It's almost "Earth Day"! Are you ready to celebrate with your class? Classroom "Earth Day" activities teach children how to become good stewards of our planet. Science and Social Studies standards can be taught while celebrating "Earth Day". In Virginia, "Earth Day" activities connect with the first grade Science standard 1.8 which is to discover the Earth's resources.
April is a busy time of year for most teachers and it's hard to find time to plan one more seasonal lesson. Here are a few (preschool through first grade) "Earth Day" ideas that won't take much time. There's also a link to a freebie at the end of this post.
1. Use blue and green streamers to represent the water and land. Cut enough so each child has one blue and one green streamer. The children wave the streamers in the air (one streamer in each hand) while you sing and listen to Earth themes songs such as "Big Beautiful Planet" which can be found on Raffi's Rise and Shine album.
Below are links to where you can get the song.
2. Wear "Nature-Pleasing" clothing on "Earth Day" or any day. Shirts with trees, flowers, or animals will work nicely. Send a note home with your students at least one day before having them dress up for nature.
3. View nature-loving websites! National Geographic Kids is a great way to motivate children to love and appreciate animals. Their website has tons of videos for kids to watch about mammals, fish, birds, and insects.
4. Make an interactive model of the Earth. You'll need green and blue acrylic paint, a Styrofoam ball and a few other things for this. See the tutorial HERE.
5. Read books that promote the "Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle" concept. Click the image below to download the printable booklet that discusses this concept.
Here are some directions for assembling the reading booklet:
1. Print the pages. Copy single sides.
2. Fold all the pages including the cover page.
3. Insert the folded pages into the cover page using the proper numeric sequence. (The folded sides face outward with the exception of the cover page. The cover page acts as a folder for the other pages to slip inside.)
If you'd like, view the video tutorial. Hover over the bottom right corner and click to view in full screen mode. Press your escape (esc) key when finished.
© 2013 Lessons by Molly, All rights reserved.
I Love My Planet is a cute book! I printed it out this morning to use with my younger intervention students. They were very excited! Thanks for sharing! Your newest follower :)
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I'm thrilled to hear that you were able to use the booklet, "I Love My Planet" with some of your students. Thank you for sharing.
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