Earth Day is just around the corner -- seriously, spring couldn't come fast enough here in Jersey -- and I wanted to share some information on great opportunities to teach kids about saving energy and the environment.
Just in case you're like me and need to know about this sort of stuff waaaaaaaaay ahead of time :)
On Saturday, March 28th at 8:30 p.m., during the World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour, hundred of millions of people around the world will turn off their lights for one hour in a vote for action on the climate crisis.
Then on April 22nd more than 500 million people and national governments in 175 countries will celebrate Earth Day.
What’s also cool is World Wildlife Fund has created a website (www.EarthHourKids.org) which features lesson-plans, games and songs children can download. There is also a section for parents to email their state and federal representatives.
We have some fun projects that kids can do at home to learn about the environment – courtesy of education experts from the Goddard Schools:
- Create the Earth: Eco-friendly coffee filters make great miniature earths. In two separate cups, use food coloring to make blue and green colored water. Then allow the children to use eyedroppers to drop the colors on their Earth (coffee filter). When the colored water is dropped on the filter it spreads a bit and the children can create land and water shapes on their “little earths.”
- Lights Out, Flashlights On: Play “I Spy” in the dark. Have the children use flashlights to locate objects they can use to become more “green,” such as a light switch or recycle bins.
- Go for a Nature Walk: Place tape, sticky side out, on the children’s wrists and take them outside to collect things in nature. You could also decorate a sack and go around the neighborhood picking up litter.
- Dress It Up: Hold a fashion show using old newspapers as the runway. Create vests by using grocery sacks decorated with recycled supplies such as used yogurt cups, etc. Glue recycled materials to the vests and decorate with paint. Then let your kids show off the “beauty of recyclables” while learning what items can be recycled.
- Make Rainsticks: Recycle old paper towel rolls by making rainsticks. Have the children close the bottom of the stick with paper and tape. Then fill with beans or rice. You can also crumple up some aluminum foil to make a louder sound. Let the children decorate the rainsticks with construction paper. Use this activity to talk about the importance of clean water and water conservation.
FIND IT HERE: http://www.goddardschool.com/Default.gspx
Happy Almost Earth Day!
[Blog Tip to Team Mom - No payment has been received for this blog post]
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