5 Earth Day Activities for School-Aged Kids

Children are far more aware of the world than we are when they get to school age. Whether it’s creating something from scratch, disassembling something, or creating something unique for a loved one, they adore discovering new and intriguing ways to get their hands dirty. There are a tonne more ideas out there; I found the majority of these on Tinker Lab.

1. Make a Peanut Butter and Pine Cone Bird Feeder

Growing up, this was not just a favourite Earth Day activity for me. All you need is peanut butter, some seeds, and a pine cone that you discover in your backyard, the park, etc. Finding the ideal clump of pine cones for their bird feeders will be a lot of fun for kids. The remaining parts are obvious: Spread a thin coating of creamy peanut butter over the pine cone and evenly distribute the birdseed on a sizable baking dish. After that, let your children roll and dip the pine cone in the bird seed. Although a little messy at times, kids adore this phase! When you arrange your pine cones, your children will enjoy observing the many kinds of birds that come to dine at your DIY bird feeders.

2. Design a Nature Diorama

With this Earth Day activity, students may imagine a miniature world with tiny characters and décor, all confined in a small box. It’s still one of those beloved annual school projects that is traditional and timeless.

All you’ll need is an old tissue box or shoebox—yet another example of the myriad uses for objects that were previously considered garbage! and possibly some adhesive. The children will decide the rest. Send them to the backyard, park, or any other location you want, and have them scavenge for items from nature that they believe will look great in a diorama. Your children’s imaginations will run wild with these dioramas, and you’ll love seeing the various creations they come up with.

3. Plant a Garden

I intend to repeat this happy experience from my youth with my kid. I like to think I’ve inherited my mom’s green thumb, as she was always an enthusiastic gardener. Let your kids choose what to plant on a small area of dirt that you’ve carved out in your front or backyard. The list is endless and could include fruit or vegetable seeds, trees, shrubs, flowers, and more. They will enjoy using their own shovels to dig in the dirt while they are on their hands and knees. Instill in children the discipline to water and care for their own plants on a daily basis, as well as the right way to sow seeds. If you don’t possess a front yard or backyard, there are many herbs you can cultivate in your windowsill!

4. Upcycled Tin Can Drums

Kids can learn how to be creative and repurpose items they once considered garbage by looking at these recycled tin can drums. Use old coffee or hot cocoa tins and fill them with whatever you like for this Earth Day craft. Button, marble, paperclip, etc. could be among them. Anything that, when put inside the tin can, will produce sound! It’s also a fantastic sensory game. Children can discover that when objects strike the tin can walls, they produce distinct sounds.

In order to get children enthused about dancing during music time, you could also use these recycled tin can drums as shakers or drums. It’s a fantastic method to get youngsters moving and shaky!

5. Nature Journals

I participated in this Earth Day activity back when I was younger. I used to adore keeping a notebook in middle school, and I think the concept of a nature journal is a fantastic approach to spark your child’s interest in both outdoors and journaling. Invest in a notebook or journal for them so they can record any thoughts, observations, or wishes they may have.

Since it’s a nature notebook, ask them to walk outside every day and look for inspiration in the form of flowers, grass, or uniquely shaped leaves, then record their discoveries in the diary’s pages. After then, students are free to write any poetry, ideas, or sentiments they may have about their day or the items they discovered outside. This is a fairly easy concept that helps students become more creative writers!