Celebrating Earth Day

The first Earth Day was held in the United States on April 22, 1970, and was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson. Over 20 million people participated. The American Heritage Magazine called the first Earth Day “one of the most remarkable happenings in the history of democracy.” The second Earth Day, held on April 22, 1990, was celebrated in over 140 countries.

Earth Day is a special day set aside to remind us of the need to care for our environment. It is a time to become actively involved in many Save-the-Earth projects, to show appreciation for the Earth and to fight pollution. Everyone is encouraged to make an extra effort when it comes to conserving water, paper and electricity. Take time to also learn what you can do to conserve energy and reduce, reuse and recycle products in your own neighborhood.

Although Earth day is celebrated once a year, people are encouraged to celebrate the gifts our planet has to offer everyday. From the little wildflower growing outside of your home to the black sand beaches of Hawaii and the majesty of the great sequoia and redwood trees.  

Earth Day Activities

Protect our planet and all living things big and small on the earth. It is easier than you think. Participate in one or all activities to celebrate Earth Day. Earth Day is the largest civic event in the world and the anniversary is April 22nd. Enjoy these activities with your family and share with those in your community.

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Earth Day Bracelet

Create a bracelet made of colored beads.  Each colored bead represents a component of the earth and your commitment to environmental conservation.  Let the bracelet serve as a reminder to care for our Earth not only during the time leading up to Earth Day, but everyday throughout the year.

Click here to make your Earth Bracelet today!

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Make a model of the Earth

Here are some ideas on how to create a model of the earth:
● Make a paper mache globe out of paper strips and a balloon. Once it is dry then paint it green and blue. For ideas go to: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/285134220127436940/

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Reuse Items – Tinkering Projects

Find a cardboard box or storage container that you can use for crafting and building projects. Instead of discarding small items in the trash, collect them to be used for a future project. For ideas on the types of materials to collect, look at tinkering projects on https://www.pinterest.com/pin/82120393193502478/. With your parents’ permission, you can go on a scavenger hunt in your room, the house and the garage to find scrap material or paper, old or broken gadgets or toys, and any leftover materials and objects to jump start your crafting and building box supplies.

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Scavenger Hunt Nature Walk

Go for a walk today!  There are so many things happening in our environment during this time.  Go on a fun nature walk and see if you can find the following items. Feel free to snap a picture of items you may find on your walk.

Print your nature walk checklist here: Scavenger Hunt Nature Walk

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Home Energy Savings Word Search

Did you know there are many ways you can help save energy in your home?  Small acts can make a big difference over time. Check out this word search that includes energy saving tips you can perform at home.

Print: Energy Savings Word Search

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Family Night.  Game Night.

Make your own board game from common household recyclables like paperboard and bottle caps. Check out a few ideas online –
● DIY Checkers – https://diy-enthusiasts.com/…/diy-board-game-kids-bottle-c…/
● DIY Tic-Tac-Toe Board – https://craftingagreenworld.com/artic…/diy-tic-tac-toe-game/
● DIY Chutes and Ladders – https://www.pinterest.at/pin/21744010671163206/

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Write Your Thoughts On Paper

Start a nature journal – explore and observe the environment around you. Include bird sightings, a description of the days weather or include a pressed leaf or flower.
Another idea is to challenge your kids to create a small story about recycling, litter prevention, reducing or reusing, etc.. Don’t forget to include drawings!
Take a look at a couple ideas for inspiration – or for a simpler version – https://www.kcedventures.com/blog/create-a-nature-notebook-for-kids

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Reuse of Egg shells

Easter egg shells can be used again in two different ways. Egg shells can be dug into the soil around plants to provide calcium and other benefits – https://www.gardenista.com/…/diy-5-ideas-to-use-eggshells-…/.  Also, you can be creative with the shells making spring inspired art – https://www.makeandtakes.com/crushed-egg-shells

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Reuse Ideas.

Things you can make out of plastic easter eggs. Take a look at a few ideas for inspiration –
https://www.theidearoom.net/plastic-easter-egg-crafts-and-…/.  Also, common items like metal clothes hangers, tissue boxes, toilet paper tubes, etc. found around your home can become a recycled art sculpture – https://tinkerlab.com/recycled-art-sculpture-mystery-box-c…/.

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Litter Prevention.

5 Ways to Prevent Litter –
1). If you drop something on the ground, please pick it up and place it in a recycling or trash bin.
2). Have a litter bag in your car.
3). Pick up litter that blows in your yard or in your neighborhood.
4). Secure trash in bags and tie them shut.
5). Make sure trash can lids are closed and secure.

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Earth Day Coloring Page

Print this Earth Day image, color and place in your window for those to see on Earth Day.

Print: Earth Day Coloring Page

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Family Night.  Game Night.

Have fun with your family by playing games made from items found around your home. DIY games like water bottle bowling, can stack or ring toss.
Take a look at a few ideas online –
● DIY Water Bottle Bowling / Tumbling Tows (can stacking game) – https://healthykidsrunningseries.org/…/20-recycling-activi…/
● DIY Ring Toss – https://www.kiwico.com/…/1/proje…/Paper-Plate-Ring-Toss/2572

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Saturday Night.  Movie Night.

Pop some popcorn and curl up with your favorite environmental movie.
A few ideas include PBS NOVA, Great Garbage Patch on You Tube or go to http://www.tcm.com/…/1…/Earth-Day-50th-Anniversary-4-22.html and https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/environmental-movies for additional movie ideas.

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Recycle Right.

Here are a few helpful tips to recycle properly and efficiently as you recycle curbside or drop recyclables off at an Aim to Be Green site – https://recycleoss.org/recycling-drop-off-program-faq/
● Materials should be loose in the bin. Plastic bags do not belong.
● Flatten cardboard – this allows space for more materials.
● Foam and shredded paper cannot be recycled through curbside or drop-off programs.
● Only plastic beverage, food and detergent/shampoo containers can be recycled. All other plastics are not accepted.
● If an item is 2 inches or less – do not put it in the recycle bin. It will get lost in the recycling process.
● If a recycling bin is full, please do not place materials on the ground.

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Composting and Gardening.

The best way to experience a cycle is to start a garden and a compost pile. Garden waste and food scraps will compost into a healthy soil additive to help your garden grow the next year.  Check out a couple resources for kids – https://kidsgardening.org/ and educators – https://urbangardenersrepublic.com/composting-for-kids-activities.

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Zero Waste Challenge.

Challenge yourself to practice sustainable efforts in your day-to-day activities. Take steps to reduce, reuse, recycle, compost and more in an effort to minimize the amount of waste generated and resources used daily. http://www.zerowastechallenge.org/.

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