Earth Day, founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970, is a day to foster appreciation for the earth and is observed in many countries each year on April 22.
When teaching children about Earth Day, explain how people sometimes damage the earth by polluting it and using its resources while not giving back. Then explain how people can make the earth beautiful by keeping it clean, minimizing waste, and recycling.
Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse Lesson for Preschoolers
Recycle
To begin a recycling plan, obtain four large cardboard boxes for sorting and four pictures representing metal, paper, plastic, and glass objects. Bring in some recyclable items of paper, plastic, metal and glass.
A week or two before beginning the recycling plan, send a note home with children for parents describing the activity. In the letter, ask parents to collect metal, paper, plastic, and glass items to send to school with their preschooler. Suggestions for recyclable item suggestions may be included in this letter. Also, remind parents to wash or rinse recyclable items if needed.
Paste one picture on the front of each box to represent each category of recyclable items. Explain to the children how and why people recycle and the types of materials that are recycled. Next, give each child a few recyclable items and encourage them to deposit each item into the appropriate box, or cooperatively sort all items and then place them in the correct box.
Instruct the children to place these types of items in their correct boxes when they are finished with them. Finally, let them know that you will be taking them to the recycler when the boxes become full.
Reduce
It is simple to teach young children to reduce and every little bit helps. Teach them to turn the lights off when leaving the restroom or classroom, turn water off when they are not rinsing, and only use as much paper, glue or other materials as they truly need.
Reuse
In addition, show children how items can be reused instead of thrown away. Scrap paper can be reused for crafts or can be made into books or journals. Old containers like milk jugs or and butter containers can be used for container gardening.
Earth Day Alphabet Activities
Using alphabet printouts with pictures of Earth Day subjects, children can practice both upper and lowercase letters:
- E is for Earth
- F is for Forest
- G is for Green
- R is for Recycle, Reduce and Reuse
- T is for Tree
- W is for Water
Earth Day Cleanup
Take the children on a walk around the neighborhood and let them collect trash. Recycle the recyclables and throw the rest in a large outdoor garbage bin.
Earth Day can be celebrated for an entire week from April 16-22. Remember to keep Earth Day lessons simple. There is no need to discuss the ozone layer, global warming, or other complicated or controversial issues at this time. Merely explain how children can do their part to keep the earth healthy for humans, plants and animals. These environmentally-friendly practices will inspire lifelong lifestyle changes.
