Earth Day Activities For Kids

Hey there, young eco-warriors! Get ready to roll up your sleeves, put on your adventure hats, and dive into a world of green excitement! Earth Day is upon us, and it's time for us to unleash our inner environmental superheroes. From planting trees to creating upcycled masterpieces, there's a whole universe of fun-filled activities waiting for us to explore. So grab your magnifying glass, pack your backpack with enthusiasm, and join us on a journey filled with discovery, laughter, and plenty of planet-saving action. Let's show Mother Earth some love and make every day Earth Day!

20 Fun Earth Day Activities for Kids to Help the Planet

1. Reading marathon

Check out a handful of environmentally-themed kids’ books from your local library and work in time for reading throughout the day. Bonus points if you do it outside!

2. Oil spill experiment

You’ve read about oil spills on the news and read about the cleanup in the newspaper, but did you know you could learn about ocean pollution right at home or in the classroom?

3. Spend the afternoon in the garden

Nature always finds a way to surprise us. Take the kids to the garden and engage them in some fun activities. Start a garden with your kids, whether it's a small vegetable patch or a collection of potted plants. Gardening teaches children about the lifecycle of plants and the importance of nurturing the environment.

4. Teach recycling

Fill a box with all the things you collected to be upcycled or recycled and place them in front of the kids. Ask them to pick and choose any one object from the box and upcycle or recycle it into something useful. Give them examples, like upcycling a bottle into a pen stand with paint.

5. Plant a tree

Planting a tree on the occasion of Earth Day is one of the best activities to do with kids to teach them the importance of nature around us. Involving children in tree-planting activities helps educate them about the environment, the importance of trees, and the role they play in sustaining life on Earth. It fosters a sense of responsibility and care for nature from an early age. So get your hands dirty and plant a tree with your kids.

6. Scavenger hunt

A scavenger hunt game is an exciting and fun way of teaching kids about Mother Earth and how to be more environmentally conscious about it. From spotting colorful flowers to uncovering hidden animal tracks, each discovery brings you one step closer to becoming an Earth Day champion.

7. Make Earth Day ornaments

Gather your craft supplies and get creative with recycled materials like cardboard, paper scraps, and old magazines to fashion eco-friendly decorations that celebrate our planet. Make beautiful and vibrant ornaments out of recycled materials and flaunt them.

8. Earth Day art

Engage kids in a creative activity of doing art. Let them paint with their beautiful imaginations on Earth Day. Keep Earth Day as the subject and let their young minds explore and paint a beautiful picture of Mother Earth. Encourage your children to create art using materials found in nature, such as leaves, flowers, and sticks. This activity fosters an appreciation for the beauty of the natural world while reducing the use of conventional art supplies.

9. Acid rain experiment

What happens to plants when rain is acidic? Set up an easy acid rain science project with the flower-in-vinegar experiment. To do this, you will need three flowers, three containers, vinegar and water. 

Add water to the three containers. Fill the first one full, the second 1/2 and the third one 1/4th.

Add vinegar to the second two, enough in each so that all three containers are equally full.

Add a flower to each container and wait. Observe them for 24 hours. 

When you add vinegar to the water, it lowers the pH and makes the solution acidic. Similar to acid rain.

You would have found the flower sitting in the water, which had a neutral pH, to be the freshest.

10. Carbon footprint activity

The entire amount of greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide and methane) produced by human actions is known as a carbon footprint. To teach kids how to reduce their carbon footprint, you can simply ask them to do activities like switching off lights and fans when not in use, walking to school, choosing sustainable clothing, etc.

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11. Recycled crafts

Gather recyclable materials from around the house and let your kids' creativity shine by turning them into works of art. From making bird feeders out of milk cartons to creating sculptures from old newspapers, upcycling teaches children the value of repurposing and reducing waste.

12. Cook a plant-based meal

Cooking a plant-based meal for Earth Day is not only a delicious way to celebrate but also a meaningful way to honour our planet. By choosing ingredients sourced from the earth's bounty – vibrant fruits, vegetables, and grains – we not only nourish our bodies but also reduce our environmental footprint. Moreover, plant-based meals require fewer resources such as water and land, compared to animal-based ones, making them more sustainable choices.

13. Remove trash from streets

Engaging kids in a street clean-up activity for Earth Day is an excellent way to instill a sense of environmental responsibility and community involvement from a young age. Start the clean-up, encouraging kids to pick up any litter they find and place it in the trash bags. Remind them to be careful of sharp objects and to avoid picking up anything that might be hazardous.

14. Visit a park

Visiting a park on Earth Day provides a perfect opportunity for families to connect with nature, learn about environmental conservation, and create cherished memories together. So, grab your kids and head outdoors to celebrate the wonders of the natural world this Earth Day!

15. Organise a clothing swap

Organizing a clothing swap is a fantastic way to promote sustainability, reduce textile waste, and foster a sense of community among participants. Once all participants have dropped off their items, open the swap for browsing and shopping. Encourage attendees to explore the selection of clothing and accessories and find new treasures to take home.

16. Watch an Environmental Documentary

Host a movie night featuring documentaries about environmental issues. This activity sparks meaningful conversations with your kids about topics like climate change, deforestation, and wildlife conservation.

17. Eco-friendly Picnic

Pack a picnic using reusable containers and utensils, and opt for locally sourced and organic foods. Enjoying a meal outdoors teaches kids about sustainable eating habits and reduces the carbon footprint associated with food transportation.

18. Water conservation challenge

Challenge your kids to see who can come up with the most creative ways to conserve water at home. Whether it's taking shorter showers or fixing leaky faucets, this activity raises awareness about the importance of water conservation.

19. Sustainable fashion show

Host a sustainable fashion show where kids create outfits using recycled materials or clothes they no longer wear. This activity highlights the importance of sustainable fashion and reduce textile waste.

20. Earth Day pledge

Have your kids write down a pledge to take action for the environment, whether it's reducing their carbon footprint, conserving water, or volunteering for environmental causes. Display their pledges as a reminder of their commitment to the planet.

Conclusion

Celebrating Earth Day with kids is a fun-filled experience and a crucial opportunity to instil in them a deep appreciation for the environment and a sense of responsibility towards its preservation. By engaging in these 20 Earth Day activities, children can develop a stronger connection with nature, gain valuable knowledge about sustainability, and cultivate habits that contribute to a greener and more eco-conscious future. Let's continue to inspire and empower the next generation to become stewards of our planet, ensuring a brighter and healthier world for all. Happy Earth Day!

FAQs 

How can you celebrate Earth Day in your school?

Celebrating Earth Day in school is a wonderful opportunity to educate students about environmental conservation and sustainability while promoting positive actions to protect our planet. You can teach them composting, and gardening and indulge them in other outdoor activities to educate them.

How do you make an Earth Day project?

Select an environmental theme or issue that you are passionate about or one that is relevant to your community. This could include topics such as recycling, conservation, renewable energy, pollution, or climate change. You can do a written project on the chosen topic or can also have a healthy discussion on it by interacting with people.

What are Earth Day facts for kids?

Earth is the third closest planet to The Sun.

It is the only planet we have found that contains life.

Earth is 4.543 billion years old.

Earth’s surface is mainly water.

Earth rotates at around 1000 miles an hour.

What are 5 interesting facts about Earth?

Earth has a squishy interior

Coral reefs are Earth’s largest living structure

Earth is not exactly round

The length of Earth’s day is increasing

Earth’s gravity is not uniform

Why do we celebrate Earth Day?

Every year Earth Day is celebrated on the 22nd of April to raise awareness and support for environmental protection. The Earth is our home and we have responsibilities toward it to keep it safe and protect it for future generations.