Inside: Discover 7 engaging Earth Day activities that will help students learn the importance to taking care of the Earth and help them understand how they can make a difference.
I looked at my calendar in disappointment. I thought I had fully prepared for this month.
We had just celebrated Read Across America for the entire month of March and we had guest readers for almost every afternoon. I decorated my classroom for spring and had my students complete lots of fun, brightly colored rainbow and flower crafts.
But, what I hadn’t done was plan for Earth Day. Sigh. 🤦♀️
I love Earth Day. I think we should be talking to students about taking care of the Earth year-round, but Earth Day is a great time to get everyone on board and go the extra mile.
That year I didn’t have the time to come up with any grand and creative Earth Day activities. But I promised myself that I wouldn’t be in that position again. I brainstormed a list of truly meaningful activities that I could choose from every year.
And I’m going to share that list with you.
These seven Earth Day activities will help students learn about the importance of taking care of our planet and how they can make a difference.
Activity #1- Plant the Seeds of Fun
Earth Day is a great opportunity to get your kiddos outside and learning about the environment firsthand. Planting a tree with them is one of the most fun, memorable, and educational Earth Day activities you can do. Plus, it also leaves a lasting positive impact on the local area. 🌳
Planning Your Activity
First, you’ll want to check with your administrator to make sure you have permission to plant a tree. Be sure to do this before spending any time planning this activity- your time is precious! (I’d hate for you to go through the trouble of planning this all out just to find out that you can’t even do it.)
Once you have permission, you’ll want to get a tree or trees for planting. I just discovered recently that the Arbor Day Foundation Membership allows you to get 10 free trees for planting – with first-time fees for memberships starting at only $10. 👏 You can find more information by visiting the Habor Day Foundation Membership site.
You’ll want to sign up for this in advance so you have the trees in time for your Earth Day festivities!
Also, take some time to gather books, videos, and other resources about trees. You’ll want to make sure you have plenty of materials available for your students as you work through this project.
Before Planting the Trees
Before starting this activity you may want to take a little time to see what your students already know about trees and activate their prior knowledge. A quick KWL chart is a great way to do this.
Once your students’ brains are warmed up, you can teach them about how important trees are to the environment. Share picture books and online videos to help them begin to understand how impactful trees are.
Before planting the trees, develop a plan with your students. This is a great way to integrate writing- you could do a shared writing activity to plan out the steps that you will need to take.
After Planting the Trees
To extend the writing component, after planting the trees have students compose narrative pieces telling about their experience planting the tree(s).
Be sure to take pictures to document the experience and to help record the growth of the tree(s) over time.
Throughout the Remainder of the School Year
Check in with the tree every so often with your class- it will give you all a chance to stretch your legs and get some fresh air- a perfect brain break! Plus, your students can observe the growth firsthand and document the changes in a science journal if you like.
Planting trees with your students is one of the most meaningful and impactful Earth Day activities you can do! 🌍
Activity #2- Write Your Way to a Better Tomorrow
Okay, so let me start by saying I fully realize that writing prompts don’t exactly evoke the same kind of reaction in students that planting a real tree does.
I get it!
BUT… using writing prompts is an excellent want to extend your students’ learning about the environment, incorporate Earth Day activities into your teaching, and target important standards.
I highly recommend allowing students to choose their topic related to Earth Day. Consider topics such as natural resources, recycling, conservation, and more.
Allowing students the autonomy to select their Earth Day prompt gives them a sense of ownership and connection with the subject. This in turn increases student engagement, as well as provides you with meaningful information about student understanding.
No need to spend any time searching for a collection of Earth Day prompts– I’ve got you! You can grab a free set of my Earth Day writing prompt cards which include opportunities for narrative, informative, and opinion writing. 🙌
By giving your students the chance to select one of these Earth day themed prompts, you are helping to create an enthusiastic environment where everyone can learn more about important environmental issues.
At the same time, you’ll be encouraging creativity and expression through language arts practice.
Activity #3- Get Crafty for Earth Day
Another great way to get students excited about Earth Day is by having them complete a fun craft. Your kids will have so much fun putting them together and you’ll have adorable work to display in your classroom or throughout the school.
One of my favorite Earth Day activities to do with students is this adorable craft and writing project.
Start by having students brainstorm a huge list of things they can do to help the Earth’s environment. Discuss each idea and the impact it would have.
Then, have each student choose one idea from the list to commit to doing. This is a great way to have children reflect on their choices and help them understand that they can help make the Earth more healthy.
Students can then complete the craft by writing their idea on the heart piece and then creating the rest of the craft. Several different options for hairstyles are included so your kids can customize the craft as they see fit. Be sure to print the craft patterns on various shades of colored paper so students have plenty of options.
Once the crafts are complete, have the students share their commitments with the class and then display them as a reminder.
These earth day activities are a great way to teach your students about their role in protecting our earth and inspiring them to make the world a better place. So, grab this Earth Day craft here and start crafting! 🌎
Activity #4- Eco-Friendly Fun
An alternative way to get your students excited about Earth Day and tap into their creativity is having them do an art project using recycled materials.
To get started, ask each student to bring recycled materials such as cardboard boxes, tubes, scrap paper, or any other item that won’t be used for anything else from their homes into the classroom.
As a class, examine the available materials and brainstorm what kind of Earth Day artwork could be created using them.
Depending on how many materials your class collected, you may want to have students work with a partner or in small groups.
Then, have students start building and creating!
Just a note, this can become pretty time-consuming depending on how complex the Earth Day projects become. You may want to consider structuring this as an activity for students to complete at home with their parents and then bring to school to share.
This Earth Day activity is especially meaningful as your students will be recycling and reusing items for an art project instead of sending more things off to landfill sites.
Not only will students create Earth-conscious artwork but they’ll also learn that being mindful of environmental resources and sustainability is key to maintaining a clean Earth!
Activity #5- Step Out and Explore
If you’re pressed for time, a nature walk is a great Earth Day activity! It doesn’t need to take long and it’s great for students of any age, as it gives them a hands-on opportunity to learn more about their environment and the creatures that inhabit it.
After getting permission from administration, take your kids for a walk outside. Encourage your class to look out for plants and animals, which they can identify while on the walk with the use of technology.
PlantNet is one example of an app that allows users to take photos or scan the surrounding plants and animals, then uses deep learning algorithms and image databases to identify them.
By utilizing this app, your students can further engage with Earth Day activities and gain a better understanding of their local flora and fauna. (Using this app is seriously fun!)
Not only will this Earth Day activity help students gain insight into their natural surroundings in a meaningful way – it will also foster an appreciation for Earth Day that will stay with them long after the activity is finished.
Activity #6- Growing Green Thumbs
Another exciting way to observe Earth Day is to plant a garden at your school.
To begin, have the students research local plants, flowers, and trees that will grow appropriately in your climate. This is an ideal opportunity for students to develop research skills, gain knowledge of local flora, and foster an appreciation of nature.
Once they’ve completed their research and chosen plants that are suitable for your region’s climate, then have them work together and create a design plan for the garden. This should include deciding which plants should be grouped, where to put areas of shade or sun, and other aesthetic considerations.
During Earth Week leading up to Earth Day, the students can come together outside of class time to begin constructing their garden! From digging holes to putting in plants – let them work it out as a team!
This Earth Day project will allow each participant to play an active role in creating something special for the school community while developing valuable problem-solving skills at the same time.
Activity #7- Get Your Students’ Eyes to the Skies
One more fun and educational Earth Day activity that can be easily adapted for school groups is bird watching.
Bird watching encourages students to observe nature, learn species identification skills, and appreciate birds in their natural habitat.
You can choose to use binoculars, cameras, or both when out birding, depending on the age group of your kids and their level of experience.
Students can also create a journal with notes or drawings of the birds they observe as reminders of their Earth Day excursions.
Bird watching facilitates learning about ecology while stimulating curiosity and excitement about nature.
Whether you decide to take your class outside during Earth Day or throughout the year, birdwatching is an inspiring activity that encourages students to become engaged with the Earth’s wonders!
Earth Day Done Right
Earth Day is a great time to get outside and appreciate all that our planet provides for us. There are so many fun and meaningful ways to celebrate Earth Day with your students.
And don’t forget, I’ve got a free download for you! My Earth Day Writing Prompt cards will help make your celebration even more special. You can grab them here.
As spring approaches this year and every year, make sure you leave time in your schedule to plan for Earth Day. A little extra prep and thought will help you create truly special experiences for your students.
Plus, you’ll have a list of Earth Day activities ready to go and you won’t be caught staring at your calendar in disappointment when April rolls around. (Or maybe that’s just me?)
