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EARTHDAY LINKS FROM DISCOVERY EDUCATION'S THINK GREEN CAMPAIGN
Think Green Teacher Resources - lesson plans and classroom materials: activities, video assets, worksheets, puzzles, and more.
Think Green Student Rescources by Grade - K-5, 6-8, 9-12: videos, puzzles and lots of activities.
Think Green Display Materials - to print and hand out or hang in the classroom.
Think Green Ideas - Resources by grade level to encourage students to take action!
GENERAL LINKS
Classroom Earth - A program from the National Environmental Educaiton Foundation
National Geographic Earth Day
EPA Kids Club - Earth Day links for Elementary students and teachers.
EPA Student Center - Links and projects for middle school level
EPA High School Environmental Center
Global Warming World View - Causes and solutions illustrated through photography
Earth Day Network
Wilderness Society - A variety of resources for students and teachers of all grades.
Teaching Kids About Recycling - Basic questions and answers on recycling.
The Earthday links below are provided by EVERYDAYTEACHING.COM
1. EARLY ELEMENTARY EARTH DAY . . .
a. EARTH DAY COLORING AND ACTIVITY BOOKLET
Earth Day is the theme, and you can download this coloring and activity book for your early elementary students to help you celebrate and better understand the event.
b. PET ROCKS
How much fun is this? Paint your rocks green, for an Earth Day theme, and make creatures, critters, and monsters!
c. MILK JUG PLANTERS
Here's a cool way to recycle your milk jugs, and conduct an awesome spring science experiment at the same time, growing plants in your classroom (try beans or peas).
d. TIN CAN HERB POTS
Recycle those tin cans, decorate them, and then grow a whole window-full of herbs for an Earth Day project this year.
e. WASTE PREVENTION CLIPART:
Loads of clipart images are available here, categorized by subject, and perfect for your Earth Day projects and papers.
f. WATCH WORMS AT WORK:
Your early elementary students will be creating their very own worm farm in this lesson plan. Worms are highly efficient composters, and elementary students can see them at work in a see-through jar, following the directions here.
g. ENCHANTED LEARNING
Crafts and projects. EarthDay Activity Book in PDF
2. EARTH DAY LESSONS. . .
a. APPLES FOR THE TEACHER LINKS
Renewable energy resources are the topic of the day, and all for good reason. And what could be better than harnessing our major energy supplier, the one that gets all the others going? Students will consider solar power in this collection of timely lesson plans, covering early elementary grades through high school. Middle and high school students can conduct experiments and hands-on activities to learn about photovoltaic systems, to measure solar electricity, research the economics behind renewable energy, and more. Student worksheets are included for each lesson.
b. TRASH AND CLIMATE CHANGE:
Upper elementary students will become Planet Protectors with these printable worksheets and activities from the Environmental Protection Agency. They will explore recycling with paper, metal, yard waste, plastics, and glass, and do some mathematical calculations with carbon, aluminum, and newspaper (answers are included). A crossword, writing activity, and game are also included in this Earth Day resource.
c. BIOSPHERE & GLOBAL WARMING WEB TREK:
An answer key is provided for this Web Trek, where upper elementary and middle school students will use selected resources to research the biosphere and the current issues surrounding it, focusing on global warming and increased carbon content in the carbon cycle. A build your own biosphere lesson plan is included as an optional exercise.
d. SHOPPING GREEN:
What does it mean to shop green? And how can shopping with the environment in mind actually help environmental issues? Find out more with this guide.
e. DESIGN A COMPOST BIN:
It's not all that difficult to get a compost bin going at your school, and students will enjoy recycling their lunch wastes for some great compost for school gardens. Find out how to turn a plastic storage bin into your own personal compost bins at school (note that adult help is required for this project).
f. THE LIFE CYCLE OF A CELL PHONE:
Almost everyone has one - so much so that pay phones are being taken down across the country. Posters show how cell phones are made, explain a life cycle for manufactured products, and focus on the great debate on resources v.s. products. Find out how to responsibly recycle cell phones and deal with the separate components, particularly batteries, with these classroom posters for Earth Day.
g. SCHOLASTIC NEWS
History, Teaching Resources, Student Activities and more.
h. EARTHDAY.ORG
3. EARTH DAY INTERACTIVE . . .
a. BUILD A TIN CAN SCULPTURE:
Try this online game first with your kindergarten classes, and then ask them to bring in recycled tin cans to create your own, real, recycled sculptures.
b. LITTER HUNT: / Print version
Similar to Highlights' Hidden Pictures, try to find all of the hidden trash littering this kids' playground. A printer friendly version is available at the 2nd link above.
c. HOW ENERGY-EFFICIENT ARE YOU?
Explore all of the different rooms in this house to learn how to become energy-efficient. 3rd grade students will click on objects and respond to questions through interactive multiple choice quizzes.
d. CLEAN UP YOUR WORLD:
This forest is a mess - its visitors obviously have not been taking care of it. Your students will help to clean it up and learn about recycling plastic, glass, cans, and paper at the same time in this online and interactive Earth Day learning game.
e. CLIMATE CHANGE FOR KIDS:
The water cycle is covered, along with an explanation of climate, carbon dioxide gases and the greenhouse effect, and the possible effects of global warming in this interactive exhibit for upper elementary students.
f. VISIBLE EARTH:
View pictures and images of the home planet here, from NASA, with views of city lights, typhoons, deforestation, forest fires, volcanoes, and more.
4. EARTH DAY ART . . .
a. ART PROJECTS FOR EARTH DAY:
Find ideas collected here for mask-making techniques, puppetry, drama, and more, all with an Earth Day theme in mind.
b. CREATE, DESIGN, & INVENT WITH PLASTIC:
Recycle your plastic and make it look beautiful - with inspired art projects. Find ideas here to create tangrams, weavings, and sculpture - all with plastic.
c. RECYCLING CRAFTS:
From turning paper towel tubes into various music instruments, to creating instant candle holders, or making bird feeders from egg cartons, you're sure to find some great recycling projects for your classes here.
d. TRASH-A-PIZZA:
Your students will want to collect all kinds of trash and recyclables for this wonderful art project, where they will section off a circle and make quite a unique pizza!
e. TISSUE PAPER EARTH: / [Pattern]
Use the Earth template available at the 2nd link above for your art projects, perfect for an Earth Day art activity. Students will fill in the Earth with scrunched-up blue and green tissue paper and glue.
f. COFFEE FILTER EARTH:
You'll be using blue and green food coloring for this lesson plan, where students can use eye droppers to see how color spreads on the coffee filters and creates their miniature Earths.
g. SEEDED PAPER BOOKMARKS:
Here's a great project to help you celebrate both spring, and Earth Day. Students will be making their own paper, seeding it (try various small herb and flower seeds), and fashioning them into bookmarks. The project would also work to make some great stationery and/or cards.
h. ENCHANTED LEARNING
Crafts and projects
