Honoring Earth Day by Caring for Our Planet

Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day to educate the public about environmental challenges. At that time, discussions centered on issues such as oil spills, air pollution, and pesticides threatening wildlife.

The first Earth Day celebration was a success. On April 22, 1970, people of all ages engaged in environmental stewardship, sparking the modern movement to protect our planet. By the end of that year, the Environmental Protection Agency had been established, and significant legislation, including the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, had been enacted.

Nearly fifty years later, many environmental concerns remain, but we continue to have the power to change behaviors, spread awareness, and take action. On April 22 each year, Earth Day is observed around the globe, often extending into multi-day celebrations.

Earth Day provides an opportunity to inspire students to think about how they can help protect the planet. The celebration aligns with many goals of creating sustainable and mindful habits, such as reducing waste, conserving resources, and caring for different ecosystems.

Here are a few ways your classroom can engage with Earth Day activities and foster positive environmental habits.

Minimize Waste

Start a compost bin: Create a compost bin where students can deposit food scraps from lunches and snacks. Add dry materials like leaves or torn newspaper, and observe the transformation of scraps into compost. Donate the compost to a community garden or school garden, or partner with a local composting service.

Hold a recycling competition: Teach students about the importance of reducing landfill waste and proper recycling practices. Partner with another classroom or school to see who can recycle the most materials in a week.

Repurpose materials for art projects: Use items such as plastic bottles, newspapers, and egg cartons to inspire creativity. Encourage students to make collages or craft unique objects like toy cars or decorative items.

Encourage reusable containers: Discuss with students the benefits of packing lunches in reusable containers and using refillable water bottles to reduce waste.

Care for the Earth

Make a bird feeder: Introduce students to local wildlife by observing birds around the school. Create bird feeders using pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed, and hang them outside the classroom to attract birds for students to observe.

Start a garden: Establish a classroom garden or a school gardening club. Watching seeds grow into plants can be an engaging and rewarding experience for students.

Create a worm composting bin: With a simple setup of worms, a plastic bin, shredded newspaper, and food scraps, students can witness the transformation of organic material into nutrient-rich soil.

Clean up the community: Organize a cleanup event where students collect trash from sidewalks and green spaces near the school. Turn it into a friendly competition to see which group collects the most.

Conserve Resources

Explore alternative transportation: Discuss the benefits of walking, biking, or taking public transportation instead of driving. Have students track their family’s weekly car trips and brainstorm ways to reduce them.

Think local: Highlight the benefits of eating locally grown food. Bring in produce from a local farmers’ market or invite a local farmer to talk about how food grows and its seasonal cycles.

Make eco-friendly cleaning products: Teach students how to create simple, non-toxic cleaning products using household items like baking soda and vinegar. Use recycled containers for students to take their creations home.

Save energy: Encourage students to create colorful signs to place near light switches at home, reminding family members to turn off lights when not in use.

Every Day Is Earth Day

Earth Day provides an excellent opportunity to engage students in thinking about the natural world and how we can protect it. While Earth Day itself is one day a year, caring for our planet is an ongoing commitment. As poet and environmentalist Wendell Berry said, “The earth is what we all have in common.” It’s up to all of us to nurture and protect it for generations to come.Explore more resources and activities for fostering environmental awareness on our global education resources page and blog.