Celebrate the planet Earth with these fun and exciting Earth Day activities for kids! We know that finding engaging activities for children can be a challenge, but we’re here to help you celebrate Earth Day with style.
We listed down some engaging ways to teach kids about Earth Day and help raise awareness for Mother Earth. From toddlers to elementary students, these Earth Day activities will surely be fun for kids!
The History of Earth Day
Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22nd to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and its origins can be traced back to the growing environmental movement of the 1960s.
The idea for Earth Day was proposed by Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin who was concerned about the impact of pollution on the environment.
Inspired by the massive oil spill in Santa Barbara in 1969, he wanted to create a national day dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues and encouraging people to take action.
The first Earth Day was a huge success, with millions of Americans taking part in rallies, marches, and other events across the country. It helped to spur the passage of major environmental legislation, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act.
Since then, Earth Day has become an international event, with people in more than 190 countries participating in activities to promote environmental awareness and protection against global warming, climate change, and other environmental issues.
15 Fun Earth Day Activities For Kids To Appreciate The Planet
1. Plant Trees
What better way to celebrate Earth Day than by planting a tree?
Planting trees not only helps the environment but also gives children a sense of responsibility and accomplishment. You can pick up a sapling at your local nursery and find a suitable spot in your backyard to plant it.
Encourage your child to take care of the tree and watch it grow over the years.
You can also join some tree-planting activities if you have one near you. This helps kids appreciate their natural environment and spend time with nature while also creating fun memories!
2. Go on a Nature Scavenger Hunt
Get your kids involved in a nature scavenger hunt to engage them in the natural world. You can create a list of items, such as leaves, rocks, or flowers, and let your children find them.
Not only do children get a break from their gadgets, playing outside also develops their motor and social skills! Plus, you can introduce them to different plant and animal species that they may encounter along the way.
Make it more fun by creating a DIY magnifying glass using an old plastic bottle that they can use while on the scavenger hunt.
3. Make An Earth Day Art Project
Creating Earth Day projects provide kids with endless possibilities to foster their skills and creativity. What’s great about this project is that you can use recycled materials for your Earth Day craft project.
Recycling is an essential part of protecting the environment, and it can also be a fun activity for kids to learn how to reduce their carbon footprint.
Gather up some materials from the recycling bin, such as plastic bottles, egg cartons, and papers they can use with other art supplies, and let your kids spark their creativity.
These are some examples of Earth Day craft projects they can do:
- Paint a planet using old an old coffee filter
- Make suncatchers from old plastic bottles and strings
- Create a nature journal from old papers, leaves, or flower petals
- Make a handprint art of trees
Doing arts and crafts is an excellent way of teaching kids about recycling and reducing waste while also developing their artistic skills. Just make sure to supervise them and handle stuff like using scissors or cutters.
4. Clean Up a Local Park
Keep the Earth clean by joining or organizing a clean-up drive in your local park. With initiatives like this, you can teach children about community involvement and to be an advocate for Mother Earth at a young age.
You can organize a group of children and parents to collect litter and debris in a nearby park. This activity not only benefits the environment but also helps children to take pride in their community and inspire future generations.
5. Create a Compost Bin
Composting is an eco-friendly way to dispose of food scraps and yard waste, and it can also be a fascinating activity for kids.
You can create a simple compost bin in your backyard and let your child help to collect food scraps and yard waste to add to the bin.
Use this time to teach kids about simple concepts like how organic matter provides nutrients for the soil. Who knows? Your kids might grow up with a green thumb!
6. Start A Small Garden
Speaking of green thumbs, why not make a small garden where kids can get their hands dirty? Get some small pots and let your kids decorate them first, then gather some soil from your compost bin and plant seeds.
If you don’t have pots, you can also use old milk cartons or even eggshells as alternatives.
This Earth Day activity also allows children to be more immersed in caring for the environment and be more independent as they take care of their plants.
7. Build A Bird Feeder
One of the easiest ways to celebrate Earth Day is by building a bird feeder, and encourage kids to appreciate the wildlife right in your backyard. You only need some old cartons, toilet paper rolls or small boxes, or an empty plastic bottle as a base.
Spread some peanut butter on the surface of the base and let kids stick some nuts or mixed birdseed. If your kids are allergic to nuts, switch to honey instead and stick some unbuttered popcorn kernels.
Tie a string at the ends to make a loop, and hang the bird feeder on a hook outside your window. Kids will surely love watching their feathered friends snack on those treats!
8. Conduct A Science Experiment
You can try out an exciting science experiment to get kids interested in celebrating Earth Day. Introduce scientific concepts in a simple way by making these science experiments fun. For example, you can do this simple oil spill experiment using oil, water, and household materials.
To start, fill a container with water to illustrate the ocean, then pour a small amount of oil to represent the oil spill. Using different materials like paper towels, cotton balls, plastic spoons, and a dishwashing detergent to show different ways to clean the oil.
9. Go On A Nature Walk
A nature walk is a simple yet effective way to connect children with the environment and celebrate a fun Earth Day. You can take a stroll through a nearby park or hiking trail or visit national parks or zoos for this trip.
Encourage your child to observe the flora and fauna around them. This activity helps children to develop a sense of appreciation for nature and understand the importance of protecting planet Earth.
10. Make Earth Day Treats
This is another fun and exciting way to celebrate Earth Day with kids! One particular example is this Mud and Worms recipe. You only need some milk, crushed Oreos, chocolate pudding and gummy worms!
11. Earth Day Coloring Pages
Kids love coloring pages, and this is an amazing hands-on activity to improve their creativity. You can find a free printable coloring page online, print it out and let your kids have their way using colored markers.
12. Read A Book
A simple yet fun earth day activity to celebrate the planet is through reading. There are so many books to choose from, so check out our recommended Earth Day books for kids to read!
Reading books about Earth Day also reinforces the importance of caring for the planet. This activity is perfect for kids of any age, but make sure to check if the books are age-appropriate.
13. Host an Earth Day Movie Night
One of the best Earth day activities you can do at home is watching movies or documentaries with your kids. You can pick some kid-friendly documentaries like Disneynature: Earth, or Disneynature: Penguins.
You can also watch animated movies such as Wall-E, Finding Nemo, Ice Age, or The Lorax!
14. Create An Earth Day Sensory Bin
You can create an Earth Day sensory bin using the materials they gathered from their scavenger hunt. Use an old shoe box or tin tray, add some sand or paper strips, and let your kids have fun playing!
Sensory play provides a fun and engaging way for kids to learn how to use their senses while also developing their motor skills.
15. Make an Earth Day Chalk Sidewalk Art
Another simple yet exciting way to celebrate Earth Day is by letting them have fun with chalks on your sidewalk! This is another fun activity to spark your kids’ creativity at home.
Ask your kids to look around their surroundings and draw what they see, such as trees, birds, or even the sun!
Conclusion
Earth Day is a wonderful opportunity to educate kids about the environment and how we can all make a difference regardless of age.
We hope that our guide on these Earth Day activities for kids has inspired you to celebrate this special day with your children.
These activities not only provide entertainment but also promote environmental awareness and responsibility. By engaging in these fun activities, you are helping to instill a sense of respect and love for the environment in your children, which will last a lifetime.
Happy Earth Day!
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