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Our planet is an amazing place, but it needs our help to thrive! That's why each year on April 22, more than a billion people celebrate Earth Day to protect the planet from things like pollution and deforestation. By taking part in activities like picking up litter and planting trees, we're making our world a happier, healthier place to live.

The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, when a United States senator from Wisconsin organized a national demonstration to raise awareness about environmental issues. Rallies took place across the country and, by the end of the year, the U.S. government had created the Environmental Protection Agency. By 1990, Earth Day was an event celebrated by more than 140 countries around the globe.

You can celebrate and protect the planet at the same time. Check out these Earth Day ideas to help save the planet any time of year.

BECOME A WASTE WARRIOR

The number of garbage trucks Americans fill each year would stretch halfway to the moon. Toilet paper tubes, made from cardboard, take two months to decompose in a landfill. A plastic bottle sticks around for way longer-it can take over 450 years to break down! But instead of turning to the trash bin, you could turn these items into an awesome telescope or a flower planter. Before you throw something away, think about whether it can be recycled or repurposed. You can also limit waste by reducing the amount of things you buy. For example, check the library for that book you have to read before visiting the store.

PLANT A TREE

Researchers estimate roughly 15 billion trees in the world are cut down each year, so help offset that loss by planting a tree of your own. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen for people to breathe. They also provide shelter and food for animals such as squirrels and owls. Depending on where trees are planted, their shade can even reduce the need for air-conditioning in hotter months. How many more reasons do you need to go green?

TURN OFF THE LIGHTS

Does that lamp really need to be on while the sun is out? Electricity doesn't just happen-it has to be produced from things around us. A lot of times it comes from fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) that contribute to climate change. But electricity can also be made from renewable sources like wind, water, the sun, and even elephant dung! No matter where it's coming from, try conserving electrical energy by using only what you need.

LIMIT YOUR WATER USAGE

It might seem like it's everywhere, but clean, drinkable water is a limited resource. In fact less than one percent of the water on Earth can be used by humans. (The rest is either too salty or too difficult to access.) Turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth can conserve up to eight gallons of water a day. To help save even more water, challenge yourself to take a shorter shower (but still get clean!).

OFFER YOUR TIME

With a parent's permission, volunteer to pick up trash at a nearby park, start a collection drive for recyclable items, or organize a screening of an environmentally themed movie. By getting involved and working with others, you're not just helping the Earth-you're making new friends too!

SPREAD THE MESSAGE

Talk to your friends and family members about what you're doing and ask them to help. Need to get the conversation started? Get everyone together and reconnect with nature by taking one of our Get Outside challenges, or check out some other green tips you can share. The more people do, the better off our planet will be!

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Celebrate Earth Day with these tips for helping our environment.

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https://www.timeforkids.com/g56/?text=earth+day

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https://patch.com/new-york/downtown-nyc/calendar/event/20230422/177bed1a-b6c7-4593-adc4-fe345884af2d/earth-day-s-t-e-a-m-dream

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Special Earth Day themed open air fair!
About this event:
Kids are invited to pick up S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) at this special Earth Day themed open air fair featuring engaging activities and a live performance from Mad Science.

Special Guests:
@stuypulse

@batteryparkcitynypl

@churchstschool

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Special Earth Day themed open air fair! About this event: Kids are invited to pick up S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) at this special Earth Day themed open air fair featuring engaging activities and a live performance from Mad Science. Special Guests: @stuypulse @batteryparkcitynypl @churchstschool

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https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/hands-on-earth-day-activities-for-kids/

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What is Earth Day?

Wondering what Earth Day is and how it got started? Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for the protection of the environment.

Earth Day started in 1970 in the United States as a way to focus people's attention on environmental issues. The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and saw new environmental laws passed.

In 1990 Earth Day went global, and today billions of people around the world participate in support of the protection of our Earth. Together, let's help look after our planet!

Earth Day Book Choices

Here are a few of my Earth Day themed book choices to add to your learning time! (I am an Amazon Affiliate)

How To Celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is easy to celebrate at home or in the classroom, with fun hands-on learning activities, experiments, and arts and crafts that you can use anytime.

From simple bug hotels to homemade seed bombs to pollution discussions, these Earth Day projects are excellent for teaching kids about the conservation and protection of our planet.

The great part about our Earth Day activities is that you can use what you already have. Complete a STEM challenge or two with items out of the recycling bin. Grab our free printable Earth Day STEM activities below to enjoy!

Remember, Earth Day activities can be done any time of the year, not just during April! Learn about our amazing planet and how to care for it all year!

How Kids Can Help Care For The Environment

Here is a list of great questions to ask kids when preparing for Earth Day. Asking questions without giving the answer is a great way to find out what kids already know and their thoughts and feelings.

Try these simple questions to start:

What can you recycle?

What can you do around the house to conserve energy?

What do plants do for the Earth and us?

Why shouldn't we litter, and what is littering?

Why don't we dump trash in the ocean?

What can we make from old or recyclable items?

Talk about some ways you can support the health of our planet around the house with this free printable included in the mini pack below.

You've head about oil spills on the news and read about the cleanup in the newspaper, but did you know you could learn about ocean pollution right at home or in the classroom?

What are the effects of ocean acidification? So many great questions for a simple ocean science experiment you can set up in the corner of the kitchen or classroom and check on periodically.

Learn how to make paper and make this paper earth craft from newspaper or other paper scraps you want to recycle.

These Earth Day ornaments made from salt dough are a terrific reminder to look after our Earth.

Inspired by famous artist Andy Warhol, kiddos can create their own pop art using the planet earth as the main subject!

Reuse your newspaper and make this easy newspaper craft inspired by famous artist, Wassily Kandinsky.

Free printable bingo cards and other Earth Day activities you can do at home or in the classroom. These Earth Day picture-based bingo cards are great for preschoolers!

Find out where plants get their food from and why they are so important for life on earth.

For the younger kiddos, pair this simple picture book while planting a container garden on your porch. We even used dollar store supplies to get started!

Encourage an appreciation for the natural world with this seed germination experiment. Give kids the opportunity to see up close how a seed grows and what would actually be happening under the ground!

Grow Grass Heads

Use a few simple supplies you have on hand to grow these cute grass heads in a cup. Learn about how seeds germinate and grow with this easy plant activity.

Watching flowers grow is an amazing lesson for kids of all ages. This hands-on activity allows kids to plant and grow their own flowers!

A simple introduction to the relationships between organisms in an ecosystem. Printable worksheets included!

What biome do you live in? Learn about the world's different biomes and what makes each unique with this hands-on biome lapbook project.

Make an easy bamboo structure for local native bees to lay their eggs this spring.

Take the learning outdoors and explore the world of bees with a DIY bee hotel.

40+ Earth Day science activities and STEM projects for kids that are easy to set up and fit into your available time, even if it's limited!

Printable Earth Day theme STEM activities that are simple but engaging for home or classroom. Perfect for K-2 and beyond but easily adaptable to many skill levels.

Dive into simple background science explanations to share with kids. At the same time, kiddos can explore hands-on and playful experiments, projects, and activities such as cleaning up oil spills, exploring water filters, and more!

Engaging Earth Day Enginers pack with theme activities, journal pages, and design process steps! Learn about the design process and think like an engineer while you design and build a better recycling can and more!

Easy to gather supplies makes these STEM activities ideal when you have limited resources available. Specialty activities include growing a grass head, making an insect hotel, DIY birdseed ornaments, and more!

Additional STEM activities include a recycling sort, brick-building ideas, puzzles, and screen-free coding activities.

Earth Day Bingo Activity Pack is included as well.

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35 Earth Day Activities For Kids - Little Bins for Little Hands

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Wondering what Earth Day is and how it got started? Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for the protection of the environment. Earth Day started in 1970 in the United States as a way to focus people's attention on environmental issues.

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https://www.archpaper.com/event/earth-day-turn-a-new-york-skyscraper-green/

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This Earth Day, we highlight environmentally-conscious green buildings in New York and around the world! After discussing green building guidelines in the U.S., we'll look at architecture abroad that takes being "green" to a whole new level! Then kids will use what they've learned to create a green neighborhood together! Recommended for ages 6+.

This is an in-person program that meets at the Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Pl. Masks are optional while inside the Museum.

You must reserve a place for your child/family by clicking the RSVP button above. This will forward you to Eventbrite for sign-up. After registering, you will receive emails to confirm your attendance through a Google Form. If you do not confirm attendance by the Friday morning before the program, your places will be canceled. Every child should be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Family programs are free! Reservation priority is given to The Skyscraper Museum members. Want to become a member? Spring programs are supported by a Community Partnership with the Battery Park City Authority.

Questions? Email programs@skyscraper.org or call our office 212-945-6324.

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Earth Day: Turn a New York Skyscraper Green - The Architect's Newspaper

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This Earth Day, we highlight environmentally-conscious green buildings in New York and around the world! After discussing green building guidelines in the U.S., we'll look at architecture abroad that takes being "green" to a whole new level! Then kids will use what they've learned to create a green neighborhood together!

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The Climate Arts Festival at Queens Botanical Gardens offers a jam-packed schedule of events on Earth Day. The itinerary includes a farm tour, storytime, crafts, dance performances, science experiments, composting tips, and a bee garden demo. Activities run from 11am-4pm on April 22.

Draw inspiration from Georgia O'Keeffe while sketching the views, skyline and nature at Edge, the city's highest outdoor sky deck. Edge has partnered with MoMA for this Earth Day celebration on Friday, April 21. Kit Fraser, whose illustrations have been featured in The New Yorker, will teach the class. Materials will be provided.

Rockefeller Center's Earth Day celebrations include live musical performances, readings of Earth-themed children's books, face painting for kids, a coloring station themed on the #solotogether exhibition and a recycled craft station.

All-ages activities run from 10am-1pm on April 22. Register in advance here.

Chances are a park near you needs a little extra love, and you can bring your helping hands this Earth Month. There are more than 40 activations in NYC parks from April 21-23, including tree plantings, creating seed bombs, community mural-making and general spring-cleaning activations. Here's the full list of volunteer activities.

11. An eco-conscious cruise

This Climate Change cruise, in partnership with the American Institute of Architects NY Chapter, will be led and narrated by AIANY Allied Member Doug Fox, a New York City tour guide with a focus on architecture, climate change, urban planning, resiliency, history, and ecology.

During the 2.75-hour tour, which will circumnavigate Manhattan, Fox will spotlight innovative New York City projects that address climate change on multiple fronts and the actions NYC is taking to mitigate pending climate impact threats, including LEED and passive building.

Tours run on Fridays through December 29. Tickets start at $96 and depart from Chelsea Pier 62.

Queens Farm has been a functioning farm since 1697, making it one of the oldest bits of arable land in New York State. Sign up for their Earth Day Volunteer Service Day on April 22 and help out with mulching, weeding, composting, and tiding. Along with getting great gardening tips, you're also welcome to attend talks with the beekeeper and take a tractor-drawn hayride.

Gaia NoMaya, a new 7,000-square-foot social wellness oasis that recently opened in Crown Heights, is hosting a massive Earth Day celebration. The event includes live world music, DJs, a cacao ceremony, salt cave sound healing and Kundalini breath-Work. Funds raised will be donated to the Prospect Park Alliance and to Tree-Nation to help the Amazon.

Hike through Van Cortlandt Park with the Hikerkind Hike Club on Earth Day. The event on April 22 kicks off with a meander through the lush ridges and valleys of this northwest Bronx green space. Then, it ends at the Bronx Kreate Hub for a pop-up with local outdoor brands, including ITA Leisure, FSP Outdoors, William Ellery's Expedition Equipment and allmansright.

These unmissable things to do in the spring in NYC will give you an excuse to spend some time soaking up the vitamin D

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Best Earth Day Events in NYC to Help the Planet while Having Fun

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The Climate Arts Festival at Queens Botanical Gardens offers a jam-packed schedule of events on Earth Day. The itinerary includes a farm tour, storytime, crafts, dance performances, science experiments, composting tips, and a bee garden demo. Activities run from 11am-4pm on April 22.

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A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions. The average carbon footprint for a person in the United States is 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world. Globally, the average carbon footprint is closer to 4 tons.

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Earth Day 2023 with Solar One and Brooklyn Public Library!

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Earth Day 2023 with Solar One and Brooklyn Public Library!

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https://www.eventbrite.com/e/earth-day-2023-with-solar-one-and-brooklyn-public-library-tickets-608917256907

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earth day 2023 with solar one and brooklyn public library

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earth day 2023 with solar one and brooklyn public library tickets

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earth day 2023 with solar one and brooklyn public library brooklyn

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earth day 2023 with solar one and brooklyn public library brooklyn tickets

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Earth Day 2023 with Solar One and Brooklyn Public Library

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Eventbrite - Solar One presents Earth Day 2023 with Solar One and Brooklyn Public Library - Saturday, April 22, 2023 at Central Library, Brooklyn, NY. Find event and ticket information.

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https://www.scholastic.com/parents/family-life/parent-child/6-ways-to-celebrate-earth-day.html

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Learn how to celebrate Earth Day for kids with our list of fun environmental projects! Preserve the planet as a family with these Earth Day activities.

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https://secretnyc.co/earth-day-nyc/

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This year for Earth Day in NYC, the city is celebrating sustainability. Throughout the month you'll find a number of events around the city that encourage New Yorkers to be more environmentally conscious and to live in harmony with our planet!

Fromgetting your hands dirty by participating in citywide clean-ups to enjoying free activations on car-free streets (and much more), here are some of the best ways to celebrate Earth Day in NYC this year.

The annual Car Free Earth Day in NYC event will be returning for its fifth year on Saturday, April 22. On these car-free streets you can enjoy exciting activations such as healthy eating demos, an urban design workshop, animal trivia, biofact presentations, and rides on Lime scooters, just to name a few! Learn more here.

Where: Multiple streets

When: Saturday, April 22, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The New York Restoration Project (NYRP) is working to make the city a bit greener, and this April and May they're giving away free trees across NYC! This tree giveaway returns after a two year hiatus due to COVID-19, and this spring they have many native species to give away. Learn more here.

Where: Multiple locations

One third of New Yorkers trash is comprised of food scraps and yard waste, but rather than throwing it out just to have it end up in a landfill, why not compost it? Composting speeds up the decomposition process by providing the waste with decomposing organisms, such as fungi and worms, leaving behind a nutrient-rich soil-looking matter can work wonders in a garden. Make everyday Earth Day in NYC when you participate in composting. Learn more here.

4. Take part in Earth Day Initiative's Earth Day 2022 Festival + Virtual Stage

Earth Day Initiative is bringing people together to call for climate action and environmental justice. Their Earth Day 2022 Festival + Virtual Stage, which will be held around the world virtually and in person at Union Square, will provide a valuable space for the climate and environmental communities to connect with the public, meet and learn from one another, and bring new people into the movement. Head to union square at 12p.m. on April 16th, or if you'd like to attend virtually, head to their website on the day of the event.

Where: Union Square

When: Sunday, April 16, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.

5. Join Queens Farm on their Bee-A-Pollinator: Earth Day Service Day

Queens Farm is honoring Earth Day in NYC by hosting a volunteer service day. Farming since 1697, Queens Farm is one of the longest continually farmed sites in New York State, and this year you can assist with sifting compost, a spring clean-up, mulching, weeding and more. You can also enjoy talks with the farm's beekeeper, a compost giveback, tractor-drawn hayrides ($5/person), free giveaways, and more! You can register here.

Where: Queens Farm

When: Saturday, April 22, 12 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

6. Thrift select items at Buffalo Exchange's $1 sale

Bargain hunters and thrifting lovers, this one's for you! On Saturday, April 22, starting at 11a.m., Buffalo Exchange will be hosting its annual Earth Day $1 Sale at all locations. While supplies last certain items will be only $1, and all proceeds from the sale will benefit The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, who provides home, herd, rest, refuge and individualized care for life to captive elephants. Be sure to get there early-it's likely a line will start forming! (P.S. this sale is cash only!)

Where: Multiple Locations

When: Saturday, April 22, 11 a.m. (while supplies last)

7. Head to Brooklyn Bridge Park for a mix of outdoor events

This year the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy is celebrating Earth Month with a series of different events, from a coastal cleanup to a horticulture walk. See their full calendar of Earth Month events here.

Where: Multiple spots around Brooklyn Bridge Park

8. Experience an afternoon of fun at Rockefeller Center's Center Plaza

Rockefeller Center is honoring Earth Day with a day of fun, with live musical performances by The Rock & Roll Playhouse, face painting, arts and crafts, a coloring station, and more. The event is free and open to the public.

Where: Center Plaza at Rockefeller Center

When: Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

9. Drink sustainably with City Winery's reusable wine bottle program

To celebrate Earth Month City Winery is expanding their reusable wine bottle program, Re-Wine, into four new locations including NYC's Pier 57. Customers can now take wine-to-go, return the bottle to be washed and sanitized, and then receive a $5 credit towards their next bottle. City Winery is working to eliminate the burning energy of shipping heavy glass bottles and corks. Learn more here.

10. Enjoy a free concert at Brookfield Place

Brookfield Place is hosting Music of Our Sphere, a free concert performed by the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra in celebration of Earth Day. The Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra will share a musical appreciation of the beauty of nature and a meditation on the spiritual and literal issues we face with our continued existence on this earth. Learn more here.

Where: Brookfield Place New York - 230 Vesey Street

When: Saturday, April 22, 7 p.m.

11. Take part in a skyline view sketching class at Edge

NYC's highest outdoor sky deck Edge has announced a special sketching class in partnership with MoMA to celebrate Earth Day. The class will be focused on sketching the view, skylines, and nature while seated on Edge's Skyline Seats. Guests will have access to Edge after the event. All materials will be provided. Beverages will be available for purchase. Learn more and get tickets here.

Where: Edge

When: Friday, April 21, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.

12. Take part in celebrations on Governors Island

The Island's second annual Earth Day celebration is offering a day of free programming, inviting New Yorkers to spend the day on Governors Island and enjoy free educational activities and workshops for all ages, guided tours through the Island's open space, and live performances inspired by ecology and the environment. The full event schedule can be found on their website.

Where: Governors Island

When: Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

13. Create seed bombs at Open Street in La Marqueta

Join the celebration of Earth Day at Open Street in La Marqueta by bringing your family along to create seed bombs with local small business Urban Garden Center and make recycled art at Street Lab's READ cart. Learn more here.

Where: La Marqueta - E 115th St & Park Ave, East Harlem

When: Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

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13 Environmentally-Conscious Ways To Celebrate Earth Day In NYC

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This year for Earth Day in NYC, the city is celebrating sustainability. Throughout the month you'll find a number of events around the city that encourage New Yorkers to be more environmentally conscious and to live in harmony with our planet!

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https://www.nycgo.com/events/earth-day-events/

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With events on Earth Day and throughout the week, New York City celebrates sustainability and ways to live in harmony with the planet.

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https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/15-ways-to-celebrate-earth-day-with-kids

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15 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day With Kids | Parenting Tips & Advice

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What better way to help children foster a relationship with our planet than by celebrating Earth Day with some fun activities? We’ve rounded up some kid-approved games, crafts, and activities to help your family learn how to take care of the earth.

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https://mylifeandkids.com/22-awesome-earth-day-games-for-kids/

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Looking for some fun ideas to celebrate Earth Day? Check out these 22 awesome Earth Day Games for kids. #10 will get your kids moving!

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https://www.primarygames.com/holidays/earth_day/games/

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Play free online Earth Day games. Celebrate Earth Day with these fun and educational games! Help Baby Hazel participate in a park cleaning program with Baby Hazel and friends to spread the "Go Green" message to the world.

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Play free online Earth Day games. Celebrate Earth Day with these fun and educational games! Help Baby Hazel participate in a park cleaning program with Baby Hazel and friends to spread the

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https://www.thespruce.com/fun-kids-earth-day-games-4028029

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What Are Good Games for Kids To Play on Earth Day?

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Discover fun games inspired by nature to help the kids learn about and celebrate Earth Day, including recycling craft projects and musical lily pads.

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https://www.momjunction.com/articles/earth-day-activities-for-kids-students_00698510/

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30 Creative & Fun Earth Day Activities For Kids To Celebrate

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Keep your children busy this Earth Day with meaningful and inspiring projects. Check this post for some interesting Earth Day activities for kids.

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Saturday, April 22, 2023

10 am to 3 pm

Open Streets: Car-Free Earth Day is an annual car-free event hosted by NYC DOT. Programming is presented at signature locations citywide, to promote activism and education surrounding climate change, sustainability, and other relevant topics.

Through the support of Lyft, Citi Bike will offer free unlimited 30-minute rides on a classic Citi Bike on Open Streets: Car-Free Earth Day. All riders may take advantage of the offer by using the promo code CARFREE23 in the Citi Bike app.

Map

Map Summary

Signature Locations

Willis Avenue

East 147 Street to East 148 Street, Bronx

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Troutman Street

St. Nicholas Avenue to Irving Avenue, Brooklyn

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Dyckman Street

Broadway to La Marina, Manhattan

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

St. Nicholas Avenue

West 181 Street to West 190 Street, Manhattan

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Broadway

East 17 Street to West 42 Street, Manhattan

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Woodside Avenue

76 Street to 79 Street, Queens

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Minthorne Street

Bay Street to Victory Boulevard, Staten Island

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Open Street Locations

The Bronx

Jennings Open Street

Jennings Street from Prospect Avenue to Chisolm Street, Bronx

With Caldwell Enrichment Program, Inc.

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Brooklyn

Bankers Anchor

North 15 Street from Banker Street to Nassau Avenue, Brooklyn

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Bedford Slip Open Street

Bedford Avenue from Lorimer Street to Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Berry Open Street

Berry Street from Broadway to North 12 Street, Brooklyn

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Beverly Road Open Street

Beverly Road from East 2 Street to Church Avenue, Brooklyn

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Graham Avenue South Open Street

Graham Avenue from Scholes Street to Meserole Street, Brooklyn

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Knickerbocker Plaza

Myrtle Avenue from Knickerbocker Avenue to Greene Avenue, Brooklyn

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Myrtle Wyckoff Plaza

Wyckoff Avenue from Myrtle Avenue to Gates Avenue, Brooklyn

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Underhill Plaza

Underhill Avenue from Pacific Street to Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Vanderbilt Avenue Open Street

Vanderbilt Avenue from Atlantic Avenue to Park Place, Brooklyn

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Manhattan

115th Street Open Street (at Park Avenue)

115 Street at Park Avenue, Manhattan

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

120th Street Open Street

120 Street from Malcolm X Boulevard to Mount Morris Park West, Manhattan

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Avenue B Open Street

Avenue B from East 7 Street to East 9 Street, Manhattan

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Cooper Square Plaza (at Cooper Square)

Bowery at Cooper Square, Manhattan

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Forsyth Street Open Street

Forsyth Street from Division Street to East Broadway, Manhattan

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Johnny Hartman Plaza

Hamilton Place from 143 Street to Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Queens

141st Street Open Street

141 Street from 109 Avenue to Lakewood Avenue, Queens

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

31st Ave Open Street

31 Avenue from 33 Street to 35 Street, Queens

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

34th Avenue Open Street

34 Avenue from 92 Street to 93 Street, Queens

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

34th Avenue Open Street

34 Avenue from 73 Street to 74 Street, Queens

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Beach 21st Street Plaza

Beach 21 Street from Mott Avenue to Cornaga Avenue, Queens

With REMA 4 US, INC.

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Bliss Plaza (at 46 Street)

Queens Boulevard at 46 Street, Queens

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Lowery Plaza (at 40 Street)

Queens Boulevard at 40 Street, Queens

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

Rockaway Beach Boulevard

On Rockaway Beach Boulevard from Beach 59 Street to Beach 56 Place, Queens

Activities, Workshops and Presentations

Performances

History

First launched in 2016, Open Streets: Car-Free Earth Day originally converted select Manhattan streets into public plazas and car-free streets for pedestrians, cyclists, and local businesses.

Open Streets Car-Free Earth Day has expanded to locations throughout the five boroughs - connecting Open Streets, plazas, and accessing over 1,000 miles of NYC's Bike Network! Environmental programming is offered by City agencies and community organizations along the routes to promote activism and education surrounding climate change, sustainability and other relevant topics. NYC DOT is proud to partner with local artists to bring exciting performances to the event.

Visit NYC DOT's Flickr for images of past Car-Free Earth Day events, flickr.com/nycstreets.

Get Involved

Do you love New York City? Are you passionate about the environment, health and fitness, or arts and culture? If you answer yes to any of these questions, consider partnering with us on future events and help make the streets come alive with exciting programming and activities!

Brand Sponsors

Corporate entities may submit ideas for event sponsorship of Car-Free Earth Day at varying levels. All event sponsorship inquiries may be emailed to sponsorship@dot.nyc.gov.

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Open Streets: Car-Free Earth Day is an annual car-free event hosted by NYC DOT. Programming is presented at signature locations citywide, to promote activism and education surrounding climate change, sustainability, and other relevant topics. Through the support of Lyft, Citi Bike will offer free unlimited 30-minute rides on a classic Citi Bike on Open Streets: Car-Free Earth Day.

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https://abc7ny.com/harlem-grown-sustainable-farming-earth-day-childrens-health/13150187/

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HARLEM, New York (WABC) -- Harlem Grown, a leader in sustainable urban farming in New York City, is celebrating Earth Day with a big community festival on Saturday.

Harlem Grown's Earth Day Festival will take place Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event, at 116 W. 134th St., is free and open to the public. Activities will include free food tastings, upcycled crafts, and dance.

Founded in 2011, Harlem Grown espouses a mission to "grow healthy children" through access to sustainable urban farming at any of their 13 farm sites in the city and through mentorship.

The organization highlights six core values: Community, Diversity, Food Sovereignty, Future Generations, Equity and Adaptability.

To attend, register for the festival here.

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HARLEM, New York (WABC) -- Harlem Grown, a leader in sustainable urban farming in New York City, is celebrating Earth Day with a big community festival on Saturday. Harlem Grown's Earth Day Festival will take place Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event, at 116 W.

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https://www.almanac.com/content/earth-day-date-activities-history

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The 54rd Earth Day is Monday, April 22. So, what is Earth Day? How did it come to be? How do we celebrate Earth Day? Find out in this informative article, including 10 tips to make your home planet a better place to live-which is integral to your own health and happiness!

Here at The Old Farmer's Almanac, we believe that we are stewards of nature, plants, and our lands and that the individual responsibility lies with each of us. Our planet needs our help to thrive. Earth Day activities can range from river cleanups to removals of invasive plants. Learn more below.

The "green things growing" whisper me
Of many an earth-old mystery.
-Eben Eugene Rexford (1848-1916)

What Is Earth Day?

Ever wonder how Earth Day began? The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, when San Francisco activist John McConnell and Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson separately asked Americans to join in a grassroots demonstration. Dealing with dangerously serious issues concerning toxic drinking water, air pollution, and the effects of pesticides, an impressive 20 million Americans-10% of the population-ventured outdoors and protested together.

President Richard Nixon led the nation in creating the Environmental Protection Agency, which followed with successful laws, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

McConnell originally had chosen the spring equinox (March 20, 1970), but Nelson chose April 22, which ended up becoming the official celebration date. (Given that the date of the spring equinox changes over time, it may have made things more complicated to go with the astronomical event rather than just a calendar date.)

Today, not only is Earth Day meant to increase awareness of environmental problems, but it is also becoming a popular time for many communities to gather together to clean up litter, plant trees, or simply reflect on the beauty of nature. Further down the page, we've provided a list of activities and projects that you can do to improve your local environment!

When Is Earth Day?

Earth Day is always celebrated on April 22. It's followed closely by Arbor Day, which falls on the last Friday in April.

10 Earth Day Activities and Ideas

Celebrate Earth Day by appreciating and respecting the natural world. Here are some ideas to inspire you this year.

1. Support Our Pollinators!

Bring native bees and other pollinating creatures to your garden. One way to do this is by selecting the right plants this season with pollinator-friendly plants. Need ideas?

2. Clean Up Plastic in Your Neighborhood or Local Park

One of the best ways to connect with the Earth is through cleanups. Go on a walk with a trash bag and help to clean up any plastic that you find. Perhaps you know of a nearby ditch or drainage area around the corner that is polluted with trash! You'll start to realize that plastic permeates every aspect of our lives. But as the world wakes up to its addiction, just how easy is it to ditch plastic while growing and storing more of our own food? Don't forget to recycle what plastic you can. See a Plastics Recycling Chart.

3. Swap Out Your Kitchen and Household Products!

Let's talk about the cooking and cleaning products that touch the food we eat as well as our skin. One popular line of kitchen and household products at Wal*mart, Amazon, and other stores is called "If You Care." Have you seen this product? Everything's biodegradable and does not use chemicals or plastic. Think 100% recycled aluminum foil, toxic-free parchment paper for baking, compostable bags made with potato starch, and even vegetable-based inks for their packaging. We love the company's motto: "We care simply because it's the right thing to do!" Look for If You Care products next time you're grocery shopping. See the store locator.

4. Plant a Tree!

We love our trees! They capture carbon, cool overheated places, benefit agriculture, support pollinators, reduce the risk of disease transmission, and boost local economies. Did you know that planting one oak tree brings in more insect and bird species than an entire yard of plants? Talk to your local government about planting more trees and native garden beds in public spaces , or consider planting your own on your property! See advice on how to plant a tree.

Another way to make a difference is to ditch printed seed or plant catalogs. When you receive an unwanted catalog in the mail (especially those huge ones!), contact the company and ask to be removed from their print list.

5. Use Wildflowers and Native Plants

Wildflowers and indigenous species are not only beautiful but also attract native and beneficial insects that improve both pest control and pollination-meaning bigger flowers and better harvests. Try to simply add a couple of native plants to your garden each year, and you'll be amazed at the difference-they'll bring in pollinators as well as birds!

6. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle in the Garden

Caring about yourself and nature means being less wasteful and saving money, too. Who could argue with this? If you are a gardener, here are just a few ideas:

7. Stop Pesticides and Chemicals in the Garden

Most of the beginner gardeners who we meet want to start growing without chemicals or pesticides-in a way that works and even saves money. Much of this is simply about focusing less on the plant and more on the health of the soil that supports the plant. If it's nutrient-rich with organic matter, plants thrive.

8. Conserve Water!

We waste a lot of water. Avoid overwatering your plants and improve their health by knowing how much your garden really needs. Avoid watering your garden vegetables and plants from overhead, which invites fungal disease. Water at the soil level.

See our top tips for watering wisely in the garden or our video demonstrating 10 smart watering tips. For gardens, flower beds, trees, and other non-lawn areas, consider installing a drip irrigation system or hose with irrigation holes that puts the water right into the soil, where you want it. If you must use sprinklers, put them on timers.

Harvest your rainwater from a roof, gutters, and sky with a rain barrel. If you have a low-lying area, consider planting a rain garden, which captures runoff, filters out pollutants, and provides food and shelter for butterflies, songbirds, and other wildlife. See plot plans for "sun" and "shade" rain gardens.

9. Think About Your Diet!

About one-third of the food that we produce every year goes to waste annually! Usually, this happens after we buy the food. How do we avoid waste in our own lives (and save money)? Also, how can we improve our diet so that it's healthier for ourselves (and the planet)? One way is to care about your "foodprint," which is the result of everything that it takes to get your food from the farm to your plate. Take this fun 3-minute Foodprint Quiz to find out your foodprint.

10. Get Kids Involved!

Pass down a love of nature and plants to kids. There are lots of opportunities for hands-on learning experiences outside. Here are some ideas for how to garden with kids, including fun activities like planting a sunflower house! Find 6 more garden projects for kids from the Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids!

Earth Day Quotes and Poetry

Wish a friend a Happy Earth Day! Send them an email or share one of these beautiful quotes!

The thirsty earth soaks up the rain,
And drinks, and gapes for drink again.
The plants suck in the earth and are
With constant drinking fresh and fair.
-Abraham Cowley (1618-67)

Summer, fall, winter, spring,
The seasons rotate as each brings
Its special beauty to this Earth of ours.
Winter's snow and summer's flowers;
Frozen rivers will flow come spring,
There is a renewal of everything.
-Edna Frohock (1906-97)

The season comes when, from her three-month trance,
The Earth awakens: already her deep heart
Begins to stir, and send its life abroad.
-Thomas Buchanan Read (1822-72)

While the bright radiant sun in centre glows,
The earth in annual motion round it goes;
At the same time on its own axis reels,
And gives us change of seasons as it wheels.
-The 1793 Old Farmer's Almanac

It's an earth song,-
And I've been waiting long for an earth song.
It's a spring song,-
And I've been waiting long for a spring song.
Strong as the shoots of a new plant
Strong as the bursting of new buds
Strong as the coming of the first child from its mother's womb.
It's an earth song,
A body song,
A spring song,
I have been waiting long for this spring song.
-Langston Hughes (1902 - 67)

Learn more about Earth Day at Earthday.org, including many more ways to honor our planet!

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Earth Day 2024: How to Celebrate Earth Day

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The 54rd Earth Day is Saturday, April 22. So, what is Earth Day? How did it come to be? How do we celebrate Earth Day? Find out in this informative article, including 10 tips to make your planet a better place to live-which is integral to your own health

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https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/spring-crafts-for-kids/

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Springtime is arriving! 🌼 It's the perfect time for spring cleaning, lighter clothing and spring crafts for kids that boost creativity and keep children entertained at home.
We have you covered with 32 fun spring craft ideas to enjoy with your kids!
Toddlers, preschoolers and elementary-aged kids can have tons of fun with easy spring crafts for all ages. Check them out below (indoor and outdoor options included!)

Want your child to have fun and learn at home this spring?

With the Prodigy Math and Prodigy English games, kids can escape to exciting virtual worlds, where they'll answer curriculum-aligned math or English questions to succeed! While they're enjoying their adventures, you'll get useful data and tools to support their learning.

Empower your child to love learning today.

Easy spring crafts for kids
Materials: Printable frog template; paper lunch bag; green and pink paint; paintbrushes; scissors; glue; pencil; green, white, red and black cardstock.

This cute pal is sure to get your child in the spring mood. Plus, the craft project comes with an easy template to help you get started!
Materials: Printer paper or construction paper; pencil; scissors; googly eyes; string or ribbons; markers; glue.
Help your child to draw and cut out animal and insect shapes to create exciting finger puppets they can play with for hours!

Cut and glue the paper to make a puppet, then add extra features like tiger stripes, ladybug spots, facial features and more.
Materials: Popsicle sticks; paintbrushes; craft paint in a variety of colors; small pom poms with googly eyes; pipe cleaners; and your child's vivid imagination!
Not only do these adorable buddies encourage creativity blended with family time, your child can also develop a love for reading thanks to their new bookmarks!

There are tons of options for buddies your child can create: earthworms, ladybugs, bumblebees, or space aliens - to name a few!
Materials: Jumbo craft sticks; paint; paintbrushes; glue; googly eyes; buttons; beads; scissors; colorful felt.
Kids love farm animals, so celebrate spring with craft stick animals they can play with for hours.

Paint your sticks and apply googly eyes, felt for mouths and buttons for noses. They can make pigs, cows, chickens, horses or whatever else they'd like!

5. Spring printables

Instead of crafting from scratch, download free printable templates to get your spring crafts started on paper.

Try these:

Butterfly and flower crafts for kids
Materials: Acrylic paint; kitchen sponges; elastics; paper.

1. For each butterfly, take a kitchen sponge and wrap elastic around the middle.

2. Apply generous amounts of paint onto one side of the sponge in whatever pattern you'd like, then fold together to distribute paint onto the other side.

3. Dab the sponge onto a piece of paper to create the butterfly.

4. Add the body and antennae with a paintbrush as an extra detail.

Materials: Watercolor paper and paints; paintbrushes; butterfly wings template; black craft paint; pencil; googly eyes; pipe cleaners; pom poms; scissors; glue.

Here's a super cute way to make a beautiful butterfly and welcome the warm spring months ahead.

1. Mix black paint with glue. Then use a disposable paintbrush to outline the butterfly with your glue mixture. Note: it may take up to 24 hours for the outlined butterfly to dry.

2. Now comes the fun part: coloring the butterfly! Using watercolor paints, fill in the wings with shades of whatever color you'd like.

3. While the watercolor paint dries, glue the googly eyes to the biggest pom pom to create the butterfly's face.

4. Glue the pom pom near the top between the wings. Glue on three to four more pom poms to create the body.

5. Use pipe cleaners to make antennae and see how lovely your butterfly looks!

Materials: Painted craft sticks; buttons in different colors; glue.
Looking for a fun garden craft this spring? Try these cute faux flowers!
Materials: Mixed media paper or cardstock; acrylic paint (blue, dark brown, pink and white); cotton balls; paintbrushes; plastic disposable plate to use as a palette; mason jar or recyclable container to hold clean water; clothespins (optional).

Cherry blossoms are a beautiful reminder that spring is finally here. What better way to celebrate the season than with a lovely painting of them?

There you have it - a gorgeous new cherry blossom painting! 🌸
Materials: Construction paper (yellow + other bright colors of your choice); scissors; glue; green wire
Embrace the bloom of spring with the pretty paper flower petals on your crafty bouquet of tulips!
Materials: Flower pot template; paper cardstock in white and red purple or pink; green craft sticks; glue; thin ribbons in different colors; hole punch; scissors; markers.

Kids love making crafts as gifts for their parents on birthdays and holidays. And with Mother's Day right around the corner, your child's creativity and love can shine through with a heartfelt paper flower pot gift just for mom.

1. Print the flowerpot onto brown cardstock and print the flower petals on red, purple or pink paper. Print a Mother's Day tag on white paper.

2. Cut out the flowerpot and petals.

3. Glue the back of the tag and place it onto the flowerpot. Your child can write a sweet message for mom on the tag.

4. To make the flowers, fold two petals in half and glue onto one open flower petal. Repeat this step to make two more flowers.

5. Glue the flowers near the top of three craft sticks. Allow to dry.

6. Glue the craft sticks to the back of the flowerpot.

7. Tie a piece of colorful ribbon to the front to complete the look.

Easter crafts for kids
Materials: paper plates; colorful construction paper; pipe cleaners; pom poms; googly eyes; glue
Put old paper plates to good use with this fun and easy Easter-themed craft! To transform your paper plate into a cute bunny face, decorate your plate with construction paper for ears, a pom pom for a nose, a pipe cleaner for whiskers and googly eyes.
Materials: Easter card template (or draw your own design!); blank cards; cardstock paper in a variety of colors; googly eyes; pencil; scissors; glue; colorful markers.

Now is the perfect time to help your child make Easter cards and send them to family or friends!

1. Using cardstock, cut out shapes and glue onto the cards to represent cute animals, like chicks or bunnies.

2. Add googly eyes for that whimsical touch and you're done!

Materials: Toilet paper rolls; small googly eyes; white acrylic paint; black marker; pipe cleaners in pastel colors; white and colored cardstock; small pom poms.

Toilet paper rolls come in handy, especially with Easter on its way. Celebrate the season by making some cute and easy Easter bunnies!

Spring DIY projects for kids
Materials: Popsicle sticks; green acrylic paint; hot glue gun and glue sticks.

Unleash your child's imagination with this sweet little door to prop up against a tree and invite fairies to your yard!

To begin:

1. Paint the sticks and allow to dry.

2. Place the sticks side by side and glue together along the narrow edges.

3. Parents: glue a doorknob on the new fairy door with hot glue.

Materials: Popsicle sticks; acrylic paint colors; paintbrushes; glue.
You've probably seen adults make pallet furniture for their patios. Why not get kids involved in the pallet craze with fun coasters for their favorite drinks?

1. Apply glue to the narrow edges of the top and bottom part of three sticks and place on the flat side of two parallel sticks.

2. Glue and lay popsicle sticks along the thin edges, but be sure to leave small gaps between each stick for that "pallet look."

3. As soon as the paint is dry, paint the slats or leave them plain.

Tip: make multiple coasters to enjoy at your child's next tea party!
Materials: Large popsicle sticks; light blue acrylic or craft paint; paintbrush; seashells; sand, small pebbles; a length of twine; glue.
Hang this super cool sign up on your wall to commemorate fun family times at the beach!

To make this beautiful piece of art:
Materials: Painted popsicle sticks in a variety of colors; craft glue.

Use pre-painted sticks or apply craft paint in your favorite colors to create this fun treasure chest for storing toys and trinkets.

1. Place the sticks to form a square and put a drop of glue in the corners to hold them together.

2. Keep applying glue to the corners and layer sticks on top of the other, until you have a box as tall as your child wants.

Don't forget a lid on top to hold those secret treasures!

More fun spring craft ideas
Materials: Popsicle sticks; glue; red and white acrylic craft paint; paintbrush; cardboard box; small pebbles; dollar store green hay; burlap scraps; animal figurines and other dollar store finds.

Parents are encouraged to create this adorable barn and mini world with their kids, as the design is a bit more involved than other stick crafts.

Just follow these easy steps:

1. Glue together popsicle sticks and attach to the cardboard box.

2. Paint the sticks and cardboard using red and white paint. Allow to dry.

3. Decorate your new farm with your child!

2. Spring finger paintings
Materials: Finger paints; brushes; thick cardstock.
Get your kids excited to use their fingers and brushes to create abstract paintings in spring-themed colors. All kids need is the creative drive to make something beautiful they can display at home!
Materials: Jumbo craft sticks; rubber band; small cup to use as a mold; pot of boiling water (with parent supervision!)

1. Boil a pot of water and add popsicle sticks. Keep in mind, one or two sticks will break as you try to bend them.

2. Keep the sticks in the water for 15 minutes, to ensure they're pliable and easy to work with.

3. Remove the sticks and gently bend them around the cup. Use the elastic to ensure the stick remains around the cup. Leave the sticks to dry for 24 hours or more.

Then let your child decorate their new stick bracelets with paint, glitter or spring-themed decorations!
Materials: Toilet paper rolls; black marker.
This is one of the least expensive and most fun ways to recycle toilet paper rolls!

Let your kids use their imagination to draw unique and interesting faces for their cute little owls, then push down on the tops of the rolls to form their pointy ears.
Materials: Toilet paper roll; blue paint; scissors; white paper; markers; tissue paper in a variety of colors; string.

April showers bring May flowers, but all that rain brings something else, too - rainbows! For rainy days, here's a fun craft to help your child make their own. 🌈
Materials: Colorful construction paper; scissors; glue; regular-sized popsicle sticks.

These paper popsicles are a fun and inexpensive way to welcome warmer weather as spring arrives.

Using basic cut and pasting, kids can have hours of excitement shaping construction paper into rectangles and circles with scissors.

7. Poured paintings
Materials: Acrylic paint; disposable plastic cups; white cardstock or mixed media paper.

1. Pour acrylic paint into small plastic cups.

2. Let your child pour paint from the cups onto random areas of their paper to produce fun and interesting designs. Tilt the paper for an extra cool effect.

Materials: Toilet paper rolls; colorful construction paper; glue; scissors; markers; acrylic paint, a paintbrush or two.

Turn toilet paper rolls into cute pals your child can take wherever they go! Kids can get extra creative with this craft and decorate their dolls however they want.

Benefits of crafts for kids

With the spring crafts above, you can keep your child entertained all season! But did you know they can also benefit your child's development?

There are a multitude of reasons parents should encourage kids to take part in regular arts and crafts.

Benefits can be seen in your child's:

Confidence - Crafts are an enjoyable creative outlet that helps kids achieve a sense of accomplishment from their creations.

Mood - Creative expression helps kids stay engaged and happy. It can also help relieve stress and give kids a safe way to process painful emotions or bumpy life transitions.

Learning and memory - Art can accommodate different learning styles and help them learn while they create. Plus, kids rarely forget an activity they love!

Motor skills - Artistic adventures can promote neural development and sharpen motor skills. For instance, getting used to holding a pencil or paintbrush can develop dexterity, and coloring between lines can improve fine motor coordination.

BONUS spring craft ideas for kids of all ages

These extra crafts are perfect if you're looking for more creative ways to celebrate spring.

Ready to get crafty this spring?

These easy spring crafts for kids are a perfect way to start building a lifetime of artistic development and appreciation. It's also a wonderful way to bring the family together to create art in the safety and comfort of home!
Keep the fun going all spring with Prodigy!
Check out these resources to learn more about how much fun learning can be with Prodigy!

Get a free Prodigy account now!
Springtime is arriving! 🌼 It's the perfect time for spring cleaning, lighter clothing and spring crafts for kids that boost creativity and keep children entertained at home.
We have you covered with 32 fun spring craft ideas to enjoy with your kids!
Toddlers, preschoolers and elementary-aged kids can have tons of fun with easy spring crafts for all ages. Check them out below (indoor and outdoor options included!)

Want your child to have fun and learn at home this spring?

With the Prodigy Math and Prodigy English games, kids can escape to exciting virtual worlds, where they'll answer curriculum-aligned math or English questions to succeed! While they're enjoying their adventures, you'll get useful data and tools to support their learning.

Empower your child to love learning today.

Easy spring crafts for kids
Materials: Printable frog template; paper lunch bag; green and pink paint; paintbrushes; scissors; glue; pencil; green, white, red and black cardstock.
This cute pal is sure to get your child in the spring mood. Plus, the craft project comes with an easy template to help you get started!
Materials: Printer paper or construction paper; pencil; scissors; googly eyes; string or ribbons; markers; glue.
Help your child to draw and cut out animal and insect shapes to create exciting finger puppets they can play with for hours!

Cut and glue the paper to make a puppet, then add extra features like tiger stripes, ladybug spots, facial features and more.
Materials: Popsicle sticks; paintbrushes; craft paint in a variety of colors; small pom poms with googly eyes; pipe cleaners; and your child's vivid imagination!
Not only do these adorable buddies encourage creativity blended with family time, your child can also develop a love for reading thanks to their new bookmarks!

There are tons of options for buddies your child can create: earthworms, ladybugs, bumblebees, or space aliens - to name a few!
Materials: Jumbo craft sticks; paint; paintbrushes; glue; googly eyes; buttons; beads; scissors; colorful felt.
Kids love farm animals, so celebrate spring with craft stick animals they can play with for hours.

Paint your sticks and apply googly eyes, felt for mouths and buttons for noses. They can make pigs, cows, chickens, horses or whatever else they'd like!

5. Spring printables

Instead of crafting from scratch, download free printable templates to get your spring crafts started on paper.

Try these:

Butterfly and flower crafts for kids
Materials: Acrylic paint; kitchen sponges; elastics; paper.

1. For each butterfly, take a kitchen sponge and wrap elastic around the middle.

2. Apply generous amounts of paint onto one side of the sponge in whatever pattern you'd like, then fold together to distribute paint onto the other side.

3. Dab the sponge onto a piece of paper to create the butterfly.

4. Add the body and antennae with a paintbrush as an extra detail.

Materials: Watercolor paper and paints; paintbrushes; butterfly wings template; black craft paint; pencil; googly eyes; pipe cleaners; pom poms; scissors; glue.
Here's a super cute way to make a beautiful butterfly and welcome the warm spring months ahead.

1. Mix black paint with glue. Then use a disposable paintbrush to outline the butterfly with your glue mixture. Note: it may take up to 24 hours for the outlined butterfly to dry.

2. Now comes the fun part: coloring the butterfly! Using watercolor paints, fill in the wings with shades of whatever color you'd like.

3. While the watercolor paint dries, glue the googly eyes to the biggest pom pom to create the butterfly's face.

4. Glue the pom pom near the top between the wings. Glue on three to four more pom poms to create the body.

5. Use pipe cleaners to make antennae and see how lovely your butterfly looks!

Materials: Painted craft sticks; buttons in different colors; glue.
Looking for a fun garden craft this spring? Try these cute faux flowers!
Materials: Mixed media paper or cardstock; acrylic paint (blue, dark brown, pink and white); cotton balls; paintbrushes; plastic disposable plate to use as a palette; mason jar or recyclable container to hold clean water; clothespins (optional).
Cherry blossoms are a beautiful reminder that spring is finally here. What better way to celebrate the season than with a lovely painting of them?

There you have it - a gorgeous new cherry blossom painting! 🌸
Materials: Construction paper (yellow + other bright colors of your choice); scissors; glue; green wire
Embrace the bloom of spring with the pretty paper flower petals on your crafty bouquet of tulips!
Materials: Flower pot template; paper cardstock in white and red purple or pink; green craft sticks; glue; thin ribbons in different colors; hole punch; scissors; markers.
Kids love making crafts as gifts for their parents on birthdays and holidays. And with Mother's Day right around the corner, your child's creativity and love can shine through with a heartfelt paper flower pot gift just for mom.

1. Print the flowerpot onto brown cardstock and print the flower petals on red, purple or pink paper. Print a Mother's Day tag on white paper.

2. Cut out the flowerpot and petals.

3. Glue the back of the tag and place it onto the flowerpot. Your child can write a sweet message for mom on the tag.

4. To make the flowers, fold two petals in half and glue onto one open flower petal. Repeat this step to make two more flowers.

5. Glue the flowers near the top of three craft sticks. Allow to dry.

6. Glue the craft sticks to the back of the flowerpot.

7. Tie a piece of colorful ribbon to the front to complete the look.

Easter crafts for kids
Materials: paper plates; colorful construction paper; pipe cleaners; pom poms; googly eyes; glue
Put old paper plates to good use with this fun and easy Easter-themed craft! To transform your paper plate into a cute bunny face, decorate your plate with construction paper for ears, a pom pom for a nose, a pipe cleaner for whiskers and googly eyes.
Materials: Easter card template (or draw your own design!); blank cards; cardstock paper in a variety of colors; googly eyes; pencil; scissors; glue; colorful markers.
Now is the perfect time to help your child make Easter cards and send them to family or friends!

1. Using cardstock, cut out shapes and glue onto the cards to represent cute animals, like chicks or bunnies.

2. Add googly eyes for that whimsical touch and you're done!

Materials: Toilet paper rolls; small googly eyes; white acrylic paint; black marker; pipe cleaners in pastel colors; white and colored cardstock; small pom poms.
Toilet paper rolls come in handy, especially with Easter on its way. Celebrate the season by making some cute and easy Easter bunnies!

Spring DIY projects for kids
Materials: Popsicle sticks; green acrylic paint; hot glue gun and glue sticks.
Unleash your child's imagination with this sweet little door to prop up against a tree and invite fairies to your yard!

To begin:

1. Paint the sticks and allow to dry.

2. Place the sticks side by side and glue together along the narrow edges.

3. Parents: glue a doorknob on the new fairy door with hot glue.

Materials: Popsicle sticks; acrylic paint colors; paintbrushes; glue.
You've probably seen adults make pallet furniture for their patios. Why not get kids involved in the pallet craze with fun coasters for their favorite drinks?

1. Apply glue to the narrow edges of the top and bottom part of three sticks and place on the flat side of two parallel sticks.

2. Glue and lay popsicle sticks along the thin edges, but be sure to leave small gaps between each stick for that "pallet look."

3. As soon as the paint is dry, paint the slats or leave them plain.

Tip: make multiple coasters to enjoy at your child's next tea party!
Materials: Large popsicle sticks; light blue acrylic or craft paint; paintbrush; seashells; sand, small pebbles; a length of twine; glue.
Hang this super cool sign up on your wall to commemorate fun family times at the beach!

To make this beautiful piece of art:
Materials: Painted popsicle sticks in a variety of colors; craft glue.
Use pre-painted sticks or apply craft paint in your favorite colors to create this fun treasure chest for storing toys and trinkets.

1. Place the sticks to form a square and put a drop of glue in the corners to hold them together.

2. Keep applying glue to the corners and layer sticks on top of the other, until you have a box as tall as your child wants.

Don't forget a lid on top to hold those secret treasures!

More fun spring craft ideas
Materials: Popsicle sticks; glue; red and white acrylic craft paint; paintbrush; cardboard box; small pebbles; dollar store green hay; burlap scraps; animal figurines and other dollar store finds.
Parents are encouraged to create this adorable barn and mini world with their kids, as the design is a bit more involved than other stick crafts.

Just follow these easy steps:

1. Glue together popsicle sticks and attach to the cardboard box.

2. Paint the sticks and cardboard using red and white paint. Allow to dry.

3. Decorate your new farm with your child!

2. Spring finger paintings
Materials: Finger paints; brushes; thick cardstock.
Get your kids excited to use their fingers and brushes to create abstract paintings in spring-themed colors. All kids need is the creative drive to make something beautiful they can display at home!
Materials: Jumbo craft sticks; rubber band; small cup to use as a mold; pot of boiling water (with parent supervision!)

1. Boil a pot of water and add popsicle sticks. Keep in mind, one or two sticks will break as you try to bend them.

2. Keep the sticks in the water for 15 minutes, to ensure they're pliable and easy to work with.

3. Remove the sticks and gently bend them around the cup. Use the elastic to ensure the stick remains around the cup. Leave the sticks to dry for 24 hours or more.

Then let your child decorate their new stick bracelets with paint, glitter or spring-themed decorations!
Materials: Toilet paper rolls; black marker.
This is one of the least expensive and most fun ways to recycle toilet paper rolls!

Let your kids use their imagination to draw unique and interesting faces for their cute little owls, then push down on the tops of the rolls to form their pointy ears.
Materials: Toilet paper roll; blue paint; scissors; white paper; markers; tissue paper in a variety of colors; string.
April showers bring May flowers, but all that rain brings something else, too - rainbows! For rainy days, here's a fun craft to help your child make their own. 🌈
Materials: Colorful construction paper; scissors; glue; regular-sized popsicle sticks.
These paper popsicles are a fun and inexpensive way to welcome warmer weather as spring arrives.

Using basic cut and pasting, kids can have hours of excitement shaping construction paper into rectangles and circles with scissors.

7. Poured paintings
Materials: Acrylic paint; disposable plastic cups; white cardstock or mixed media paper.

1. Pour acrylic paint into small plastic cups.

2. Let your child pour paint from the cups onto random areas of their paper to produce fun and interesting designs. Tilt the paper for an extra cool effect.

Materials: Toilet paper rolls; colorful construction paper; glue; scissors; markers; acrylic paint, a paintbrush or two.
Turn toilet paper rolls into cute pals your child can take wherever they go! Kids can get extra creative with this craft and decorate their dolls however they want.

Benefits of crafts for kids

With the spring crafts above, you can keep your child entertained all season! But did you know they can also benefit your child's development?

There are a multitude of reasons parents should encourage kids to take part in regular arts and crafts.

Benefits can be seen in your child's:

Confidence - Crafts are an enjoyable creative outlet that helps kids achieve a sense of accomplishment from their creations.

Mood - Creative expression helps kids stay engaged and happy. It can also help relieve stress and give kids a safe way to process painful emotions or bumpy life transitions.

Learning and memory - Art can accommodate different learning styles and help them learn while they create. Plus, kids rarely forget an activity they love!

Motor skills - Artistic adventures can promote neural development and sharpen motor skills. For instance, getting used to holding a pencil or paintbrush can develop dexterity, and coloring between lines can improve fine motor coordination.

BONUS spring craft ideas for kids of all ages

These extra crafts are perfect if you're looking for more creative ways to celebrate spring.

Ready to get crafty this spring?

These easy spring crafts for kids are a perfect way to start building a lifetime of artistic development and appreciation. It's also a wonderful way to bring the family together to create art in the safety and comfort of home!
Keep the fun going all spring with Prodigy!
Check out these resources to learn more about how much fun learning can be with Prodigy!
Get a free Prodigy account now!

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Springtime is arriving! 🌼 It's the perfect time for spring cleaning, lighter clothing and spring crafts for kids that boost creativity and keep children entertained at home. We have you covered with 32 fun spring craft ideas to enjoy with your kids!

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https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/earth-day-activities-for-kids/

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Most adults are familiar with the 3 Rs - reduce, reuse and recycle. But it's important to make sure children understand their responsibility to care for planet Earth, too.

Every year on April 22nd, Earth Day brings the world together to celebrate, and it's the perfect time to educate kids about climate change and how they can work to protect our home with Earth Day activities for kids.

Fortunately, there are lots of spring crafts and activities we can use to inspire students to care for the environment!

We've put together a list of Earth Day activities perfect for your classroom and beyond, and even included some bonus activities kids can do at home with parents.

No matter where students are, there's always an opportunity to teach them about protecting the environment, recycling and reducing unnecessary waste.

Let's get started!

Earth Day activities for the classroom

1. Connect with nature

Wouldn't it be fun to take a walk through a local park? The first and best way to celebrate Earth Day is getting outside and exploring nature.

As they explore, kids can birdwatch and observe wildlife in natural habitats found throughout city parks and conservation areas.

There are countless ways to show kids how nature wakes up. In the spring, newly forming buds appear on trees. Birds chirp more often as the weather warms up. As they observe nature, kids just might develop a love for nature and our planet.

As you walk, be sure to remind students about the golden rule of nature exploring: " Take only pictures, leave only footprints."

Speaking of which...

2. Organize an Earth Day scavenger hunt

While students are exploring nature, have them catalogue what they find!

There are lots of ways to observe and record nature that don't involve disturbing the environment or taking things out of it. Create a list of things for them to do and spot as they walk, including:

Drawing pictures of flowers and plants

Spotting birds (and identifying them if they can)

Writing down or taking pictures of any wildlife they spot

Collecting litter and recycling - with the proper equipment, of course

After, use the nature walk as a writing prompt or opportunity for class discussion.

3. Hang birdseed ornaments

Celebrate Earth Day and feed the birds with the help of birdseed ornaments made from supplies you can find in the kitchen!

Great for kids of all ages, birdseed ornaments give feathered friends a snack and let kids see the birds that come to visit when you hang them outside the classroom or kitchen window.

What you need:

Straw

Twine

Birdseed

Corn syrup

Cookie cutters

Parchment paper

2 packets of gelatin

Cold and boiling water

What to do:

1. Mix the gelatin with ½ cup of cold water until it dissolves the powder.

2. Have an adult add ½ cup of boiling water to the gelatin so it dissolves.

3. Add 2 tablespoons of corn syrup and mix well.

4. Add birdseed to the gelatin mixture.

5. Spoon the birdseed mixture into cookie cutters and use parchment paper to pat the seeds into the cookie cutter.

6. Keep filling and pressing down the birdseed mixture. Be sure to leave a hole to thread twine through the ornament.

7. Place the filled cookie cutters in the fridge overnight.

8. The next day, give the birdseed ornaments a gentle push to let them fall out of the cookie-cutter mold.

Pull the twine through the holes and hang it outside for birds to enjoy!

4. Build an insect hotel

Your students can build an adorable hotel for bugs using basic materials you'll find around the home - and recycle some trash in the process!

What you need:

Tree bark

Pinecones

A large plastic bottle

Fallen sticks and twigs

Any other earthly elements your kids may want to add

What to do:

1. Cut the bottle into two pieces to form separated cylinders. Remove the top and bottom pieces, as we will not be using them.

2. Push holes in the top of the bottle pieces and thread twine to hang when the hotel is completed.

3. Put twigs, branches and pine cone pieces inside each bottle. You may need to snap the twigs to shorten them. Fill the bottles.

Hang outside to allow bugs to enjoy their new home.

5. Grow a love for plants with seed jars

Students love science experiments! Involve kids in making seed jars to honor Earth Day. They'll be able to watch seeds sprout and grow into a flower or vegetable, then plant it in a garden once it's ready.

What you need:

Water

Paper towels

A clear large jar

Seeds (nasturtium, sunflowers, peas, and beans germinate quickly)

What to do:

1. Fold paper towels and place them inside jars. Allow your students to push the paper towels down into the jar.

2. Add water slowly into the jar but do not overfill it.

3. Put seeds on the wet paper towels near the edges of the glass so kids can watch their experiments grow before their eyes!

6. Build a cardboard tube bird feeder

Here's a delightful DIY project for parents and teachers to try with kids. These cute feeders are completed in record time for birds to enjoy right away.

What you need:

String

Scissors

Birdseed

Butter knife

Peanut butter

Bamboo skewer

Toilet paper roll or another cardboard tube

What to do:

1. Cut two holes at the top and bottom of the cardboard tube.

2. Push the bamboo skewer through the bottom holes as a perch for birds to stand on.

3. Spread peanut butter throughout the outside of the tube.

4. Pour birdseed onto a plate and roll the tube in the seeds until it is completely covered.

5. Thread twine into the top holes and hang outside.

7. Clean up a science experiment

The words "science experiment" conjures up thoughts of cool and exciting things to try at school or with parents at home.

Involve your mad scientists in an oil spill and clean up experiment to enhance their awareness of environmental accidents.

What you need:

Oil Spill and Clean-up Science Experiment:

1. Fill the pan halfway with water.

2. Squirt some oil in the water.

3. Now comes the fun part! Experiment with ways to clean up the oil spill using cotton balls or trying to suck up the oil with a medicine dropper or paper towel.

4. Drop dish soap on the oil to see how the two elements react. The soap helps the oil to break apart so that clean up becomes an easier task.

Students will gain a better sense of how oil spills poison marine life and birds.

8. Teach students to recycle

It's important to get kids interested in saving our planet at an early age. A valuable technique for instilling good recycling habits is to show kids how to sort recyclables.

This is a perfect Earth Day activity for preschoolers or kindergarteners, since it's a skill they'll use for the rest of their lives.
Show kids how to separate plastics, metals, cardboard and glass. Ask them to place each type of recyclable into separate bins.

Reinforce these skills throughout the year at lunchtime, or whenever students have recyclables.

9. Learn how to compost

Be sure to help students develop good environmental habits like composting. They'll learn how to reuse plant waste and make gardens abundant and healthy.

What you need:

Soil

An old rug

Compost bin with lid

Plant waste such as leaves and weeds

Kitchen waste from fruits and vegetables

What to do:

1. Put the bin outdoors on top of soil under the sun. Top up with kitchen waste.

2. Kitchen waste with a layer of soil.

3. Cover with a lid and the old rug.

4. Continue to add kitchen waste to the compost.

From time to time, be sure to turn over the compost with a shovel as it decomposes.

10. Make a bee and butterfly garden

Bees and other pollinators play an essential role in our food supply. Their decreasing numbers could affect the availability of produce at grocery stores.

Set up a new project for kids with basic instructions on how to plan and build a home garden that attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Give them handouts that contain a list of various plants and shrubs to get them started.

For kids who live in apartments, container gardens are a great space-saving alternative.

11. Make an Earth Day handprint keepsake

Wouldn't it be fun to make a beautiful Earth Day keepsake using salt dough and food coloring?

Here's what you need:

String

Child's photo

Heart-shaped cookie cutter

Kids' hands and a big smile!

Blue and green food coloring

Round non-stick cookie sheet

Salt dough (1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 cups of salt and 3/4 cup of water)

Now, for the fun part!

1. Use two separate bowls to make blue and green salt dough.

2. Drop pieces of blue and green salt down onto the cookie sheet and blend the edges. Smoothen out so that the dough is flat.

3. Allow your child to put their handprint in the middle of the cookie sheet.

4. Use the cookie cutter to cut out the palm section.

5. Poke two holes at the top.

6. Bake for 3 hours at 200 F. Let cool overnight.

Add student photos in the heart-shaped hole and thread string through the holes to hang up.

12. Make a coffee filter Earth

Watch kids' amazement as they drop green and blue food coloring on coffee filters to create their own unique artwork of planet Earth! Here's how:

What you'll need:

Newspaper

Coffee filters

Eye droppers or spoons

Blue and green food coloring

What to do:

1. Take the supplies outdoors under the sun to maximize drying time.

2. Lay out newspaper on a table or walkway.

3. Put coffee filters on top of newspapers to catch excess water.

4. Use eye droppers or spoons to apply drops of food coloring on coffee filters. You can also use blue and green markers for the same effect!

5. Add a bit of water with a spray bottle to blur the lines between the blue and green, and watch as the Earth takes shape.

13. Create bottled hanging gardens

Share your love of gardening with your students by offering this fun tutorial on how to reuse a plastic bottle to construct a cute hanging garden.

What you need:

Pencil

Craft knife

Length of string

Thoroughly washed plastic bottle

Let's do this together:

1. Grab the plastic bottle and the craft knife to slice a long line from 1 to 2" from the mouth of the bottle down toward the bottom. Cut out a rectangle. (A teacher or parent should do this.)

2. Poke a hole at each end of the bottle.

3. Push yarn through each hole with a pencil. Tie a few knots.

4. Fill the bottle with soil and plant seeds.

Your students will be in awe as they watch seedlings grow.

14. Take an Earth Day pledge

Since kids love to draw and doodle, put those talents to good use by creating an Earth Day pledge.

Make a list of the things kids would like to do to maintain the health of our environment:

1. Plant trees

2. Go paperless

3. Turn off lights that don't need to be on

4. Use cloth grocery bags instead of plastic ones

5. Try shampoo bars instead of the bottled variety

6. Make cleaning products using lemon and vinegar

7. Stick to the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

8. Lower your carbon footprint by reducing trash output

9. Spend more time outside than playing video games indoors

10. Use energy-efficient LED bulbs -- they last much longer than traditional bulbs

Or anything else you can think of!

Feed kids' imagination with a shortlist of ideas they can use today for their Earth Day pledge. Encourage them to come up with ways to minimize their carbon footprint, then write them down on a colorfully decorated paper.

Earth Day activities for kids at home

1. Take a virtual holiday

Since we can't take vacations to explore faraway places, take a virtual day-trip with your family from the comfort of your living room.

Consider places you've always wanted to visit that showcase some of the most beautiful scenes Earth has to offer.

1. Climb Mt. Everest

2. Swim through a coral reef

3. Visit Yellowstone National Park

4. Explore the Antarctic landscape

5. Find the secrets of ancient ruins

6. Try and spot the Northern Lights

Virtual holidays are a great way to enjoy the scenery without the environmental cost of flying. We can teach kids that this is a viable way to reduce their carbon footprint and still have fun, too.

2. Build a vegetable garden with your family

Get back to basics by starting a vegetable garden with the entire family. Make family time feel more significant by showing kids how to grow and care for their vegetable gardens.

Like we mentioned above, it's important to stress creating "bee" gardens filled with lots of snacks for our favorite pollinators.

3. Go paperless!

The best way to show kids to go green is by teaching them clever ways to go as paperless as possible. We need trees to give us oxygen, so it makes sense to spare them from being pressed into magazines and other paper goods.

Some ideas include:

Try going printer-free for 30 days

Consider sending digital greeting cards instead of mailing them

Buy digital magazines to keep on your computers or tablets and out of landfill sites

There are several ways we can go paperless to help preserve our planet's health - how many more can your kids think of?

4. Make Earth Day salt dough ornaments

Get creative with your family by making up a batch of salt dough!

1. Begin by forming a ball with your hands and flattening it

2. Put a small hole near the top so that you can thread a piece of yarn or twine to hang it up

3. Use green acrylic or craft paint to brush on the continents

4. Fill in the remaining areas with blue paint

Voila - you have the world in your hands!

5. Upcycle plastic and metal

What plastic and metal items do you have at home that you want to throw away? There are endless possibilities for reusing those pieces for something that you need.

For example, we can use small plastic tomato boxes as a pencil cup or hold colored markers for craft projects.

Did you know metal tins are easily reused as pieces of art?

6. Eat tasty dirt cup treats

No celebration is truly complete without dessert, so bake a delicious treat and include kids in Earth Day festivities. All you need are a few simple ingredients and your taste buds are celebrating, too!

Ingredients:

Milk

Small cups

Oreo cookies

Gummy worms

One package of Jell-O instant chocolate pudding

Instructions:

1. Make the mud by mixing chocolate pudding with three cups of milk.

2. Evenly distribute the chocolate mixture in plastic or ceramic cups.

3. Crush Oreos with your hands or in a sandwich bag to create "dirt".

4. Spread the crushed cookies on top of the pudding.

5. Add the gummy worms on top to make a fun and delicious treat!

Final thoughts: Earth Day activities for kids

There are lots of ways teachers and parents can motivate kids into caring for our planet.

Earth Day activities teach kids how to reduce their carbon footprint, appreciate everything the earth gives us and take steps towards protecting the environment.

When we share information in a manner that is both fun and enlightening, it will inspire kids to do more to make our world a healthier place for future generations.

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20 Fun Earth Day Activities for Kids to Help the Planet

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Most adults are familiar with the 3 Rs - reduce, reuse and recycle. But it's important to make sure children understand their responsibility to care for planet Earth, too. Every year on April 22nd, Earth Day brings the world together to celebrate, and it's the perfect time to educate kids about climate change and how they can work to protect our home with Earth Day activities for kids.

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https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/green-tips

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You can help protect the planet! Try some of these tips to conserve limited resources such as water, energy, and animals; prevent landfill waste; or decrease harmful gases, such as CO2, which contribute to global warming. So get green and give the tips a try. Make sure to ask your parents before trying any of these tips!

Recycle and Reuse

Set out cans and bottles for neighborhood pickup, or exchange them for cash at a recycling center. Most community trash services will pick up your recycled bottles and cans.

Choose rechargeable batteries, then recycle them when they die. You'd have to use hundreds of single-use batteries to equal the energy you'd get out of one rechargable battery. Be sure to recycle all batteries to keep harmful metals from entering the environment.

The next time you have the impulse to buy a new book to read, borrow it from the library or a friend instead of buying a new copy. Sharing books is a great way to reduce waste and reuse materials.

Don't drink bottled water! Use a reusable bottle instead.

Buy toys that last. Toys are made, directly or indirectly, from natural resources. Choose toys that won't break easily so you aren't always buying more stuff or creating more trash.

Improve the Outdoors

Plant a deciduous (leafy) tree that loses its leaves in fall on the south side of your home. Its shade will cool your house in the summer. After the tree's leaves fall, sunlight will help warm your house in winter. Trees help clean the air we breathe. They produce oxygen and reduce carbon dioxide.

Participate in cleanup days at a beach or park. Use those outdoor trash cans! Never litter. Keep our waterways clean. When you visit a park or beach, be sure you deposit your trash in containers and volunteer at some state and national cleanups.

Don't Kill That Spider!

There are an estimated 40,000 species of spiders, and they all eat insects. They're an important part of the food web and provide natural pest control.

Safeguard Storm Drains

Don't litter. Trash tossed carelessly outside often washes into storm drains, which empty into rivers and streams that eventually flow to the oceans. Pollution is a growing problem for all the Earth's ocean and its wildlife.

No Place for Pets

Never release a pet into the wild-it can become an invasive species! Cats, dogs, snakes, ferrets, and even hedgehogs prey on local wildlife. If you can't keep your pet, find it a new home, or give it to an animal shelter.

Cut Down on Waste

Ban all drips. If you have a dripping faucet in the house, ask your parents to replace the washer inside it. If you stop a faucet from leaking one drop each second, you can save 2,700 gallons (10,220 liters) of water a year.

Don't pile your plate. "When's dinner?" you want to know. You're starving after a long day at school! Even so, restrain yourself and take only what you know you'll really be able to eat. Enough edible food to feed 49 million people ends up in landfills in the United States each year.

Spread the Word

Tell your friends! The more people who treat the Earth well, the safer all its inhabitants will be.

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You can help protect the planet! Try some of these tips to conserve limited resources such as water, energy, and animals; prevent landfill waste; or decrease harmful gases, such as CO2, which contribute to global warming. So get green and give the tips a try.

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https://www.epa.gov/earthday

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Earth Day, April 22, is a day to learn about and remember the importance of protecting health and the environment.

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https://www.hmhco.com/blog/earth-day-activities-games-for-elementary-students

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Earth Day-celebrated every year on April 22-is a special holiday, as it allows us to honor our home planet and reminds us how connected we indeed are, despite our differences.

The annual holidayis a big deal at HMH, as it should be across the planet. In fact, according to HMH Archivist Susan Steinway, two of our authors had an indirect hand in the holiday's creation!

It's never too early to get your students thinking about the steps they can take-however big or small-to improve our current conditions on Earth. You never know if you have a budding environmentalist in your class who could make significant environmental changes in the future. Incorporate the free Earth Day activities for elementary students below in your in-person or remote classroom.

Earth Day Activities for Elementary School Students

1. Backyard Scavenger Hunt

Let your students explore the outdoors-perhaps in their backyard or a neighborhood park-to see what they can find. How many squirrels will they see dashing by? Can they spot anything recyclable? Let them draw their favorite discoveries once they arrive back inside. Coloring the pictures on the worksheet is optional but encouraged!

2. Earth Day Expressions

Want to get your students excited about saving our planet? Let them express themselves by writing and performing an Earth Day song or rap. For example, these two teachers filmed a rap video that educates students about the holiday's importance. Challenge your kids to write educational lyrics that speak to issues such as climate change, pollution, deforestation, or water scarcity. If your students are poets at heart, let them compose a poem instead. The following poems are excellent examples:

Afterward, give students the chance to perform or explain the meaning of their writing.

3. Play a Recycling Game

Motivate your students to recycle-with this game! Recycling is a simple way for kids to make an impact. Teaching this practice sooner rather than later will hopefully ensure that young children continue the habit as they get older. This activity will have students guess whether items such as a tin can, envelope, or an apple are recyclable. If this sounds like tons of fun, download the activity below and conduct it in person or while teaching remotely. After finishing the game, have students think about other everyday items (besides those used in the game) they can recycle or reuse.

4. Poster Project

Earth Day poster projects for elementary students allow kids to learn about more pressing environmental issues. You can have your students brainstorm the topics that matter to them the most, such as cleaning up the neighborhood, saving the bees or rainforests, water pollution, or global warming. Then, have your students create posters using recyclable products or items found outdoors to spread awareness of environmental issues impacting humanity. They have plenty of objects and materials to choose from, such as pebbles, leaves, twigs, acorns, seeds, feathers, shells, cardboard, old mail and magazines, and bottle caps.

After they develop their design ideas, help them pick out slogans to add to their posters. Here are some examples: Save Our Home, Plant a Tree, Earth Day is Every Day, and Keep Earth Clean.

5. Trek Through Nature

There are plenty of benefits to spending time in nature, such as escaping city noises, getting fresh air and natural sunlight, and boosting one's self-esteem and mood. Nature walks can also develop observational skills. In this Earth Day activity, your students will go on a nature walk, focus on one particular item (for example, a flower, tree, insect, etc.), and take part in a discussion based on their observations. They can do this in person while adhering to local social distancing rules or over the weekend as an assignment and virtually share their discoveries.

6. Bring the Outdoors Inside

Let your students explore the natural wonders of our Earth-without ever leaving their homes! This virtual tour from The Nature Conservancy takes the audience across the planet-from Phoenix, Arizona, to Shenzhen, China-while addressing the effects of climate change and how this issue is tackled in their communities.

Cities worldwide are mixing urban life with nature. Examples include Seoul's Skygarden in South Korea and the High Line in New York City. Virtual field trips of Kew Garden's Temperate House in London, England, and the United States Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. let your students learn about similar ways other cities incorporate nature into their urban planning. Ask your students: what are different ways humans can unite our natural environments and urban landscapes? Dive in and have fun!

7. Upcycle Crayons

Craving an Earth Day art project? This activity teaches kids about upcycling by having them melt their used crayons into new crayons. Adult supervision is a must! This project is ideal for kids who have quite a few broken crayons lying around.
Melted Crayons Project What You Need:

Used crayons

Cookie-cutter shapes or silicone molds (round, square, star, butterfly, flower, pineapple, etc.)

Muffin tin or clean aluminum can (such as a soft drink can) with the top cut off

Warming tray or electric fry pan

What to Do:

1. Peel wrapper off crayons and break them into smaller pieces. (Tip: For a faster melt, use crayon shavings. To shred crayons, use a pencil sharpener or a grater with adult supervision.)

2. Add the broken crayons to a muffin tin or aluminum can.

3. Place the muffin tin or the aluminum can on a warming tray or into a water-filled electric fry pan set for low heat. Note: Crayons can melt at different rates. If needed, use a small wooden spoon or stirring stick to stir the crayons.

4. After the crayons have melted, gently pour the crayon wax into the cookie-cutter shapes.

5. Leave cookie-cutter shapes undisturbed. Once the wax has cooled and hardened, pop off the cookie cutters and voilà. New crayons for coloring!

For more crayon-related arts and crafts projects, check out these activities.

8. Read, Watch, Discuss

Get your students reading about the wonders of our environment and the actions scientists and others have taken to protect our home. Then, have a class discussion with your students about the materials they read. The following list includes books for K-5; however, explore the internet to see what other Earth-related literature you can find.
Reading List:

1. The Earth and I by Frank Asch

2. Our Earth by Anne Rockwell

3. Between Earth & Sky: Legends of Native American Sacred Places by Joseph Bruchac and Thomas Locker

4. The Polar Bear Scientists by Peter Lourie and Susan Ramer

5. Curious George Discovers Recycling by H. A. Rey

6. My Little Garden by Katrin Wiehle

7. Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa by Jeanette Winter

8. Bradford Street Buddies: Springtime Blossoms by Jerdine Nolen and Michelle Henninger

9. Just Grace Goes Green by Charise Mericle Harper

10. Listen to the Desert/Oye al Desierto by Francisco Mora and Pat Mora

Alternatively, you can watch two episodes from the web series Carmen Sandiego: Fearless Kids Around the World with your students, featuring kids on a mission to help their communities. "Protecting the Rain Forest" spotlights Pablo Cavanzo, a teenager who took action to protect the Amazon in his home country of Colombia. And "Saving the Wildlife in Africa" covers how Richard Turere, who lives in a farming community in Kenya, came up with an idea to keep farmers from killing lions.

After watching, have your students share their thoughts. Ask them: what actions are these kids taking to protect the rainforest or wildlife in their home countries? Think of other questions to ask your students to get them pondering about the steps they could take to protect the environment in their community and worldwide.

How Do You Celebrate Earth Day?

How do you honor Earth Day in your classroom and get your students thinking about the various ways they can do good for their communities and the environment? Do you clean up a local park or play Earth Day games for elementary students? Share your thematic lesson plans and activities with us via email at Shaped@hmhco.com or reach out on Twitter (@HMHCo) or Facebook.

***
For more ways to celebrate Earth Day with your students, check out these classroom activities. Looking for hands-on science lessons and activities for Grades K-5? Explore HMH Into Science, a phenomena-based science solution.

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8 Earth Day Activities & Games for Elementary Students

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Earth Day-celebrated every year on April 22-is a special holiday, as it allows us to honor our home planet and reminds us how connected we indeed are, despite our differences. The annual holidayis a big deal at HMH, as it should be across the planet.

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https://www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/earth-day-activities/

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37 Engaging Earth Day Activities for Elementary Students - Teaching Expertise

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It is difficult to motivate students to care about the Earth if they don’t have a direct connection with the natural world. This series of engaging classroom

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https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/earth-day-activities/

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Here's a quick (3-minute) introduction to how Earth Day started and the impact it's had:

Earth Day 2022

Earth Day will be held April 22, 2022 and the theme is Invest In Our Planet -because a green future is a prosperous future.

Just in time to support Earth Day this year, PLT has released a new, cutting-edge resource for elementary and middle school educators, Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide. Learn about the guide's 50 field-tested, hands-on activities and get a copy directly from PLT's Shop or by attending a local PLT professional development workshop conducted by PLT's 50-state network of 75 coordinators and 1,000 facilitators across the country.

Another way teachers and parents can observe Earth Day is to simply take children on a nature walk, whether that's in your backyard, at a local park, on a nearby forest trail, or on school grounds, depending on what's accessible in your area at this time. Doing a nature walk is not only about celebrating Earth Day. It's also an opportunity for learning experiences in a variety of subjects such as science, geography, math, and art. Make your nature walk educational and fun at the same time with these 12 Nature Walk Activities for Earth Day (or Any Day!)

Also, be sure to bookmark our Earth Day News Article full of fun ideas and activities to help you celebrate.

Even though Earth Day has a rich history, many people associate it with recycling. You'll probably find a lot of Earth Day activities for the classroom that focus on just that. This can be a great starting point, especially because it's an action students, schools, and families can do right away. If you want to incorporate activities on recycling in your Earth Day lesson plan, be sure to check out these reduce, reuse, recycle lesson plan ideas for every subject.

Young students can, and do, make a big difference. As an educator, you have the opportunity to spark a passion in students that will drive them to do their part to take care of the Earth. Here are a few different kinds of activities you could add to your lesson plans to inspire your students this Earth Day:

Make a pledge and a plan to take action

Writing down a commitment and making a plan are two actions that increase the likelihood that someone will follow through. So if you want those Earth Day lessons to stick, this is an easy activity to do with students of any age. This is a great way to incorporate an art project with a writing prompt.

Here are a few examples:

Integrate art projects

Art projects are fun way to add a hands-on activity to a lesson about Earth Day. Creating art can also help students feel connected to environmental topics, even if the issues you're studying are happening far away from home. It's also a great way to help them imagine the world they want to live in.

Here are a few examples of art projects for Earth Day:

Also, be sure to check out these art project ideas using recycled materials and Earth Day art activities.

Make signs for school and at home

Sometimes we just need a little reminder to help us change our habits. Have students think about what they can do at school and at home to help the environment and how they can encourage others to change their habits.

Make a video or presentation urging others to take action

Students can make a bigger impact if they influence others to do their part to protect the environment. Putting together a video or presentation also helps them internalize the material - they need to understand it before they can explain it to others. Presentations can be given in the classroom or even to the whole school. Eventually, they may be able to present their lessons and research at a local conference, like these students from Two Rivers Magnet Middle School in East Hartford, Conn.

Plant a tree

The Earth Day Network has a goal of planting 7.8 billion trees by 2020 - one tree for every person alive. By planting trees, you're taking a tangible action with your students and you're taking part in this bigger goal. Don't forget to check out these tree planting tips before you get started.

Engage students in a pollution experiment

Teaching about pollution is an essential part of Earth Day because it helps students understand the consequences of not protecting the Earth. It can be much easier to prevent pollution than to remedy it later. Students can experience the effects of pollution on a small scale in the classroom.

An activity for younger students:

See more types of pollution experiments you can do in your classroom and check out PLT's "Pollution Search" activity.

Pick up trash around your school

Trash clean-ups are another hands-on activity you don't even have to leave the school grounds to do. To make a bigger impact, have students write down what kinds of trash they pick up and where. After analyzing the data together, you can find patterns and explore solutions so you can stop the trash at the source.

In fact, there's a new app that can help you do just that. Check out Litterati, the app that makes it fun to pick up littler and helps prevent litter:

Host a drive to collect e-waste

E-waste is a growing problem in the U.S. and around the world. E-waste represents more than 70% of toxic waste in landfills. So it's probably not surprising that only 12.5% of e-waste is recycled.

This is an opportunity for your students to help raise awareness about this problem within our school and community. Students can research a nearby recycling facility and organize a drive to collect e-waste to help combat this problem in your community.

Show them examples of other students making a real difference

It's important for students to see examples of young environmentalists so they know they don't need to wait until they're older to make a difference. These inspiring examples of young environmentalists is a great place to start, and there are many more young people doing great work. Learning about the work these young people are doing can give your students new ideas for how to protect the environment. It can open the door of possibilities for how to think about finding solutions to problems they can help solve.

Earth Day isn't just on April 22. It's every day. How will you celebrate Earth Day and help students make a difference year-round?

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Earth Day activities to inspire your students and make a difference - Project Learning Tree

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Here's a quick (3-minute) introduction to how Earth Day started and the impact it's had: Earth Day will be held April 22, 2022 and the theme is Invest In Our Planet -because a green future is a prosperous future.