Collection
Celebrate Earth Day
Promote environmental awareness on Earth Day and throughout the year, with these teaching ideas, lesson plans, and student activities.
- Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8
Celebrated globally, Earth Day is observed annually on April 22, a day that marks the birth of the modern environmental movement. The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970 when Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, announced the idea for “national teach-in on the environment”. Nelson, dismayed by recent ravages on the environment such as the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, had been inspired by the student anti-war movement at the time and capitalized on the energy of that movement to put environmental concerns at the forefront. As a result, the first Earth Day was born when some twenty million Americans took to the streets in support of a more sustainable environment.
Use these lessons, articles, book lists, and other activities to continue the tradition of promoting environmental awareness on April 22.
Included Here:
- Teaching Ideas (3)
- Student Activities (5)
- Lesson Plans (2)
- Unit Plans (2)
- Books and Interactive Whiteboard Lessons (2)
Teaching Ideas
Top 5 Ways to Go Green in the Classroom
Go green in your classroom with one of these five teacher-suggested lesson plans and other activities.
Earth Day Activities
Teachers share their favorite tips and recommendations for celebrating Earth Day in the classroom.
Quick Earth Day Ideas for Grade 6-8
Shoe drives, homemade paper, can collections, and other ideas to create a more sustainable environment
Student Activities
Kids' Environmental Report Card
Earth Day: A Math Hunt Activity
Rain Forests: A Research Starters Activity
Earth Day Celebrations! A Listen and Read Book, Level A
Young readers will learn how children around the world celebrate Earth Day.
Earth Day Celebrations! A Listen and Read Book, Level B
In this read-along online book, young readers will learn how children around the world celebrate Earth Day.
Lesson Plans
Earth Day, Every Day
Promote environmental awareness with this lesson plan about the origins of Earth Day and recycling.
April Primary Poetry Library
Poetry selections and related activities that correlate with Earth Day topics.
Unit Plans
Look Up! Look Down!
Students examine soil, create a prism, and make their own landforms in this environmental unit plan about geology, landforms, and the atmosphere.
Endangered Ecosystems Teacher's Guide
Books and Interactive Whiteboard Lessons
Books to Celebrate Earth Day
These books about Earth Day explore the problems that plague our planet and will get your students inspired to find solutions.
Earth Day Lesson Activities
Students learn how to conserve and protect our natural resources with these green-themed lesson activities to boost environmental awareness and stewardship.
- Subjects:Earth Day
