Earth Day is on April 22nd each year. It’s a day when people all over the world think about taking care our planet. We learn about how to keep the Earth healthy, like recycling and saving energy. Earth Day helps us remember that we can all make a difference by protecting nature and being kind to our planet. While honoring Earth Day there are multiple ways you can teach and engage children. Below are just a few activities that you can include in your plans to make Earth Day a day to remember.
1. Have a Nature Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of items for children to find outdoors such as leaves, rocks, insects, and flowers. This activity promotes exploration and appreciation of nature.
2. A Storytime with Environmental Themes: Read books about nature, conservation, and Earth Day with your children. Discuss the stories and lessons they convey about protecting our planet.
3. Art and Crafts Using Recycled Material: Use household items like cardboard, paper tubes, and plastic bottles to create fun crafts with your children. This activity teaches the importance of recycling and reducing waste at home.
4. Planting Seeds Together: Encouraging and teaching your children to plant seeds can show them the importance of the environment and how plants and vegetables help not just the environment but humankind.
5. Host a Clean-Up Group: Get with other family members or friends and bring trash bags to a local park or just your neighborhood and pick up trash. Hosting a clean-up group can show children the power we all have by helping the environment. It only takes one person by doing one simple act to improve the environment.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is also contributing to helping our planet. You can learn about all the ways the TDEC is helping our environment including the Get Food Smart Tn Initiative and the Tennessee Radon Program by visiting https://www.tn.gov/environment.html.
Check out TDEC’s Sustainability Resources for Kids webpage for even more fun filled activities to get children excited for Earth Day including coloring pages and puzzles. With these activities and resources at your disposal you can be confident in nurturing the next generation to love the environment.