Earth Day Activities for Kids: 13 Purposeful Planet-Approved Projects

60

On Earth Day — which is celebrated every year on April 22 — millions of people around  the world take the time to reflect on how they can protect the Earth and its resources for future generations. This day can be a timely opportunity to discuss environmental issues, like plastic pollution and deforestation, with students and get them thinking creatively about how they can be good stewards of the Earth. From science experiments to creative writing prompts, here are a few Earth Day activities for kids that’ll instill a love for Mother Nature in them.

What is Earth Day?

The idea for the very first Earth Day came from Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, who had long been concerned about air and water pollution in the United States. He recruited activist Dennis Hayes to organize a nationwide event on college campuses with the goal of getting the youth of America invested in the deterioration of the environment. On April 22, 1970, more than 20 million Americans took to the streets to demonstrate against the negative impacts of industrial development.

Since then, Earth Day has transformed into a global event with more than 192 countries participating in activities that support sustainability, conservation, and pollution reduction. It’s estimated that 95% of schools in the United States, along with millions more worldwide, also observe Earth Day each year. 

Quick and easy Earth Day activities for schools

Earth Day is a great time to take students beyond the textbook and show them the importance of caring for our planet. Many of these ideas align with NGSS, helping to provide students with a deeper understanding of key environmental science concepts while engaging them in meaningful, hands-on learning.

Here are a few quick Earth Day activities for elementary students that you can try:

• Go on a nature scavenger hunt: Get outside and have students observe different plants, insects, and animals, and how they interact. Discuss how each species plays a role in the ecosystem and what might happen if one species disappeared.
• Set up a classroom recycling center: Create designated recycling bins in the classroom for paper, plastic, and other recyclables. Discuss how recycling can reduce pollution, conserve resources, and protect habitats. 
• Create a soil erosion experiment: Illustrate the effects of soil erosion by running water over different types of soil in containers. Discuss how erosion affects things like plant growth, and have them brainstorm ways to prevent it.
• Engineer a solar oven: Have students harness the power of the sun and construct solar ovens using cardboard boxes, aluminum foil, and plastic wrap. Afterward, talk about what renewable energy is and how using solar power can help reduce our carbon footprint.

Introduce students to environmental science

Get your students excited about Earth Day with lessons that introduce them to broader concepts about the environment.

Plan thematic mini units for Earth Day

Mini units offer students a focused way to learn about specific topics. By integrating units on the environment with hands-on Earth Day activities, students can celebrate the planet and learn how to become more environmentally conscious. 

Earth Day Mini-Unit for Pre-K and Kindergarten
By Intentional Momma
Grades: PreK-K
Subjects: Math

This 38-page Earth Day mini unit includes math, language, and literacy lessons. It’s great to use for morning work or classroom centers in PreK and Kindergarten during the month of April.

Earth Day Mini Unit: Activities and Printables
By Curriculum Castle
Grades: K-2nd
Subjects: Environmental Science

Get your students excited about Earth Day with this fun and interactive unit! You will find plenty of Earth Day activities for kids such as a mini book, crafts, science explorations, math and language arts printables, and more.

Engage students in pollution reduction

Exploring and raising awareness around the concept of pollution is an essential part of any Earth Day lesson. With these Earth Day activities for students, you can motivate your kids to keep our planet clean and green.

Investigate the impact of oil spills 

Oil spills have devastating effects on marine life. By having students research historical oil spills, simulate contaminations, and test clean-up techniques, they can gain a greater understanding of how pollution harms ecosystems. 

Lava Lamp | An Oil And Water Experiment
By Kimberly Scott Science
Grades: 4th-7th
Subject: Environmental Science
Standards: NGSS 5-PS1-3, 5-PS1-4

This hands-on lab can be conducted in 30 minutes and makes a great lead-in activity for discussions about pollution. It uses simple supplies to demonstrate how oil and water are immiscible and includes teacher background information, tips, a science activity, and a reading passage.

Head up a task force to reduce pollution

Many students who study the impacts of pollution might choose to become involved in environmental activism. By equipping them with the skills to participate in collaborative analysis and discussions, you’ll better equip budding environmentalists to advocate for policies and solutions in the future.

Earth Day Activity | Pollution Control Committee 
By HappyEdugator
Grades: 5-8
Subject: Environmental Science
Standards: CCRA.R.1

In this cooperative learning activity, students take on the role of being on a committee to reduce environmental pollution. They’ll meet in groups to analyze several different scenarios and to determine which polluter is the most destructive to the environment. Then, they’ll compare their results with other groups in the class.

Teach the ins and outs of recycling

Teaching a lesson about recycling is a great way to introduce kids to the importance of conserving resources, reusing materials, and reducing waste. From sorting activities to hands-on crafts, students can develop sustainable habits that will benefit the planet for years to come.

Play a sorting game 

Recycling is a small step that kids can take to make an impact on the environment. But before they can get started, they need to learn how to recognize recyclables. Sorting games and activities are the best Earth Day activities for elementary students to learn about what can and cannot be recycled.

Earth Day Recycling Craft | Earth Day Bulletin Board with Writing
By The Pawsitive Teacher
Grades: K-3rd
Subject: Writing

Use this activity to help students find ways to help the Earth. Students can sort real pictures of materials that can be recycled and write their answers on a recording sheet. Two versions of the sorting pictures are included, one with and one without picture labels. You can display students’ finished work in the classroom, hallway, or even around the school to remind others about the importance of recycling.

Transform trash into treasure

Have students create a work of art or an invention with cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, bottle caps, and other recycled materials. Children will learn that upcycling and repurposing objects is not only fun and useful but a great thing to do for our planet.

Paper Tube Upcycle STEM STEAM Challenge, Earth Day Craft Recycling Project
By Roots and Wings
Grades: PreK-2nd
Subjects: Engineering
Standards: NGSSK-ESS3-3

With this STEM art challenge, children are encouraged to use a paper tube to craft something new. Use this in your classroom makerspace for Earth Day while learning about recycling. 

Get cross-curricular on Earth Day

As an educator, you have the opportunity to spark a passion in students about the environment and inspire them to do their part to take care of the Earth — no matter what subject you teach. Math games, creative writing, and reading texts are fun ways to connect students to topics about the environment and help them imagine a better world to live in.

Analyze texts about Earth Day

Nonfiction passages about the history of Earth Day are a good way to help students understand why it exists and its significance. After reading, be sure to engage students in a discussion to deepen their understanding.

Earth Day Activities (Reading, Writing, Text Features, Snack)
By Hollie Griffith
Grades: 1-2
Subject: Reading

Celebrate Earth Day in style with this non-fiction unit that teaches students all about the history and importance of Earth Day. It comes with a comprehensive guide, an original text about Earth Day, an activity to review text features, a main idea and detail craft, a student booklet, and extra passages for further review of text features and discovering the main idea and details. Plus, it includes an easy recipe for an Earth Day snack to end your lesson on a high note.

Solve an Earth Day-themed math puzzle

Earth Day lessons aren’t just science and English language arts. In fact, there are many engaging ways you can incorporate into math instruction! From Earth Day-themed word problems to puzzles, you can give kids a bit of math practice while sharing information about the Earth.

Earth Day Skip Counting Puzzles for Primary Students
By Teach Me T
Grades: PreK-1st
Subject: Math

These Earth-Day theme picture puzzles are a fun way for primary students to actively practice counting by 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s and to learn how they make our planet a healthier place to live. You can use these in centers, as independent work, as buddy work, or in a small group setting.

Complete a creative writing challenge

Creative writing challenges are a wonderful way to combine art and environmental education, helping students express ideas about conservation and sustainability.

Creative Writing: Change the Narrator! Earth Day Themed
By Real Native Learning
Grades: 3rd-5th
Subject: Creative Writing
Standards: CCSS RL.3.6, RL.4.6, RL.5.6; W.3.3, W.4.3, W.5.3, W.5.3a, W.5.3b, W.5.3c, W.3.3a, W.3.3b, W.3.3c, W.4.3a, W.4.3b, W.4.3c, W.4.3d, W.4.3e

This activity puts a fun Earth Day-themed spin on learning about multiple perspectives and points of view. Students will read a short story from the perspective of one bystander, and then write the story from two different people’s points of view.

Discover even more Earth Day activities for kids

Whether you’re looking to celebrate Earth Day or foster a love of STEM through hands-on projects and learning, you’ll find everything you need — and more — on TPT. Discover planet-friendly projects and activities to spark your students’ interest in all things Mother Nature on the marketplace. (And if you’re looking for Earth Day activities for schools that are more appropriate for older students, read about Earth Day activities for high schoolers.)