Earth Day

Reduce By Reusing

2011-02-02T12:47:00.001-08:00

Lead students in brainstorming ways to cut down on their use of disposable items. For each type of item they can think of, challenge them to find an alternative. For example, paper napkins can be replaced with cloth ones and paper cups can be replaced with sturdy, reusable plastic glasses. To get these youngsters started on putting these ideas into practice, hold drawings for “One Planet, One Dream, Go Green” Recycled Water Bottles and “One Planet, One Dream, Go Green” Non-Woven Shopper Totes.

Carpooling For Recyclables

2011-02-02T12:46:00.001-08:00

Perhaps your town doesn’t have a curbside recycling program, but does have locations throughout the community to drop off recyclables. Make it easier for families of your students to take advantage of this system by letting them bring items to the school. Then recycling won’t involve a separate stop for them. Recruit volunteers to take turns hauling the recyclables to a drop-off location. Launch this project on Earth Day. Give “I’m Cool, I Recycle” Buttons and “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” Silicone Bracelets With Pledge Presentation Card to your volunteers.

Meaningful Map

2011-02-02T12:45:00.001-08:00

Create a visual aid to illustrate how humans are making more trash than they know what to do with. Begin with a box from a refrigerator or other large appliance; flatten it. Draw the Earth’s continents on it and color them green. Color the rest of the cardboard blue. Show your students this image. Then have them gather “clean” trash, possibly things that have accumulated in their desks, backpacks, etc. Help them glue the trash all over the Earth. Ask them to step back and see how the image has changed. As a reminder, pass out “Handle With Care” Laminated Backpack Tags and “Handle With Care” Heat Sensitive Pencils.

Songs And Sun

2011-02-02T12:43:00.000-08:00

Think big when you think Earth Day 2011. Arrange an outdoor concert that features bands performing family-friendly music. Tie the concert into Earth Day by powering the equipment with solar energy. For advice, contact other organizations who have held solar-powered concerts. During the concert, throw packages of “Earth Day Rocks” Rubber Wristbands out to the crowd. As everyone leaves at the end, distribute “Earth Day Rocks” Temporary Tattoos.

Air To Share

2011-02-02T12:42:00.000-08:00

Properly inflated vehicle tires help maximize fuel efficiency. On Earth Day, offer free tire inflation before and after school. Find a business that can bring the equipment to your campus and donate the labor. Let parents know earlier in the week so they can allot some time for airing up either in the morning or afternoon of your special day. Present “Family Guide To Going Green” Slideguides to the adults who come to the tire-inflation event and give “Earth Day: I Can Make A Difference” Stickers to their children. The slideguides have a section on greener driving.

Power Of Plants

2011-02-02T12:41:00.000-08:00

Indoor air pollution can be a big problem, yet often isn’t discussed. Read up on the issue, then present the information to children in an age-appropriate way. Let them know that certain houseplants absorb air pollutants and improve indoor air quality. Some of these include gerbera daisies, golden pothos, philodendrons and spider plants. See if any garden centers in your area will donate these varieties for your classroom. Involve students in the care of the plants. Also give them “Celebrate Earth Day Every Day” 4-Color Cups With Seeds or Biodegradable Planter Cups With Seeds so they can grow their own plants.

Sign On The Dotted Line

2011-02-02T10:30:00.002-08:00

Conduct a lesson on being a friend to the Earth by reducing, reusing, and recycling. Also talk to the students about the phrase “Earth friendly.” Then ask them to sign the “We Pledge To Be Earth Friendly” Poster on which they promise to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Design and photocopy pledge sheets students can take home. Encourage them to ask the adults in their lives (parents, other relatives, family friends, etc.) to sign the forms, showing they too care about our planet. Award an “I The Earth” Silicone Dog Tag to each child who brings in five or more signatures.

Less Is More

2011-02-02T10:30:00.001-08:00

Recycling is a great habit to get into. But take your school to the next level and reduce the amount of paper used to begin with. Print on both sides of paper whenever possible. Some items will require only the front of one sheet. When that paperwork is no longer necessary, flip it over and use the other side for something else. Set up bins in a central location for the leaving and taking of paper as needed. Present “Get Your Green On” Organic Cotton T-Shirts to all people who participate. Also enter them into raffles for “Going Green For Future Generations” Eco-Friendly Tote Bags.

Animal Antics

2011-02-02T10:27:00.000-08:00

Youngsters love to learn about animals. Explain what “endangered” means, then read a list of animals with that designation. Let students each pick one to research and do a presentation on. Generate enthusiasm for the project by handing out “Earth Care Benefits All Creatures” 5-On-A-Roll Stickers. Later, after everyone has completed the presentations, distribute “Wild About Earth Day” Educational Activities Books. Work through them with the students so they can see how to make the world a better place for animals.

Terrific Trees

2011-02-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

In honor of Arbor Day, come up with skits for the children to perform for each other. (Check online to see when your state celebrates Arbor Day.) Have them play the parts of talking animals and trees. Through the dialog, tell what trees provide us. For example, a family of birds could be grateful for the home they have in a tree. Thank your “actors” by giving them “Grow Up Green” Bookmarks that show kids planting trees or “25 Ways To Go Green” Bookmarks With Tree-Shaped Seed Paper.

Cool Composting

2010-02-19T06:09:00.000-08:00

Operating a composter at your school would be a great way to keep food scraps and lawn waste out of the landfill, plus set an excellent example for the students. A few months before Earth Day, begin a campaign to raise funds for the composter purchase. Try selling “Earth Day, I Can Make A Difference” Silicone Bracelets and “Celebrate Earth Day” Lollipops Unveil the composter on Earth Day, and hold a demonstration on how it works.

Styrofoam Solution

2010-02-19T06:08:00.000-08:00

Styrofoam packing peanuts are not accepted by the majority of city recycling programs. The best thing to do is reuse them. Make this easier for the families at your school by setting up a packing peanut program. Send a letter home to parents,explaining that there is an alternative to throwing these pieces of styrofoam away. Invite them to drop off unwanted peanuts and pick up peanuts when they need them. Also send along “Family Guide To Going Green” Slideguides to give more tips on helping the Earth. Whenever someone participates in the packing peanut program, award a “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” Pencil.

Where Produce & Art Meet

2010-02-19T06:07:00.000-08:00

Show students that nature can provide some unexpected art supplies by turning vegetables into paint. Start with colorful veggies, such as carrots, red cabbage, and beets. Put each type of vegetable in its own pot and boil in water. Remove the veggies, then add one tablespoon of vinegar to each pot of now-colored water. Provide the children with brushes, cotton fabric, and
veggie liquid after it’s cooled off, of course. Once everyone has painted a “masterpiece,” hand out Vegetable Seed Packet Variety Packs and “25 Ways To Go Green” Seeded Paper Bookmarks.

Earth-Friendly Eating

2010-02-19T06:06:00.000-08:00

A lot of trash can be generated at lunchtime: lunch sacks, plastic wrap, cups, bags from chips, etc. Create posters that promote reusable lunch bags as well as reusable food and beverage containers. Hang your handiwork with “One Planet, One Dream, Go Green” Posters in your cafeteria on Earth Day. Each lunchtime from then until the end of the school year, hold a raffle for a “One Planet, One Dream, Go Green” Water Bottle. Give raffle tickets to the students who have something reusable in their lunches.

Yes We Can Recycle

2010-02-19T06:05:00.000-08:00

Prior to Earth Day, conduct a lesson on the recycling of aluminum cans, the most recycled beverage container on the planet. Discuss the process and also tell interesting facts about aluminum cans, which are available on the Internet. Ask everyone to bring in rinsed, unflattened cans. On Earth Day, gather the cans and your students outside. Play lively music and let the youngsters stomp the collection flat, one can per person at a time. Comment on how much less space the cans then take up. Hand out “Be An Earth Day Hero”Educational Activities Books and “I’m Cool, I Recycle” Tattoos to thank your group for recycling.

Earth-Saving Gift Giving

2009-02-09T06:32:00.002-08:00

Give students a glimpse of what “trash” can be turned into with a little effort. Collect rinsed baby food jars. Remove the labels. Let the children decorate the jars with their mothers or grandmothers in mind. Explain how the jars can be used as votive candleholders. Hand out our discounted “Kids’ Guide To Environmental Awareness” Educational Puzzle Books so your “artists” can learn more about reusing. Also pass out “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” Pencil Grippers as reminders. Store the candleholders a few weeks, until the Friday before Mother’s Day. Then the children can give them as gifts.

Animals Everywhere

2009-02-09T06:32:00.001-08:00

Provide an opportunity for children to participate in reducing what goes to landfills. Conduct a stuffed-animal swap. Request that the kids bring in stuffed animals they no longer want instead of throwing them away. Make sure parents are informed of this activity. Before the event, shop at a thrift store and purchase some used stuffed animals to have around in case anyone arrives empty handed. During the swap, play animal-themed music. Distribute “Earth Day Is ‘Bear-y’ Important” Temporary Tattoos or “Earth Care Benefits All Creatures” 5-On-A-Roll Stickers to all the children in attendance.

Green Education

2009-02-09T06:31:00.002-08:00

Every community has a different combination of items that can be recycled. For example, some recycling programs accept just #1 and #2 plastic containers, while others take a wider range of plastic. Conduct a lesson for your students on what can and can’t be recycled in your area. Then type up a list, leaving plenty of white space around the edges. Provide copies of the list and colored pencils to the children, encouraging them to draw the items that can be recycled. Hand out “Let’s Learn About Recycling” Bookmarks to generate enthusiasm. Have the children bring the decorated lists, along with “Love The Earth? Recycle!” Bookmarks, to their parents.

Putting It In Writing

2009-02-09T06:31:00.001-08:00

Through acrostic poems, let students express their feelings about the harm being done to the planet. Print “We Love The Earth” vertically on sheets of paper. Have your poets start each line with a letter from the printed phrase. Give “I The Earth” Buttons to everyone who turns in a poem. Award an “I The Earth” Water Bottle to the author of the best poem in each class.

Here’s Some Litter, There’s Some Litter

2009-02-09T06:30:00.002-08:00

Instill in your students the habit of picking up litter whenever they see it by holding a contest. Place two special containers in each classroom, one for trash and one for recyclables. Announce that items found on school grounds should go in the containers. Set an amount of time for the collection to last, such as a month, and begin it on Earth Day. At the end of the contest, give everyone Earth Day Participant Certificates. Reward students in the class that picked up the most litter with “Tote-ally Reusable” Shopping Bags.

A Bright Idea

2009-02-09T06:30:00.001-08:00

Any time you leave a room for more than a few seconds, it is energy efficient to turn lights off. The bulbs will not wear out any faster due to the more frequent on/off. Teach youngsters this important information. Have them create posters that will educate others about the subject. Thank them for their hard work with “Celebrate Earth Day Every Day” Recycled High Flyer Discs, which mentions saving energy by turning things off.

For The Love Of Bugs

2009-02-09T06:29:00.002-08:00

On Earth Day, discuss the importance of insects to the ecosystem. Explain the many tasks insects are responsible for, such as pollinating plants. Organize a craft activity in which the children make caterpillars, ladybugs, and spiders from pipe cleaners and paper egg cartons. (You may need your school’s PTA to begin collecting egg cartons well ahead of time.) Use “Go Green” Biodegradable Plastic Stadium Cups to hold paint in during the craft, as well as to hold water for rinsing brushes. The cups can be washed and reused for other craft projects.

“Hand”some Display

2009-02-09T06:29:00.001-08:00

In advance of Earth Day, put the headline “Give Our Planet A Hand” on a bulletin board. Hang up a “Celebrate Earth Day” Event Poster in the middle of the board. Have your students each trace around one of their hands on paper and cut it out. Ask them to sign their paper hands as a pledge to help the Earth. Arrange these hands around the poster on the bulletin board. Mix in some Earth-care tips. Finish your display by adding “Celebrate Earth Day Every Day” Balloons .

Progress Report

2009-02-09T06:28:00.003-08:00

Create a chart that will help youngsters keep track of the things they do for the Earth at home. Along the left side, list activities such as “separated recyclables from the trash,” “turned off water while brushing teeth,” “used both sides of paper,” etc. Include blank lines for students to write their own. Across the top, list the days of the week. Provide spaces for completed activities to be checked off daily. Send several copies of the chart, along with a “My Earth Care Calendar” 2009-2010 Coloring & Activities Book, home with each child. Ask that a chart, signed by a parent, be returned each week for a month. Enter the students who do so in drawings for Tree Planting Kits.

Earth Day Activity Ideas

2009-02-09T06:28:00.001-08:00

Now is the time for our country to strengthen its commitment to preserving our planet. Positive Promotions has the tools to help you teach important Earth-care concepts to students and their families as well as your faculty and staff. We also offer the following ideas so you can make an impact that lasts beyond Earth Day.