It’s Earth Day and that means everyone, for at least a few minutes, takes time to think about our planet. It’s never been more important to teach about ways to save the Earth, reduce your carbon footprint, and ensure that we all have a healthy world for many years to come.
Here are a few helpful tips from TeacherVision if you’re looking to educate students, friends, or family about the importance of Earth Day. How do you teach about Earth Day? Weigh in down in the comments, by mentioning @edudemic on Twitter, or join the conversation on the Edudemic Facebook page.
Dr. Seuss and Resource Use
Students will listen to the teacher read The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. The teacher will then show the class products that illustrate reduced resource consumption. Grade Levels: 2 – 3. Download the printable lesson here.
Share Earth Day Information
Share information about Earth Day, which began in 1970 and is celebrated on April 22, and assign the related activities to help students learn more about ecology and the environment. This is a great way for students to gain an appreciation for environmentally friendly activities. Grade Levels: 5 – 8. Download this lesson here.
Make A Wind Vane
Children study air movements by making a wind vane. Grade Levels: 1 – 5. Download the lesson here.
What Can You Reuse and Recycle?
Students find a way to reuse a container in this printable activity. Discussing recycling is a great way to spend Earth Day (April 22), America Recycles Day (November 15), or a unit on global warming and the environment. Grade Level: 1. Learn more here.
Soil Searching
Students collect and handle samples of clay, silt, and sand soil. Grade Levels: K – 4. Learn more.
Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy
Use this educational worksheet to teach children about non-renewable and renewable energy resources. Grade Levels: 3 – 6. View more here.
What Kind of Trash Bag Breaks Down Fastest?
Familiarize students with ways trash can hurt the environment as they learn about decomposition with this printable science activity. Students discover which type of trash bag is the most biodegradable. More.
How Can You Make a Thermometer?
The first thing most people notice about weather is the temperature. This activity will show you how to make a thermometer. Grade Levels: 3 – 5. Learn more here.
What is the Recycling Process?
Students will learn about the entire life of the recycling process in this printable. This is the perfect activity to celebrate America Recycles Day (November 15) and Earth Day (April 22). Grade Levels: 5 – 6. Learn more.
Earth Day Printable Slideshow
Take a sneak peek inside our printable book, “Earth Day (Grades K-4).” Included are worksheets and arts & crafts activities that encourage students to improve the environment, save endangered animals, reuse and recycle, and more. This slideshow is just a sampling of all you can find in the printable book! View presentation here.
Extinct, Endangered, and Threatened Animals Activity
Using reference materials, students will research the habitats of extinct, endangered, and threatened animals listed in this printable. Then they will write a report about efforts to save one of the animals from extinction. Use this activity during Wildlife Week to enrich your curriculum. Grade Levels: 6 – 12. More details.
Earth, Moon, Sun, and Seasons
Page Description: Instructor lecture notes for a lesson on earth’s rotation and seasons. Includes answers for the homework section of Earth, Moon, Sun, and Seasons — Fact Sheet. Grade Levels: 8 – 12. Read more.
The School Litter Patrol
Distribute a printable social studies activity that focuses on litter control. This is an excellent activity to enjoy America Recycles Day (November 15) and Earth Day (April 22) with. Grade Levels: 2 – 3. Read more.
Other Great Earth Day Resources
- Earth Day Printables Slideshow
- Earth Science Printables Slideshow
- Identifying Biomes
- Erosion Word Search
- Air Quality and the Weather — Student Worksheet
- The Ozone Show
- An Inconvenient Truth Classroom Poster
Recycling Resources
- Classroom Activities Slideshow: Going Green
- Save the Earth! Recyclable Items
- Save Our Earth! Alternative Uses for Common Trash
- Reusing & Recycling Reduces Waste: Environment Activities for the Classroom
- Recycling Facts
- Save Our Environment Printables Slideshow
- Green Classroom Practices That Save Money
Pollution Resources
- Make a Difference in Your School
- Ways to Help the Environment
- Waste-Free Lunch
- Green Living Quiz: Environmental Resources
- Landfill & Combustion Unit: Environment Activities for the Classroom
- A Household of the Future
- Source Reduction Unit: Environment Activities for the Classroom
Environmental Science Resources
- Waste Reduction Unit: Activities on Solid & Hazardous Waste
- How Many People Does It Take to Ruin an Ecosystem?
- Green Living Quiz: Global Warming
- Composting Unit: Environment Activities for the Classroom
- Case of the Broken Loop
- Trash & Climate Change
- What Are Some Global Effects of Pollution?
Natural Resources Conservation
- History of Earth Day
- Identifying and Conserving Natural Resources Activity
- Activity: Classifying Natural Resources
- What Are Natural Resources?
- Activity: The Water Cycle
- How Can Natural Resources Be Conserved?
- Collecting Cans
Botany Resources for Earth Day
- Plants of the Rain Forest Rubric
- Looking for Signs of Photosynthesis
- “My Garden Song”
- Time to Bloom!
- Understanding Chlorophyll
- Experiment in Chromatography
- Plant Products
Animal Resources for Earth Day
- Home, Sweet, Home: Animal Habitats
- Extinct, Endangered, and Threatened Animals Activity
- Animal and Insect Pictures
- Animal Apartments
- What Is Balance in an Ecosystem?
- How Many Shrimp?
- Mystery of the Malformed Frogs Lesson Plan
More Earth Day Resources
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