Earth Day, which is celebrated on April 22nd each year, reminds us of how much harm the human race has caused to the Earth and inspires us to learn how we can correct and prevent more damage to it.
A key to teaching Earth Day concepts to young children is to help them realize that even at a young age they can be part of making the Earth a healthier planet.
Below find Earth Day:
- learning outcomes
- vocabulary to teach
- Earth Day books and more
It’s a day to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment.
Help children to respect plant and animal life
- Start teaching kids what Earth Day is about by helping them understand how to respect and care for animal and plant life, natural resources and their habitats.
- Rather than introducing the broad topic of endangered species, choose one plant or animal in your local area that is endangered. An example of an endangered plant is Nelson’s checker-mallow, see image, that grows in Northwest USA.
- Many plants are under the threat of extinction. The IUCN Red list tracks plants and animals around the world in danger. To find a plant in your area, check here…
- For a list of endangered animals go here…
Canada has a great site called, Nature Watch. It’s a community that engages all Canadians in collecting scientific information on nature to understand our changing environment.
In Victoria, BC the Garry Oak trees are threatened due to the growth of residential housing. They are important because Garry Oak meadows host more plant species than any other terrestrial ecosystem in Canada.
More than 100 species of birds, as well as large and small animals and approximately 800 insects, live in the Garry Oak Meadows. The Garry Oak ecosystems were once extensive on southeastern Vancouver Island, but now only tiny fragments remain, surrounded by housing.
Find local resources
In most areas, there are societies established to help endangered species and they are a great resource. See a sample here, Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery System.
Study one local endangered plant or animal
To celebrate Earth Day, teach children to identify one or two endangered plants or animals in their geographical area. Children can:
- Make a booklet to record what they have learned about the plant or animal
- Model the plant or animal with Plasticine™
- Listen to books or watch DVDs about the species
- Participate in a class fundraising activity to raise money for an organization that helps the animal or plant. (To actually view most endangered animals, except for in zoos, would do them more harm than good.)
- The image on right is the marmot on Vancouver Island…
Learning Outcomes for kindergarten children
Learning outcomes vary geographically. Some of the science learning outcomes for this type of activity are listed below. Children will:
Children will:
- Use the 5 senses to make observations
- Share with others information obtained by observation
- Describe features of local plants (or animals) such as color, shape, size, texture,
- Compare common animals or plants
- Demonstrate the ability to observe their surroundings
- Describe features of their immediate surroundings
Other Ways to Help
The best way to get children to understand the question – What is Earth Day about? is to have them know they are making a valuable contribution by participating in practical ways.:
Children can:
- join in on community cleanups (communities assist in local clean-up programs by providing t-shirts, gloves, bags, product and promotion).
- provide habitats for wildlife around their schools by working with adults to plant native vegetation and removing invasive species
- write letters(jointly with their teachers) to get school boards to eliminate the use of herbicides and pesticides
- use reusable bags when shopping at the grocery store
- learn how to recycle paper, glass, and aluminum cans
- ask their parents if they can ride a bike or walk instead of drive to destinations
Earth Day vocabulary
Young children learn new vocabulary easily if it is presented with hands-on experiences, art activities, music, games and by introducing literature about the topic. Introduce Earth Day terms such as the ones below:
extinct – to die out, there aren’t any left alive
endangered species – when an animal or plant species is in danger of becoming extinct
habitat – an area or region where a particular type of plant or/and animal lives and grows
pollution – is when water, air, or land becomes dirty and not usable by human beings and animals
protect – keep something safe
Earth Day literature…
In a Nutshell by Joseph Anthony
This book helps children understand how plants and animals are dependent on each other.
- An acorn drops from a great oak and grows. Animals nibble at it, a fire threatens it, but overcoming many challenges it eventually towers high in the forest. Eventually, its energy passes into many other life forms–even the cherry pie enjoyed by the boy in the house below.
The Earth and I – by Frank Asch
- This story celebrates the friendship that one child has with the Earth and how they play together, listen to each other, and nourish each other. But when the Earth is sad, the child is sad–so he finds a way to make his friend, the Earth, happy.
Don’t Throw That Away!: A Lift-the-Flap Book about Recycling and Reusing – by Lara Bergen
- Follow an eco-conscious super hero as she teaches kids how to recycle and reuse common household items! The five large flaps throughout show that ordinary trash is really a treasure. Kids will learn about turning old clothes into fun costumes or an old box into a brand new car.
Endangered Species (Saving Our World) by Mike Unwin
- This book is for 9 – 14-year-olds but the pictures are suitable for all children. It introduces the younger reader to reptiles, birds, insects and other animals and plants that are disappearing from our world and at the reasons why. It may be out of print now and available only at second-hand bookstores.
Let’s Save the Animals: A flip the flap book by Frances Barry
- Giant pandas, Black Rhinos, Monarch butterflies and much more, from tigers to elephants to polar bears, orangutans to dolphins, penguins to sea turtles — are disappearing, threatened by deforestation, poaching, fishing nets, global warming, and more. After enjoying the book’s eye-catching, dramatic format, kids can follow the simple suggestions offered to help save the animals.
Other Earth Day Facts
When – Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 each year
Who – Earth Day is now coordinated globally and is celebrated in more than 175 countries every year. Numerous communities also celebrate Earth Week.
Why Celebrate Earth Day? – We put aside a special day to create awareness not only of the amounts of pollutants damaging our Earth but to inspire, empower and educate people to make changes.
History – The idea of a global holiday called “Earth Day” was introduced at the 1969 UNESCO Conference on the Environment. The first Earth Day was observed in San Francisco and other cities on March 21, 1970. Soon after that, April 22 was chosen to celebrate Earth Day.
More Earth Day pages:
GREEN KIDS CELEBRATE EARTH DAY
8 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day with your students.
Make a leaf rubbing of planet Earth to develop children’s awareness of Earth Day.