Earth Day is a day I look forward to every year! It’s a time when everyone is thinking about how to be eco-friendly and teach their children to do the same. This Earth Day activity guide for kids is the easy button to help you get started!
As a mom to three young daughters, I am focused not only on the changes I can make to become more green and eco-friendly but also on teaching my children to do the same.
It is so important for the next generation to learn how to live a low-waste lifestyle so that we can turn the future of our planet around.
If we each do a few small things throughout our day, we can make a big, positive impact.
THE 5 R’s OF EARTH DAY (AND EVERY DAY!)
I find it tremendously important to remember that the choices we make today will impact the earth and the environment for our children.
“…a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers but borrowed from his children.” – Wendell Berry
While our family is not 100% “green” yet, we are making it a priority to teach our children about being sustainable and eco-friendly. We would love for them to grow up with these values, practices, and daily habits.
One way to do so is to encourage them to follow the 5 R’s of the zero waste (or low waste) lifestyle.
- Refuse what you do not need.
- Reduce what you do not need.
- Reuse all that you can.
- Recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce or reuse.
- Rot – compost all that you can.
Sharing eco-friendly resources and books with your children will give them the background to understand why this is so important.
This Earth Day activity guide for kids will give you some quick activities to get you started in some of these principles or will add to what you are already doing!
5 EARTH DAY BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
Earth Day Every Day – by Lisa Bullard
Earth Day Every Day tells the story from a young girl’s perspective, which is great for kids to connect to her voice right from the start. She reminds us that all humans – or earthlings as she puts it – are responsible to care for and protect our Earth. Make every day Earth Day!
If you have a young beginning reader, you can listen to a read-aloud of this story on YouTube and see the pages on video.
Not for me, please! I choose to act green – by Maria Godsey
Not for me, please!: I choose to act green is about a boy who notices all the damage caused by the trash around him and decides to say “Not for me, please!” Helpful facts about the global pollution problem are also included to help guide parents in conversations with their children.
I Can Save the Ocean – by Alison Inches
I Can Save the Ocean is about how Max, a little green monster, comes up with a plan to save the ocean after snorkeling through trash on his day at the beach.
The Adventures of an Aluminum Can – by Alison Inches
The Adventures of an Aluminum Can is a peek into the diary of this aluminum can as it goes on a journey from the manufacturing line, to the store, then to a home, and eventually to the recycling plant. It’s a great introduction to the recycling process.
** This book is not currently available on Amazon, but another similar book by the same author, called The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle, is available for purchase.
One Plastic Bag – by Miranda Paul
One Plastic Bag is based on a true story of Isatou Ceesay who lives in Njau, Gambia. She and a group of women took plastic bags that were polluting their town and turned them into beautiful purses. It’s an inspiring story that teaches children how to upcycle their plastic waste.
7 EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
- DIY Earth Day Recycled Crayons – Recycle your crayons into Earth-shaped and Earth-colored new crayons! Download the FREE printable.
- Upcycle Your Old Crayons – Any day of the year and in any shape you choose!
- Planet vs. Plastic website (by National Geographic) – Take the pledge to reduce your single-use plastics.
- Kids vs. Plastic (by National Geographic)- Visit this website to teach children about how to reduce single-use plastic and how to reduce plastic waste.
- Upcycle Projects for Kids – Reuse or upcycle common household waste items into fun crafts and projects. This Pinterest board has so many great ideas!
- Origami Trash Liner – skip the plastic bag and make a liner for your small waste receptacle by reusing old newspapers. Check out this quick video done by a young child to learn how. So cute!
- Nature Scavenger Hunt – An easy, fun way to get outside and learn about nature! When we enjoy nature, we learn to care for nature.
I hope you find this Earth Day activity guide for kids helpful, and I encourage you to share your family’s Earth Day activities with us here! Please leave a comment below to let us know how you are celebrating Earth Day.
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P.S. – Are you ready to take the next step on your journey to go green and start practicing your green mindset? Imagine how you would feel 12 months from now if you drastically reduced the waste your family made all year. These 12 Zero Waste New Year Resolutions will help you achieve those goals – even if you are a zero waste beginner. Download the FREE checklist today and read all about the simple tips to get you started HERE.
Thanks for sharing these ideas! I’ve been looking for some ideas today!
So glad it was helpful! I hope you had a great Earth Day!