope to have your children grow up into enlightened and concerned adults who will be pro-active enough to prevent an animal from meeting the same fate as the dodo.

With pollution steadily on the rise, it is high time that your kids learnt the significance of hazardous waste management. And it is especially important for the children to understand that common household items like paint, motor oil, bug sprays, some prescription drugs, cleaners, drain openers, light bulbs, batteries and air fresheners can also constitute unsafe waste products and hence should be handled with caution.

You can well devise a lesson that will educate the kids about the various hazardous waste products, ways to safely get rid of them and then create awareness posters to spread their knowledge. This can be an apt and quite relevant lesson to execute on Earth Day and you will just need web or library resources regarding harmful garbage and art supplies to go forward with your “Clean Up Hazardous Waste!” plans. This lesson is ideal for grade 3rd-12th grades.

Since it is Earth Day, it is a good idea to conduct activities or lesson plans that will teach your children about Mother Earth. “Earth from Space Maps” is a great lesson to acquaint the kids with the geography of the planet they are living in. Thus, you can make them assemble a large picture of Earth from images taken from the space and identify in it landforms, water bodies and other topographic features.

The children can of course take help from the Internet or library resources to make their Earth image. And what is more, you can customize this lesson to suit the interests and intellect levels of children from different grades. Thus, young children can be asked to identify water bodies in the map while you can have the older kids tag continents, significant latitude and longitude marks and the like on the map.

An Earth Day lesson plan is the ideal way to have kids acquaint themselves and appreciate the bounties of Mother Earth and understand their weaknesses.

April 22nd is knocking at your door, and you haven’t yet decided as to how you will celebrate the Earth Day? Well, this section whole-heartedly will give you loads of ideas on Outdoor Earth Day Programs, which will not only make your day memorable but will also give a feel good factor. So here goes a list of different Outdoor Earth Day Programs

1. Dirty Socks Contest: This contest is all about letting people know how auto emissions affect air quality and creates air pollution. This is generally held in a parking lot. The contestants will put the socks at the exhaust’s mouth while the engine of the car is run for 30 seconds. The one with the dirtiest socks will get a free car tune up and the contestant with a clean sock will win a prize.
2. Build a Life-sized Sculpture: This is quite an interesting activity where you’ll be using recycled materials. Tell the people in advance, around two months prior to the Earth Day of your community to collect newspapers, aluminum cans, plastic jugs etc. And each one of you after collecting the stuff, draw an outline of your body on the ground with chalks and fill it with the materials you’ve collected. It definitely wouldn’t look that good as you are actually, but a sculpture of yours is surely not a bad idea either!
3. Grocery Bags on Earth Day: This particular program had previously gained lot of popularity. So it’s worth mentioning. Each school student decorates a paper bag from local store with a picture of earth on it, with catchy slogans inscribed such as Re-duce, Re-use, Re-cycle, treat the earth well etc. After it is decorated you can return it to the store and the shoppers will distribute it accordingly.
4. Food Festival: Since food festivals always draws large number of people, why not celebrate the earth day with food related programs. Representatives from natural and organic food network can help people know the environmental and health impacts of our food choices. Try and contact local food restaurants, nutrition groups and organic food suppliers who’ll set up vegetarian fares. This will be an opportunity to raise awareness and educate the community about the global and individual effects of food-related personal habits.

With all these innovative programs you might not instantly achieve a pollution free clean environment. But doing your bit is the utmost necessity, and that’s what Outdoor Earth Day Programs are all about. So are your Earth Day celebrations going to be a hit?

Earth day is an occasion to ponder over problems like environmental pollution and animal species extinction. Children can be made aware of their roles and responsibilities through Earth Day crafts and similar activities. Most people celebrate April 22nd as Earth Day whereas others celebrate it on vernal equinox.

A few crafts for your children to make are:

Papier Mache Globe:
This is a messy activity but teaches the children a lot of geography. Make glue by mixing 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of water till it is thin and runny. Stir the mixture into 4 cups of boiled water and simmer for three minutes to give the glue a consistency. Then cool it for use. Tear one-inch wide newspaper strips without worrying about the length. Make each kid blow up a balloon. Dip the strips in the glue, remove the excess and stick them around the balloon. Stick at least three layers of strips. Dry the balloon overnight after sticking each layer of strips.

Once completely dry – this might take a few days – the balloon will automatically burst, separate from the papier- mache, leaving a papier- mache globe. Draw the map of the earth showing whatever you want to.

Earth Pendant/ Earth Light Catcher:
Take an earth printout and place any flexible transparent paper over it. Spread blue glue on the flexible paper over its ocean part and the green glue on the continents. Fix an unbent paper clip at the top in the glue to attach a string. Peel the glue once it has dried. Now attach a string to hang the craft in a window.

Pine Cone Bird Feeder: Prepare a food mixture by mixing ½ cup vegetable shortening, lard or suet with 2 ½ cups cornmeal or uncooked oats and blend well. Get bird foods like dried chopped fruits and nuts, sunflower or millet seeds. Take a pinecone and tie a string to it. Cover the cone with the food mixture and roll over the bird food. Now hang it on a tree.

Magic Leaf Drawing: Place a real leaf on a flat surface. Place a paper over it and crayon it. The leaf appears magically on the paper.

Paper Evergreen Tree: Fold and cut in half a construction paper piece. Put the halves together and fold again. Opposite the fold, draw half of an evergreen tree. Cut along the line to get two identical trees. Fold the trees in half, barely creasing the centerline so as to mark the tree. Make a slit in the lower half of one tree and another in the upper half of the other. Slip the trees together along the slits. To make the tree stand well and prevent the slits from flopping over, tape the top and bottom of the trees with a clear tape. You may draw pinecones for added attraction.

For bigger trees take two pieces construction papers and fold them to make a narrow rectangle. Draw a tree opposite the fold and proceed as earlier. You get a big tree – perhaps a fitting tribute to the earth on Earth Day.

These Earth Day crafts are simple yet it would an enjoyable and educative experience for you and your children.

You should start formulating your Earth Day ideas from today. There are many who celebrate Earth Day to express their environmental concerns and commitments. Have you ever asked yourself what you do on Earth’s Day? If you are running on an empty mind then I must suggest that it’s time to give something back to Mother Earth in whichever way you can.

Events in form of fairs, parades and festivals are a common sight on this day of celebration. The clean-ups begin a week or month before the event. The fairs are generally held outdoors where the exhibitors perform some kind of educational exhibit. And along with some fun, food and entertainment it turns out to be a festive yet an educational day.

You can either go in for a letter-writing table and issue sample letters or sell postcards or pre-stamped envelopes, stamps and collect postcards or letters to be mailed. Welcoming petitions is also a good idea. What it does is that it creates a platform for everyone to voice his or her opinions. How about writing an earth day article for your school or the group newsletter. You must also make sure that you prepare a computer e-mail list for the event announcements, notices of public hearings and environmental alerts.

Interestingly, you can also form a council of all beings where each participant would wear a mask of a tree, rock, creature etc. They shall all converge into a circle and each one shall speak for their being. The individual speaks on behalf of the being about the contributions it made to the environment and how it feels about being one’s own self.

The idea of distributing environmental hero awards is a great one. It would be best to hand out certificates and plant trees for the victors. And it couldn’t be better if you arrange a fund-raiser. You can make the Earth Day more eventful and effective if you plan an outline contest. It is quite an activity and involves plays, posters, songs, essay, slogans and themes, poetry, photographs, art, public service announcements, etc.

The best part about the Earth Day celebration is that it can help evaluate the past year’s progress in all round aspects. Moreover public officials and common masses can be invited to put forward their comment and rate the city on its green spaces, air, water, transportation, recycling, handling of harmful waste and toxins, etc.

Remember the earth is our living place and hence it’s our own responsibility to preserve it to the fullest. These above-mentioned Earth Day ideas can help you achieve what you precisely should.