Each year, Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd.
Of course, there are things we can do year-round to care for our planet. Here you can find a huge list of ideas to do just that: 50 Simple Ways to Love Our Planet.
But on Earth Day, we take time to appreciate our amazing planet and to recognize our role as its stewards.
Here is just a sampling of things you can do as a family to show our planet some love.
Family-friendly Hands-on Projects
1) Make DIY seed bombs
2) Make a terrarium using a jar or an empty plastic bottle
3) Discover how air pressure relates to the weather by making a homemade barometer
4) Grab some trash bags and some gloves and pick up trash in your neighborhood
5) Plant a garden from seed or from fruit or vegetable scraps
6) Learn about robins and see if you can spy a robins’ nest
7) Create a mini version of the water cycle in a bag
8) Make a craft using recycled materials
9) Start your own compost pile
10) Start a rock collection. With some simple materials, you can even identify the rocks you find!
11) Go on a nature scavenger hunt. SO many different ways you can do this!
12) Learn the valuable role earthworms play in the environment and make your own worm farm
13) Discover why fungi are so unique and explore the fungi in your yard (and home!)
14) Go outside and see if you can find all of the letters in your name (or in the entire alphabet) using things you see
15) Learn why leaves change color in the fall
Spring is actually the PERFECT time to explore this phenomenon! You can use my free online course on Leaf Science as a guide, or you can subscribe to my Science Simplified Newsletter to get a free 28 page eBook. Directions for hands-on experiments are included.
16) Paint some rocks and hide them around your neighborhood
17) If it’s warm enough for crickets, you can use their chirps to determine the outside temperature
18) Take up bird watching
19) Model how to reduce/reuse/recycle by turning broken crayons into Earth Day crayons
20) If flowers are blooming in your yard, see if you can identify the male and female reproductive organs. You can also watch and see what types of pollinators are drawn to which flowers.
Here are some posts with even more ideas for ways to celebrate Earth Day.
EARTH DAY STEM ACTIVITIES from The Homeschool Scientist
20+ Earth Day Activities to do at Home from Natural Beach Living
30+ Pollution Activities and Environmental Activities for Kids from Natural Beach Living
Innovative Earth Day Activities For Kids from Steam Powered Family
7 INSPIRING EARTH DAY IDEAS FOR YOUR MORNING BASKET from Table Life Blog
Celebrate Earth Day With These Great Books from Year Round Homeschooling with Misty Leask
How to Plant an Awesome Earth Day Garden by Captivating Compass
I hope you find something in this list that inspires you to spend time with your family and ponder just how amazing our planet is!
Some great ideas here! I try to get outside and work on our gardens with the kids on Earth Day – as long as there is no snow on the ground, we should be good! We had over a foot on Easter ♀️
Getting outside everyday is so important! I hope the weather cooperates for you!
Thanks for these great ideas. Will be doing some with our Changemaker Teens in the next few weeks here in Queensland, Australia Happy Earth Day.