EARTH DAY THEME
Earth Day is celebrated each year on April 22. The message of Earth Day is one of stewardship: we are all responsible for caring for Mother Earth.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
Earthcakes- Submitted by Lisa in VA
Cover the work surface with newspaper. Place a tub of each of the following on the art table or floor: sand, dirt, salt, gravel.
Have small pitchers of water plus old bowls and spoons nearby. Let each child concoct an earthcake by choosing some of the materials in the tubs, mixing them in a bowl with water. Let the earthcakes dry. Have the children collect items on a walk to decorate their cakes, such as twigs, grass, stones, etc.
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Earth Day Puppets- Submitted by Lisa in VA
Encourage students to help keep the earth clean by reusing items that would otherwise go into the trash. Provide each child with a plastic scoop from a box of powdered laundry detergent. Supply yarn, wiggle eyes, buttons, permanent markers, paper scraps, and glue. Invite youngsters to create puppets from the provided materials. Then have youngsters use the completed puppets to put on a puppet show with an Earth Day theme!
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Litter Bags- Submitted by Lisa in VA
Have the children decorate a white lunch bag with markers or crayons and stickers. Use the bags to collect the litter, or take the bags home, to hang in the family car.
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Earth Art- Submitted by Lisa in VA
We painted on tin foil wrapped around card board with a mixture of washable paint and white glue. Then we put out different objects for etching the paint like craft sticks and spatulas. The children painted and etched and then painted over the etching and etched again.
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Nature Creations- Submitted by Sherry
Collect a variety of nature items: sea shells, dried wheat, grasses, and flowers, sand, rocks, pebbles, bark, twigs, and small branches. Put these out with glue and foam trays and let the kids go for it.
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Earth's Colors- Submitted by Lisa in VA
To make natural earth colors, you'll need red cabbage, beets, celery tops, carrot tops, and vinegar. Simmer each vegetable in water, drain, saving the liquids. Mix one tablespoon of vinegar into each liquid, and let cool. Let the children use the natural colors and brushes to paint a large piece of muslin or cotton fabric. Let dry and hand in the playroom for all to see.
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Earth Painting- Submitted by Sherry
Fingerpaint with mud indoors or out. Let the children mix dirt with water until it reaches the desired consistancy. Then they can paint on the art table, sidewalk, or even the tile floor if you are brave!
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Birthday Cakes- Submitted by Sherry
Use playdoh or make sawdust clay, using 2 cups sawdust, 1 cup wallpaper paste, and water. Mix the paste and the sawdust, and add water slowly until you have a thick dough. Model, decorate, and let harden overnight. Add some of the following materials to the sawdust clay or playdoh to encourage cakemaking: birthday candles or straws cut to candle height, small
paper doilies or coffee filters to set the cakes on, and yarn and/or collage material to decorate the cakes.
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Little Earths- Submitted by Sherry
Coffee filters and blue and green colored water (with food color) and eyedroppers
Fill a muffin tin with blue water and green colored water. The children use the eyedropper to pick up the water and place it on the coffee filter. (great for small motor control), When they dry, they look like the Earth...at times I label...Happy Earth Day (year)
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Marble Painting Earths- Submitted by Patrisha
Have circles cut out of blue construction paper to fit just inside of a pie pan. Have the children put a marble into some blue paint and into some green paint. Use a spoon to take it out... move the pie pan back and forth and create "an earth".
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Mural Forest- Submitted by Sherry
To make a tree, press a child's hand into green tempera paint. Keeping the fingers & thumb close together, press the hand on a roll piece of white butcher paper, making the tree, leaves and branches. Have the children print their hands as many times as they would like on the same paper to make a forest. Use a brown maker sideways, print the child,s names under their trees to make the trunks.
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Trash Collage- Submitted by Patrisha
Use throw away paper, labels, scraps cut from junk mail, everything you can find that is typically thrown away - to make a collage.
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Who Litters? Not me!- Submitted by Lisa in VA
brown lunch bags, craft items, markers, glue, construction paper scraps, scissors, books about recycling, recyclable items (plastic caps, soda can tabs, newspapers)
Have children make puppets out of recyclables, and encourage them to put on a puppet show, or do dramatic play with the puppets, about caring for the earth by recycling and not littering.
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My Favorite Place in Nature- Submitted by Lisa in VA
Nature magazines, newspapers, rubber stamps, stamp pad, construction paper, scissors, glue, markers or colored pencils
Have children look through magazines and choose a favorite place. Cut out and glue to construction paper. Make a fancy border with stamps, and have them cut out letters to name their picture or write (dictate) short sentence that tells why that is their favorite place.
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Earth Day- Submitted by Sherry
Take a large piece of bubble wrap and spread it on the table. Give the children different types of brushes, (wide, tooth brush, narrow paint brush, bottle brushes, etc) and have them paint different shades of blue, and different shades of green. Then have them press down large circles from white construction paper. When then lift the circle off the bubble wrap it looks like the earth.
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Earth Day/Recycling- Submitted by Patrisha
I cut out 2 large circles from white tagboard (the bigger the better). I then draw a rough sketch of the continents of the world with blue, brown and green crayons on both circles so we have 2 worlds. I grid in the area with the matching color so the children can color the worlds themselves. As they are coloring, we talk about land and sea, etc.
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Litter Activity- Submitted by Lisa in VA
The children decorate lunch bags on which I have programmed, "_______'s Litter Bag". I put instructions in the bag for the parents to help the child pick up some litter or to bring something in that is recyclable. The next day, the children take turns emptying the litter bag contents. We talk about what things are made of...where they were found...how they could have been disposed of..etc. We catagorize and count the "junk".
I then hot glue them to one of the above worlds and sometimes tell a story, i.e., "Oh, this soda can was thrown over the side of a boat one day when a man was fishing.." and I glue it in the sea (the blue colored area). Of course, the one world gets very "trashy"/"dirty". We compare it to the other world which is "clean". We have a great discussion on what we can do to keep our world clean! This makes a very impressive wall display. I put up the words,"Which world would you like to live in?"
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Litter Collage- Submitted by Lisa in VA
Take children outside on playground to pick up litter. Collect the litter in several paper bags. With large or small group let children make collage on large butcher paper using litter. As children work stimulate thinking by asking: "What might happen if an animal ate this?", "Will these things help the palnts grow?", "Does litter make our world more beautiful?"
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Supply Containers- Submitted by Sherry
Collect a class supply of large margarine tubs. Take a photograph of each child. Cut out and glue each photo to a margarine lid. Cover the lid with clear contact paper if desired. Secure each lid on a margarine tub. Provide each child with her personalized tub and have her use it to store her small classroom supplies, such as crayons, scraps of paper, and scissors.
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A Recycled Town- Submitted by Sherry
Collect clean recycled items, and allow the children to build a city from them, on a large recycled box, cut along seams to make it flat and large. some suggestions for recyled items...plastic milk jugs, plastic milk jug lids, cereal boxes, oatmeal boxes, plastic microwave food containers, tp and papertowel tubes.
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Recycling Old Greeting Cards- Submitted by Sherry
Don't throw out those old greeting cards. Tear the backs off of the cards and cut out the pictures on the front of the card to your desire. You can use plain scissors, pinking shears or fancy edgers. Punch a hole in the top of the picture(s) you've just cut and put string, ribbon or yarn throught the hole ( 6 in. should be enough). You can do some touch up if you like. For instance, if you wanted you could add some lace around the outer edges or add some clear glue in different areas on the picture or out line the picture with the glue and add glitter for some sparkle. Use you own judgement. Theses would make great ornaments or gift tags. If you wish to use them for gift tags you can write on the back. Would make great projects for kids. Easy to do and they would love making them the way they like, small children will need help esp. with the cutting.
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Picture Frames- Submitted by Sherry
I have made masculine picture frames as gifts for dad and grandpa out of screws, bolts, nails and stripped ratchet tool parts hot gun glued to an old picture frame.
Can apply the same concept with broken toy pieces such as toy car wheels of various sizes. Or you could make a non played with hodge podge of toys glued on a picture frame or a toy box.
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Recycling Art- Submitted by Sherry
Collecting cardboard toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, empty wet wipe containers, egg cartons, cereal boxes, milk containers and caps can be used once or twice a month with daycare kids to create what ever they want. I've had kids make bugs, animals, buildings, glasses etc.
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Recycling Empty Wipe Containers- Submitted by Sherry
Empty wet wipe containers can be decorated with junk to indicate what might be stored inside. Example: Old lip stick tubes can be glued on the outside to indicate make up is stored inside. Erasures or paintbrushes for the same items inside. Barbie doll clothing for doll clothing inside. Paper clips for paper clips and rubber bands for rubber bands. Pokeman cards
for cards. Old game pieces or dice for for extra game pieces, etc.
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Recycled Mobiles- Submitted by Sherry
If you have several of a similar item you could make mobiles out of them. Or take scrap wrapping paper, newspaper, poster board, construction paper and cut them into shapes and make a mobile or a shapes board with the various items.
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Painting- Submitted by Sherry
Have the children use an old comb or fork or spoon or feather to paint with.
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Recycled Socks- Submitted by Sherry
Can take mismatched socks and using permanent marker, paint or thread create a ghost face just below where the toes would be. Attach string to the top. Then using scissors cut length wise along the sleeve of the sock making fringe. Stuff the ghost face with news paper or cotton and hang.
You can also do this project for other holiday characters such as a snow man, Santa Clause, Witch, Monster, etc..
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Binoculars- Submitted by Sherry
Make binoculars out of toilet paper rolls. Fasten two together by putting construction paper around the outside and tying yarn to the outside for straps.
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Recycling- Submitted by Sherry
To explain recycling, we take milk jugs and turn them into helmets.
Pringles cans into yarn holders/threaders.
Medium to large boxes into puppet theaters, box cars and building blocks.
We take old, torn books/magazines and create new books from the cut out words/pictures.
Discarded household items into themed prop boxes.
At the end of the week we take all of our "scrap" materials and make a "special creation".
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Recycling Collage- Submitted by Patrisha
At my school we keep a scrap box for all our crafts (left over construction paper for parts of projects, left over ribbon, buttons, and any other items that have no been used or can't really be used) After it starts to overflow we make collages (kids can use any on the items they want) You can incorporate this in! RECYCLE Garbage.
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Label Collage- Submitted by Becce
For creative collect a bunch of can paper lables the ones that wrap around the cans. Bring them to school and have the children make a collage.
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Whirly Bottles- Submitted by Becce
A 2-liter plastic soda bottle, A colored Marker, Paper, Tape, Craft knife, Acrylic paints, paintbrushes, 3-foot wooden dowle (3/4 inch in diameter), Power drill, Hammer, Small Nail
Remove the label from the bottle. Easy if you fill the bottle with hot water and let it sit for 10 minutes. Drain the bottle and let it dry. Ask your child to come up with a decorative image to paint on the bottle and then to make a template by drawing the design on paper. If child chooses a symmetrical image, such as a butterfly or flower, have her draw a straight line down the center of her drawing and then cut out one half of the image. If it's an animal, like a horse or dog, draw a profile of its head and neck.
Tape the template onto the inverted bottle and use the marker to trace around its outer edge (don't trace the centerline or the base of the neck). Repeat this step a few times, keeping an equal space between the outlines. Use the craft knife to cut along the outlines (adults only). Fold the silhouettes forward at a 90-degree angle from the bottle. (the image will stick out from the bottle...if you understand this correctly) Now your child can paint the images.
Once the paint dries, drill a small hole in the center of the bottle bottom. Then insert the dowel into the bottle. Tap the nail through the hole in the bottle and into the top of the dowel so that the head extends 1/4 inch above the plastic. Set the dowel in the ground, and the whirligig is ready to catch a breeze.
(idea from Family Fun Magazine, March 1999, page. 18)
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Earth Boxes- Submitted by Becce
We decorated paper boxes and gave them to other classrooms to put paper and popcans in for recycling.
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Note Pads- Submitted by Lisa in VA
Have children save paper that has been used only on one side and bring to school. (My school office saves for me also) I staple 3 or 4 sheets together, blank sides facing the same way. I draw a tree shape, like an evergreen, on the top sheet. Have children cut as many of these as they are interested in. Staple together to make a small notepad. On the top sheet write "Save a tree and write on me!" Good for grocery lists, phone messages, etc.
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Earth Model- Submitted by Lisa in VA
Stuff a small lunch bag with newspaper. Tie off the top. Have children paint bag blue. When paint is dry have children paint or glue on land forms. Hang in room.
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Bubble Wrap Earths- Submitted by Lisa in VA
This is something I do each year with 3's. Take bubble wrap and cut it into about a 6" circle. Have the children paint the wrap with green, blue and lighter blue paint. Then have them press the painted bubble wrap onto a sheet of light blue construction paper. It looks like the earth.
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Earthy T-Shirts- Submitted by Sherry
Earth Day is coming! And there's no better opportunity to get your youngsters to spread the word that they are interested in the state of the earth. To begin this T-shirt project, copy a earth design. Trace the design on the other side of the paper. Reproduce this design for each of your children. Have each child trace and color his copy of the design using fabric crayons. With the assistance of one or more adult volunteers, follow the fabric crayon package directions to iron each student's design onto his prewashed shirt. Students may use fabric paints, if desired, to give their designs interesting effects. And you may use fabric paints to write each student's personal Earth Day message or slogan on his shirt.
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Oscar the Grouch- Submitted by Sherry
Empty Film canister with lid,
Large Green Pompom,
Goggle Eyes
Have children glue on green pompom to the bottom of the film canister. Glue on goggle eyes and then glue the film canister lid to the top of the green pompom. The children really love this craft and it is very easy.
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Litter Collector- Submitted by Sherry
Empty Cereal box, String, Paper Hole Puncher
I get each of the children to bring in a empty cereal box a couples of weeks before our theme starts. I cut about 1/3 off the top of the box. The children punch a hole in either side of the cereal box, thread a long piece of string into the holes (like a strap) and decorate with stickers, scrapes of paper or whatever you want and they have a instant litter collector. I
provide each child with a pair of disposable gloves (dollar store) and then we walk around the neighborhood looking for things that litter bugs might have dropped.
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Ronnie-Recyler-Monster- Submitted by Patrisha
Use two grocery bags for each child. Cut a large oval out of one bag to be used as the monsters mouth. Have the children decorate the rest of the monster with scrap construction paper, yarn and recyclables such as paper towel holders and egg cartons, etc. The second bag is the monsters "body". Decorate (keep the decorations flat.) Line the bottom bag with a plastic bag and slide the head onto the monster. Attached the two bags with pipe cleaners and add a pipe cleaner handle to the head to be able to take the "monster" for a walk to pick up things to be recycled. To empty the bag open the pipe cleaners and replace the plastic bag.
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Stampin" Out Garbage- Submitted by Sherry
Alphabet rubber stamps, stamp pad, OR plastic lowercase letters, tempera
paint, paper towels, paper
Have children stamp out words about recycling, cleaning up our community,
preventing pollution. Make cards with the words ahead of time, or let them
use invented spelling. Reuse brown paper grocery bags cut into squares to
demonstrate recycling, if you want.
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Cooperative Environmental Posters- Submitted by Sherry
Cut apart brown paper grocery bags, and have them make posters to encourage
others to recycle, not litter, etc.
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Bird Activities- Submitted by Sherry
Onion bags filled with tiny bits of dryer lint and colorful pieces of yarn for the birds nests. Hang these in trees.
Make bird feeders out of milk cartons
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Recycling Activity- Submitted by Sherry
I draw a large garbage can on paper. On blue construction paper I draw a big box. The kids get magazines and cut pictures of things they would put in the recycle box and things they would throw into the garbage. We discuss why they would be just thrown out and what we might be able to use instead of.
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Windsocks- Submitted by Sherry
Attach crepe paper strips around the rounded edge of a halved paper plate. The kids can first decorate the paper plate half. Fold into a cone shape, staple, and hang by a string inserted through the center. OR leave as is and punch a hole, thread it with a string and hang. You can
also use an oatmeal box with the ends removed as the base. The kids can paint and decorate the box as they like.
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Air Painting- Submitted by Sherry
Blo-pens are great but since they are not on most preschool budgets, try this: the adult uses a straight pin to poke 1 or 2 holes near the far end of a straw. The child is given a tsp. of tempera that is placed on the middle of a pc.of paper. They blow gently through the straw to move the paint around on the paper and make a design. (The holes near the end keep
the child from accidentally inhaling the paint but they shouldn't even have to touch the paint with the straw)
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Balloon Painting- Submitted by Sherry
Just partially inflate a round balloon so little fingers can still grasp it. Dip the rounded end into paint (biocolors work the best but tempera is also just fine). Have the children dip, then press onto paper to make "air designs". Have a balloon or 2 for each color tray of paint you
use.
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Pollution Art- Submitted by Sherry
We discussed cars and fuel and that cars make our air stale (give off pollution). I found some car-shaped sponges and let them sponge a car or two onto construction paper. Then we shook cotton balls in a small bit of black-powdered tempera and they glued 1 or 2 of these at the back of the cars to show how exhaust fumes can dirty our air.
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Earth Day Quilt- Submitted by Sherry
Have each child make a quilt square on paper. You could also scan each picture and print in out on fusible web (available at most office stores) and make an actual earth day quilt by ironing it onto fabric!
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Model Earth- Submitted by Sherry
Use a brown paper bag and some news parer to make a model Earth. Stuff the bag with the paper and close with a twist tie. Paint the Earth blue and then when that dries you can either use printable land forms or have the kids use a globe and paint their own.
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Recycled Wind Sock- Submitted by Sherry
Plastic tub with lid (butter, whip cream),
Old party streamers/Crepe paper,
Old Ribbon,
Used, clean plastic bags
Cut the bottom of the plastic tub out, and cut the center out of the lid, leaving the outer ring.
Cut 3-foot streamers from the crepe paper, ribbon and plastic bags. Arrange them around the rim of the tub so that they hang down over the edge. (You can also attach bells or metal washers to the ends of the ribbon for sound effects!)
Snap the lid over the rim of the tub to hold the streamers in place.
Tuck the 2 ends of a piece of ribbon under the lid, so that it forms a hanger.
Hang your wind sock in the breeze!
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Talking Earth Puppet- Submitted by Sherry
If our earth could talk, what do you think it would tell us?
Heavy paper plate, or 3 thin ones glued together,
White, brown and black construction paper,
Paper towel tube,
Large Rubber Band,
Blue Yarn,
2 paper fasteners (the metal kind like in binders),
Blue paint,
Glue, scissors
Paint the bottom of the plate blue and let it dry.
Cut "landforms" from the brown paper and glue them on to make the Earth. Cut eyes from the white and black paper and glue them in place.
Poke the fasteners through the bottom of the plate, far enough apart so that the rubber band will hook over each fastener to form the mouth of the puppet.
Tie a long piece of blue yarn to the bottom of the rubber band. Cut two slits in the top of the paper towel tube and slide the bottom of the Earth puppet into the slits fo that you have a holder for the puppet.
Drop the mouth string through the tube so that it hangs out the other end. TO move the puppet's mouth pull gently on the end of the yarn.
Let your puppet tell others how to love and care for our Earth.
RECIPES AND COOKING
Rain Forest Crunch- Submitted by Patrisha
Shredded coconut, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, cupcake liners, spoons, crayons, paper, scissors, glue, construction paper
Take a paper cup and spoon. Place 1 spoonful of coconut in the cup. Add 1 spoonful of nuts
Add 1 spoonful of chocolate chips Mix together. Eat and enjoy
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The Earth Bowl- Submitted by Lisa in VA
Scientists know that the earth is made of four layers: the inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust. The Earth Bowl is a three dimensional, edible representation of the earth in cross section.
1 (4 oz.) pkg. raspberry gelatin dessert,
1 (4 oz.) pkg. instant vanilla pudding,
1 (8 oz.) pkg. black cherry gelatin dessert,
4 cups boiling water (can be boiled and kept hot in thermos),
4 cups cold water,
3 mixing bowls,
12 graham crackers,
1/2 cup melted margarine,
1/4 cup granulated sugar,
10" diameter clear glass bowl
Make the gelatin desserts in separate bowls and according to the directions on the side of the box. Put in refrigerator to set. Have the children crush the graham crackers into fine crumbs. This can be done by putting the crackers in a zip-lock bag and having the children pound the bag until the crackers are in very fine crumbs. Mix the graham cracker crumbs with the melted margarine and granulated sugar. Press the mixture on the bottom and along the sides of the glass bowl to form a crust. Set aside.
After two hours the gelatin will set. Spoon the black cherry into the graham cracker crust. Form it so that there is about a five inch pocket in the middle. Next, spoon in the lemon gelatin, leaving a two inch hole. Into this center, spoon the raspberry gelatin. Allow time for each child to take a look at the Earth Bowl and discuss its layers.
Important Concepts:
(1) In the Earth Bowl the graham cracker crust represents the earth's crust which is about 20 miles deep; the black cherry is the mantle (4,000 miles deep); the lemon gelatin is the outer core (2,200 miles deep); and the raspberry gelatin is the inner core (800 miles deep).
(2) Although the Earth Bowl is made of cool gelatin, the center of the earth is actually extremely hot.
(3) In the kitchen the Earth Bowl took only a few hours to make; in actuality the earth took 5 billion years to form.
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Chocolate Garden- Submitted by Lisa in VA
Instant chocolate pudding - "Mud",
Broken and crunched Oreo cookies - "Dirt",
M&Ms or Skittles - "Seeds"
Prepare instant pudding according to package
directions and put in bottom of bowl.
Top with "dirt" and then plant your "seed".
Eat!
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Dirt Cups- Submitted by Sherry
2 cups of cold milk,
1 package (4 serving size) JELL-O Instant Pudding (chocolate flavor),
3 1/2 cups (8 ounce container) COOL WHIP whipped topping (thawed),
1 package (16 ounces) chocolate sandwich cookies (like OREOS) (crush them
into tiny pieces in a plastic bag), Gummy worms or insects
Measuring cup,
Medium mixing bowl,
Wire whisk,
Rubber scraper or large spoon,
Measuring spoons,
8-10 paper or plastic cups (8 ounce size)
Pour the milk into the mixing bowl and add the pudding mix. Beat with the
wire whisk until well blended (about two minutes). Let pudding stand for
five minutes. Stir whipped topping and 1/2 of the crushed cookies into the
pudding (very gently) with rubber scraper until mixture is all the same
color. Place about 1 tablespoon of the remaining crushed cookies into the
bottom of each cup. Fill cups about 3/4 full with pudding mixture. Top each cup with the rest of the crushed cookies. Add gummy worms and insects to decorate. Put cups into
the refrigerator for about one hour to chill them--and enjoy!
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Earth Friendly Picnic- Submitted by Sherry
Tell each parent to pack a brown bag lunch that is earth friendly. Things like fruit, etc. You supply cloth napkins. After you are finished collect the brown paper bags and make puppets from them. While on your picnic have a race to see who can pick up 3 pieces of trash first.
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Veggie Flower Snack- Submitted by Sherry
Now that you've grown a real flower, here's a fun flower to make that you can actually eat! Just take a clean celery stalk, trim the ends and cut in half. Spread peanut butter in the inside of the celery stalk. This is your stem.
Now cut a thick slice of cucumber, and about 8 carrot rounds. The cucumber will be the flower's center, and the carrots will be the petals. Arrange the "flower" on a plate, and position the "stem." Finally, take 2 lettuce leaves to use for your leaves. A beautiful, healthy snack!
SONGS AND FINGERPLAYS
Ten Little Candles- Submitted by Sherry
Ten little candles on an Earth Day cake. *****
Recycling In My Home- Submitted by Sherry
Recycling in my home goes round and round,
Tie up the papers and take them back,
Crush the cans and take them back.....
Have the kids describe what happens on the earth during the day, and
then at night. What do they like to do during the day and at night? Urge
them to use all their senses when describing.
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Earth Song- Submitted by Sherry
Come, they told us parumpapumpum,
Let us live as friends, parumpapumpum,
Let us live as friends, parumpapumpum,
For all life is one parumpapumpum, *****
The Earth- Submitted by Sherry
The earth must be a lady; *****
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands- Submitted by Sherry
Verse 1 - We've got the whole world in our hands *****
We've Got the Whole World in Our Hands- Submitted by Sherry
We've got the whole world in our hands.
We've got to reduce all our trash.
We've got to reuse all we can.
We've got to recycle all we can.
Repeat the first verse. *****
This Old Earth- Submitted by Patrisha
This old earth *****
This Land- Submitted by Patrisha
This land is your land *****
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle- Submitted by Sherry
Reduce, reuse, recycle, *****
Clean Up- Submitted by Patrisha
Twinkle twinkle little star *****
Use It Again- Submitted by Sherry
We all need to learn to recycle *****
Keep It Clean- Submitted by Sherry
Let's keep the earth clean (2xs) *****
I Saw a Piece of Trash- Submitted by Sherry
Oh, I saw a pice of trash, so I went to pick it up
I keep my earth clean, so I ran and ran and ran.
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Save the Earth- Submitted by Becce
Save the earth! *****
Caring, Sharing- Submitted by Becce
This world is a great place to live in
Chorus:
Caring, sharing
So treat every person with kindness
Repeat chorus *****
Earth Day- Submitted by Lisa in VA
I am the Earth
And just as I
That's why we *****
Pollution Song- Submitted by Sherry
The litter blows over the highway
pick up, Pick up, oh pick up the litter you see, you see.
The cars that drive over the highway
Bring back, bring back, bring back a clean word to me to me
God gave us clean air for our breathing
Bring back, bring back, bring back a clean world to me to me. *****
God's Good Earth- Submitted by Sherry
Let's take care of God's good earth,
CHORUS *****
Trash- Submitted by Sherry
Trash is blowing all around,
Let's get busy and pick it up,
Get a trash bag and put it in, *****
Working on Trash- Submitted by Sherry
We've been working on recycling
Separate your glass a paper,
We've been working on reducing
Don't go wasting any products,
We've been working on reusing
If it's a paper bag your using, *****
Recycling- Submitted by Sherry
A can in the bin *****
It is Air- Submitted by Sherry
You can't see it, you can't see it, *****
Plants Need- Submitted by Sherry
Plants need sun, and plants need showers. *****
Planting Seeds- Submitted by Sherry
First we dig up the soil
Next we plant our seeds
Under the ground
Soon, up they sprout *****
Let Me Help- Submitted by Sherry
Reduce, recycle and reuse,
GAMES, MATH, AND SCIENCE
Experiment with Earth Jars- Submitted by Sherry
Gather the following: 4 jars with lids, dirt, sand, salt, gravel and a large pitcher of warm water. Have the kids help pour the warm water into each jar. Add one of the elements to each jar, and cover it tightly.
Let them predict what will happen when you shake each jar. Shake them one at a time. What happens in each instance? Which of the elements dissolve in water and which ones sink to the bottom? The children may want to bring in other nature items/substances to continue this experiment.
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Earth's Wonders- Submitted by Sherry
Display natural earth wonders, such as : sea shells, rocks, crystals, geodes, pine cones, seeds, twigs, etc. Encourage the children to add to the collection. Provide magnifying glasses to study the wonders.
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Trees- Submitted by Sherry
I have taken pieces of tree (a slice cut horizontal through the tree) and we have counted the rings to find out how old the tree is. Great counting experience!
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Making Recycled Paper- Submitted by Sherry
An adult will have to use a food processor and an electric iron. Both can be dangerous. You need: 2 full newspaper pages torn into 2-inch squares, can add construction paper scaps also torn into pieces- old food processor (never to be used for food again) - 2 tablespoons white glue - 2 or 3 cups water - sink with 4 inches water - old panty hose - coat hangers - electric iron
Optional: insect screen - strainer - food coloring - dryer lint
Step #1 Undo the coat hanger and use the wire to make a flat square about 6 by 6 inches big. Stretch one leg of the panty hose over it. Take your time; it could snag. If you put tape on the ends of the wire, it will snag less. Make sure it is tight and flat. Tie knots in the hose. Use the other leg for another piece of paper. You will need one frame for every piece of paper you make. You might want to make more than one or two.
Step #2 Put a handful of the paper and some water into the food processor. Close the food processor and turn it on high. Keep adding paper and water until you have a big gray blob. You may have to add a little more water to keep things moving smoothly. Keep the food processor on until all the paper has disappeared. Then leave it on for 2 whole minutes. Put the glue in the sink water and add all of the paper pulp you just made. Mix it really well. Use your hands.Mix up the sink water again and then scoop the frame to the bottom of the sink. Lift it real slow. Count to 20 slowly while you are lifting. Let the water drain out for about a minute. Mix up the sink every time you make a new piece.
Step #3 Try other things like the screen or a strainer. Try adding lots of food coloring, or lint, or leaves, to the food processor. Now you have to hang the frames on a clothesline or put them out in the sun. Wait until they are completely dry with no dampness at all. You Can then
gently peel off the paper. Have a grown-up use the iron - set on the hottest setting - to steam
out your paper. You Can keep making paper until the pulp is all strained out of the sink. See how strong your paper is. Trim it with scissors. Write on it. It is strong.
*****
Recycle- Recycle Game- Submitted by Sherry
We played a game using bean bags as cans and a hoola hoop as the recycling bin. We stood in a circle around our "recycling bin" and sang a song that was looped last year. The tune is 5 In The Bed and the little one said roll over etc.
There's a can in the bin and another goes in.
Continue the song until all children have had their names called to throw a bean bag.
*****
Caring for the Earth Lotto Game- Submitted by Sherry
Materials needed: scissors, construction paper, markers, glue, reproducible pictures of: clouds, rain, smoke and fire, sun, watter, trees, paper, aluminum cans, glass bottles, animals, flowers, and plastic bottles, put into a lotto game 3 pictures wide, 4 pictures long, pictures labeled.
During this activity the children will be identifying many common things, some which are manufactured, others which are natural. Before preparing the materials, decide how the children will complete the lotto game. If the children are matching pictures, make two photocopies of the lotto game. However, if the children are ready to match labeled pictures with words, provide a lotto board that only shows words. For playing cards, copy just the pictures. Color the pictures as desired and set the materials in the center. After the children are familiar with the pictures shown on the playing cards, invite them to play the game by matching the picture card in the corresponding space on the board. If appropriate, ask the children to place all pictures of items that are manufactured in one group and to talk about these items.
Variation: To give children opportunities to work with new vocabulary words, write the new words on a poster board, leaving extra space for the pictures that children clip from nature magazines. The pictures on the lotto board may be used to start the list.
*****
Colored Crystals- Submitted by Sherry
Supply each child with a clean baby food jar. Assist him in measuring one tablespoon of water and one tablespoon of Epsom salts into the jar. Stir in one fourth teaspoon of blue, yellow, or red food coloring. After a few days, encourage your youngsters to examine their jars. They'll be amazed to see colored crystals.
*****
Insect Hunt- Submitted by Sherry
Have your little ones use baby food jars for short-term insect viewers. Punch a few holes in the lids of a classroom supply of jars. Provide each child with a jar. Take your youngsters outside for an insect hunt.
*****
Recycling Cardboard Tubes- Submitted by Sherry
Stock your sand table with cardboard tubes that vary in size. Encourage students who visit the center to use the tubes for funnels and sand chutes.
*****
Bubble Blowers- Submitted by Sherry
Have each child dip one end of a cardboard tube into a bowl of bubble solution. Then have him blow through the other end to make oodles of bubbles.
*****
Recycle- Submitted by Sherry
Have children practice sorting recyclables: glass, paper, plastics.
*****
Compost Pile Experiment- Submitted by Sherry
Start a compost pile in a jar: mix soil, kitchen scraps and leaves. Shake occasionally to "turn it over." See what happens. For a variation, add things to the mix that don't decompose (plastic, marbles, etc..). After a month or so, dump the contents and see if the children can identify which things decomposed and which did not.
*****
Planting- Submitted by Lisa in VA
Any kind of planting works for this unit. Discuss how plants help to clean the air. Animals eat plants, we eat plants and animals, decomposing helps the plants, etc.
*****
Acid Rain- Submitted by Lisa in VA
Haven't tried this yet, but, have 3 like plants. Label them so you water one with water, one with water mixed with 1/4 - 1/2 cup lemon juice, and one mixed with 1 cup lemon juice. Discuss and graph changes, etc.
*****
Water Pollution- Submitted by Lisa in VA
With celery or white flower, place in container of colored water. As the colored water works it's way up the stem and into the flower, discuss how water pollution would get into plants, how animals eat plants, so pollution would get into us!
*****
Food Chain Game- Submitted by Lisa in VA
Throw varied colored beads or markers on the floor, this represents "food." Have the "animals" gather a certain amount of food. When they are finished, look at their "food." Tell them all the red beads are poisoned from pollution, so those animals die. Repeat. Even if they then avoid the red, eventually that will be all that is left, so they should see the effect.
*****
Relay Recycle Game- Submitted by Sherry
This is played in relay with two teams. I have a blue box and a garbage pail for each team. I bring in a pile of clean garbage and recycle items. I set up this pile in between each team. The blue boxes and garbage pails about 6 feet away. On the word go the kids run up grab an item and then run and throw it in the proper disposal container. If they get it wrong they have to go back and get another item. They love this game they always want to play it again.
*****
The Cash is in the Trash- Submitted by Sherry
24 pictures of aluminum cans: 4 pic with 0 cans, 4 with 2, four with 3, four
with 4, and four with 5, 40 pennies (play or real)
Invite children to "collect" aluminum cans. Stack cards in a pile and turn
them face down. Each child draws a card and collects the corresponding
number of pennies-one penny per can. The game ends when each child has
collected 20 pennies, but no more. If the last card drawn shows too many
cans, place the card on the discard pile and draw another card.
*****
Collect and Count- Submitted by Sherry
milk jug caps (different colors), soda bottle caps, 10 plastic frosting
containers or margarine containers with lids, permanent markers
Label the containers with pre-determined numbers, and have the children
count out the caps according to the number on the container.
Variation: If the containers are identical, you could have them weigh milk
caps vs. the same number of soda caps, etc.
*****
Tubes 'n' Measurement- Submitted by Sherry
Toilet paper tubs, wrapping tubes, paper towel tubes, index cards, pencil,
paint.
Have the children sort the tubes. Use the tubes to measure distances or
items in the room. Paint the tubes bright colors. Use the index cards to
go on a Measure Treasure Hunt. Give clues on the cards about where to find
specific objects that are ____ tubes long. Find an object that is longer
than two wrapping paper tubes, etc.
*****
Pickin' and Packin' Cartons- Submitted by Sherry
Different sized paper milk cartons, large cardboard box.
Wash the cartons with soap and water, completely dry, then staple tops back together. Encourage children to figure out what is the fewest number of cartons that can fit in the box and what is the greatest number of cartons.
*****
Patterns of Caps- Submitted by Sherry
Milk jug caps (different colors) two egg cartons
Cut top flaps off of milk cartons and staple together so that there are 2 rows of 12 cavities. Have the children practice patterning; making their own or following pre-made ones.
*****
Separate, Sort, and Recycle- Submitted by Sherry
Have children "recycle" pictures of trash by placing the pictures in the
correct container. If you have room, you could provide real recyclables and
bins.
*****
Nature's Carpet Cleaners- Submitted by Sherry
earthworms, large clear plastic storage containers or ice cream pails with lids, soil (humus), grown dwelling insects (ants and beetles), tiny pieces of food scraps, magnifying glass, two soil samples, small clear plastic jars, water, craft sticks or tongue depressors, soup spoon
Collect some garden soil that has plenty of compost or humus material from a gardener. The compost material helps retain moisture in the soil as well as providing added nutrients for the plants. Place the soil along with earth worms and small beetles in a large clear plastic storage container that has a cover. Also collect some soil that contains mostly sand or clay particles
and a slight amount of humus material. Encourage the children to investigate what earthworms and beetles eat and h ow they are needed by plants. Have the children compare the two soil samples by observing them through magnifying glasses and also by testing them. To test the soil, have the children place several spoonfuls of each soil in a plastic jar. Add water and fill the jars to over half full. Secure the lid on each jar and shake them. Watch how the different materials in the soil separate and settle to the bottom of the jar. It may take more than 30 minutes for the water to clear.
*****
Oil and Water- Submitted by Sherry
Vegatable oil, medicine cups, water, food coloring, toothpicks, paper towels, pictures of oil spills, dropper bottle, waxed paper, trays
Discover what happens when oil is spilled on water. Fill a cup half way
with oil. Drop two drops of food coloring on the oil, move them around with
the toothpick. Talk about how the coloring and oil dont mix. Then add a
couple of drops of water. Talk about how the coloring and water mix, but
not the oil. Stir the oil and water, talk about how the water breaks up but
does not mix, and later moves to form one drop again. Fill a cup half way
with water, pour some oil on top, and talk about how the oil floats.
Discover that oil does not evaporate. Drop water on one paper towel, drop
oil on another, place paper towels on waxed paper, and allow to dry.
*****
Our Interesting Earth- Submitted by Sherry
water, rocks, bark, bugs, potting soil, seeds fossils, shells, sand, various soil samples, twigs, tree branch cut across (observe tree rings) magnifying lenses, styrofoam trays, moss, lichens, bucket balance
Place the items on styrofoam trays and allow children to examine with a magnifying glass. Have children weigh samples of items.
*****
Plant a Seed, Grow a Tree- Submitted by Sherry
tree seedlings, water in bucket, books about trees, tree seeds, plant containers, magnifying lenses, water, water sprayer
Children "adopt" trees and learn about caring for them. Put the materials for the children to use for planting trees in small containers. Use a sprayer to moisten the soil. Invite the children to examine the larger tree seedlings to find parts of three. When the children are finished examining the seeds plant them
*****
Our Air- Submitted by Sherry
Facts: Air cannot be seen but it is all around us, air can be fresh or stale--we need to keep our air fresh and clean to be healthy, air can move fast and when that happens it is called wind, wind makes things move and is an important part of our weather
*****
Air Experiments- Submitted by Sherry
If your students have developed the ability to blow thru a straw, give each a straw, a cotton ball, and a scrap of paper. Let them discover the answers to the following: Can you feel air?(Blow thru straw against hand) Can you make this cotton ball move without touching it? (Blow
on it) Can you pick up this piece of paper with the straw? (Hold straw against paper and suck on the straw) They'll come up with other fun ways to experiment with these items.
*****
Balloon Experiment- Submitted by Sherry
Show children an inflated and a deflated balloon. Ask why they look different. Then blow up another and let it go. Why does it fly around the room? How far does it go? Blow up a balloon partway and another all the way. Have the kids predict which will fly farther. Why? What have we learned about air?
*****
Air and Space Experiment-- Submitted by Sherry
Fill a clear bowl with water. Ask a child to crumple up a paper napkin and place it in the bottom of a clear, tall glass.
Have them watch as you turn the glass upside down and keeping it level, lower it into the bowl of water. What is happening in the glass? Why is the water not going into the glass? Lift out the glass and show them the napkin is dry. Why is this so? (The glass was filled with air so there was no room for the water to get in...Air takes up space.)
*****
Air Pollution Detectors- Submitted by Sherry
Use markers to write each child's name on a separate index card. Have each child spread some petroleum jelly on it and hang around the school and outside. See what is in our air by letting the kids use magnifying glasses to observe what dust, debris, particles, bugs, etc have collected during a one-week period. Sticky contac paper also works well.
*****
Large Motor Activity- Submitted by Sherry
Give scarves or crepe paper streamers to the children and see what they conclude when they wave them quickly and when they wave them softly. Run with them, walk with them.
*****
Litter Chase- Submitted by Sherry
Take kids to a local park and let them chase and pick up litter.
*****
Nature Picture Scavenger Hunt- Submitted by Sherry
I take pictures of different things they would find in nature. When they are found the kids color the pictures in.
DRAMATIC PLAY
Earth View- Submitted by Sherry
Ask the children to pretend that they are birds flying high over the earth. Let them take turns telling what they see. Encourage them to use as much detail as possible. What do they encounter in the sky as they're flying?
*****
Trash Hike- Submitted by Sherry
Go on a trash hike and "help clean up our Earth"
*****
Litter Brigade Clean Up Parade- Submitted by Sherry
Make banners, signs, etc. stating what the Clean-Up parade is. Gather wagons, sacks, bags and boxes to put the litter in. Go for a walk in the neighborhood and collect litter (being very careful what the children pick up). When the containers are full, go back to the classroom and sort out the litter. Separate the paper, cans and other junk. The kids love the parade idea to help clean up their play yard!
*****
Paper Bags- Submitted by Sherry
Recycle paper bags by making paper bag vests, to make a math lesson have the children decorate their vests by painting a pattern on it!
CIRCLE TIME
Earth Books- Submitted by Sherry
Earth Namer by Margery Berstein
Our World is Earth by Sylvia Engdahl
The Little Park by Dale Fife
Earth by Alfred Leutscher
Beneath your Feet Earth by Seymour Simon
The Beaver Pond by Alvin. R. Treselt
Here Comes the Recycling Truck by Meyer Seltzer
Recycle! by Gail Gibbons.
Just A Dream - Chris Van Allsburg
The Lorax - Dr. Suess
The Earth and I Are Friends - Frank Asch
Clifford's Spring Clean-Up - Norman Bridwell
Litterbugs Come In Every Size - Smaridge
Compost! - Glaser
When the Earth Wakes by Ani Rucki
The Earth is Painted Green by Barbara Brenner
Forest by Ron Hirschi
A Tree Can Be by Judy Nayer
The Wump World by Bill Peet
Mother Earth by Nancy Luenn
Where Does the Garbage Go? by Paul Showers
*****
Earth Story- Submitted by Sherry
The earth is getting filled up with the things we throw away
and it's getting hard to handle all the waste we add each day
You can help to solve the problem. Here is something you can do-
Learn all about recycling using trash to make things new
You can save your old aluminum. You can save your cans of tin
Just wash them out with water for the metal recycling bins
You can save your old newspapers Tie them up with cord and string
At the paper recylcing center They'll make cards and books and things
You can save your jars and bottles Sort out green and clear and brown
There's a glass recycling center on the other side of town.
You can save your plastic bottles. Just don't add them to the trash.
Find out if your grocery store will turn them into cash!
The peelings from your vegetables will help your plants grow big.
Put them in a compost pile or in a hole you dig.
You can really save most anything, to use another way.
A box can be a place for toys, or a stage for your next play!
So now that you know all about this plan that can't be beat.
Tell your friends and tell your neighbors.
Keep this whole world nice and neat!
*****
Earth Discussion- Submitted by Sherry
We talk about what the green stands for and what the blue stands for. I show them a globe first..and we talk about all the different names for the earth.)--ie...world...globe...earth...etc.
*****
Thinking About the Earth- Submitted by Sherry
Record the following poem on a tape:
"When quiet feelings come to me,
I think about darkenss covering the town,
I think about leaves, or a nest in the tree,
Make a large copy of the poem, and have the children point to the words as they listen to the tape. If desired, laminate the poem, and have children circle specific words or letters.
*****
Our Beautiful Oceans and Rain Forests- Submitted by Sherry
books about the rain forest and ocean, magazine pictures, tapes of nature sounds, cassette player.
Have children listen to music (sounds) while looking at books or pictures, or tape stories about the ocean, etc.
*****
Telling Earthwise Stories- Submitted by Sherry
Provide pictures about people cleaning up trash, recycling, pollution, etc. Have children talk about the pictures and make up stories about the people in the pictures.
*****
Book and Activity- Submitted by Sherry
Read the story "Just a Gum Wrapper" by Mercer Mayer. The story shows children how
each one of them effect the enviornment by the choices they make. We follow this up with an activity where we take an earth shaped and designed paper and glue on gum wrappers and other small "trash" items.
The children see that if everyone just threw one gum wrapper on the earth, the earth would be covered in mess. We talk about the importance of caring for the resources the earth provides us with and we talk about recycling.
Along with the project, each child takes home a little poem......"I know I can help keep the earth clean. I know just what to do. I pick up trash and I recycle. I keep my room clean too. I do not waste, the earth would be sad. So I share all that I have. Take good care of our earth, that will made the world glad!"
*****
Learning About Recycling- Submitted by Becce
At circle-time have all the children form a big circle. In the middle of the circle have a blue box and a gray box and a garbage can. Explain to the children what kind of things belong in each box. eg bottles and cans in the blue box, newspaper in the gray box. After explaining dump a bag of things that you have collected before the circle of items such as papers, plastic and glass (careful) bottles, milk cartons, cans, food waste,ect. Have the children take turns puting the items inside the right box.
*****
Earth Day Books- Submitted by Becce
The Earth and Me from Scholastic
Earthdance from Scholastic
*****
Taking Care of Earth- Submitted by Becce
Taking care of planet Earth *****
Our Earth- Submitted by Lisa in VA
The Earth is ours to enjoy *****
Discuss Taking Care of Our Earth- Submitted by Lisa in VA
Then we spend a couple of days talking about how we can help to take care of our Earth. Here we discuss littering and polution and reducing, reusing and recycling. We draw pictures of us caring for the earth in various ways and right a sentence describing how we care for the Earth.
*****
Commitment to Care- Submitted by Lisa in VA
Give the children pledge sheets making a commitment to care for the Earth and again with a picture illustrating the pledge.
*****
Recycling Activity- Submitted by Lisa in VA
One of the kids favorite things to do is bring in the gargage generated from one meal. We sort it by plastic, metal, paper, glass, etc. Then we go back and see how we can reduce, recycle and reuse. When we are done we have a very small pile of actual garbage. Very hands-on and fun.
*****
Too Much Trash- Submitted by Sherry
Earth Day was established as a reminder for people to keep the earth clean. Share one of our planet's problems (and some solutions) when you read the book Where Does All the Garbage Go? by Melvin Berger. Explain to students that the average person makes four pounds of trash a day! To illustrate this point, bring in a bathroom scale and a plastic trash bag. Have youngsters help you fill the bag with paper, empty containers, and other "clean" throw-away items until the scale reaches four pounds. Then invite each youngster to take a turn lifting the bag to feel the weight. If desired, find several objects in your classroom that also weigh approximately four pounds. Put these together in a box; then invite students to attempt to lift
the box. Point out that while one person's trash may not seem like very much, when many people combine their trash, it amounts to quite a bit!
*****
Water Waste- Submitted by Sherry
Water--a resource taken for granted--plays an enormous role in our everyday lives. It's so simple these days to turn on the faucet and simply let this resource wash away. How can you and your students help to reserve water? It's simpler than you might think. Share these bits of trivia and water-saving efforts with your youngsters.
Turn off the water while you brush your teeth. Up to nine gallons of water could be wasted if you don't!
Put a bottle of water in your refrigerator to cool. When you need a refreshing drink, you won't have to let the water run while you wait for cold water. As much as three gallons could be wasted if you wait for cold tap water.
If you're going to take a bath, plug the tub right away so you won't waste
any water.
If you do have to let tap water run, capture it in a container and water a thirsty houseplant.
*****
The Lorax Activity- Submitted by Sherry
Watch The Lorax on video. Have kids write in journal as many forms of pollution as they can spot. Encourage them to give opinion on what happened.
*****
Book and Activity- Submitted by Sherry
Read "This Is Our Earth". Discuss the tons of recyclable trash that enters
landfills each year. Ask the students: why do you think we recycle? Show
the students various objects that can be recycled (tin can, aluminum can,
newspaper, two liter plastic bottle, etc. and display a balance scale.
Tell the students that they will guess how many blocks it takes to balance
each of these items. Ask for estimates and record. Then have them count
the blocks as you place them in the balance. Discuss estimates and actual
counts. Check for reasonableness of estimates.
*****
Book and Activity- Submitted by Sherry
Read "The Rain Forest Counts!" Give children unifix cubes and let them count
forward to 20 and backward from 20 as in book.
*****
Book and Activity- Submitted by Sherry
Read "Hey! Get Off Our Train" by John Birmingham. Children name endangered
animals from the story, draw them, and suggest ways to save the animals.
Prepare small bag of nature snacks for each child. (raisins, peanuts,
sunflower seeds, popcorn) Students sort snacks, record amounts, and create
paterns with food from the earth.
*****
Earth Poem- Submitted by Sherry
Write a poem about Earth. Brainstorm nouns about the earth and put with a verb ending in ing.
Birds singing *****
Teaching Recycling- Submitted by Sherry
Teach the children to look for the triangular symbol on plastic bottles, containers, lids, etc. Bring in a variety of common household items and the children can take turns looking for the symbol, taking note of what number was inside the triangle. Explore your daycare or classroom. Have them help their parents check for items at home.
MISC
Earth Day Celebrations- Submitted by Sherry
Find out if your community is planning to celebrate Earth Day. Could the children take part in some of the celebrations, or even help with some of the preparations? You may want to do something as simple as a parade around the block carrying or wearing Earth Day messages.
*****
Thank You, Trees- Submitted by Sherry
Make a circle around the tree, sway and sing Happy Birthday. Sit down under the tree and think of all the good things trees do for us. Examples: many trees provide pulp for paper, lumber for our homes and furniture, other trees give us food, some give us medicines, trees prevent erosion and reduce flooding, all trees produce oxygen for us to breathe.
*****
Recycling Baby Food Jars- Submitted by Sherry
Use baby food jars to store liquid tempera paint at your art center.
Punch holes in the lids of the baby food jars. Fill each jar with a different color of glitter.
Place the jars in your art area for youngsters to use for craft projects.
Supply each child with a clean baby food jar. Assist him in measuring one tablespoon of water and one tablespoon of Epsom salts into the jar. Stir in one fourth teaspoon of blue, yellow, or red food coloring. After a few days, encourage your youngsters to examine their jars. They'll be amazed to see colored crystals.
Have your little ones use baby food jars for short-term insect viewers. Punch a few holes in the lids of a classroom supply of jars. Provide each child with a jar. Take your youngsters outside for an insect hunt.
*****
Recycling Cardboard Tubes- Submitted by Sherry
Stock your sand table with cardboard tubes that vary in size. Encourage students who visit the center to use the tubes for funnels and sand chutes.
Provide each child with a large cardboard tube. Encourage him to decorate his tube. Then label each child's tube with his name. Each time a student completes a large painting or
picture, have him roll his art and slide it into his cardboard tube. Students' protected projects will be ready for transport.
Have each child dip one end of a cardboard tube into a bowl of bubble solution. Then have him blow through the other end to make oodles of bubbles.
*****
Recycling Plastic Containers- Submitted by Sherry
Collect a class supply of large margarine tubs. Take a photograph of each child. Cut out and glue each photo to a margarine lid. Cover the lid with clear contact paper if desired. Secure each lid on a margarine tub. Provide each child with her personalized tub and have her use it to store her small classroom supplies, such as crayons, scraps of paper, and scissors.
Use margarine tubs to store individual portions of play dough for each child.
Store yarn neatly to eliminate messy tangles. Cut a cross (+) in the center of a margarine tub lid. Put a ball of yarn in the tub; then pull one end of it through the slits in the lid. Replace
the lid. Your youngsters will be able to pull out just enough yarn without any tangles.
*****
Recycling Lunch Bags and Grocery Bags- Submitted by Sherry
Tape a large grocery bag to each end of your art table. Have your youngsters use the bags to dispose of paper scraps.
Place a few snacks in a lunch bag for each child. Then take your children and a blanket outdoors to have a picnic.
*****
Old Toy Wall- Submitted by Sherry
I saw one daycare where they dedicated one whole wall to broken or retired toys. They plastered the toys to the walls. The kids would spend hours looking at and touching these toys and talking about them.
*****
Recycling Newspaper- Submitted by Sherry
Can save old newspapers for use in paper mache projects, for stuffing during packing, for the kids to cut out pictures related to a monthly or weekly theme to make a collage.
*****
Recycled Colors- Submitted by Sherry
Take the left over toys and non matching silver ware to make a colors board or an alphabet board. Example: A red race car for the color red, A blue milk bottle cap for blue, A green dry marker for green. Or could find a variety of dried up markers with matching caps and mount on poster board as another way of showing the different colors.
*****
Recycle Film Canisters- Submitted by Sherry
Use film canisters or empty thread spools to mount items such as dried beans or sponge shapes to paint with.
*****
List of Recyclables- Submitted by Sherry
A - acorns, acoustic ceiling tiles, alphabet macaroni and cereal, antlers, aquarium gravel (sanitized)
B - bags, baking cups, balloons, bark, beads, bells, berry baskets, bias tape, bottles and caps, bowls, boxes, braid, branches, bread tabs, broom handles, burlap, buttons
C - calendars, candles, canisters, cans, cardboard rolls, carpet samples, cartons, cash register tapes, catalogues, cat-tails, cellophane, ceramic tiles, chalk, checkers, cheesecloth, Christmas cards, Christmas decorations, Christmas seals, Christmas wrap, cloth, clothes (for dress-up),
clothes-pins, clothes sprinklers, coil, combs, confetti, containers(various types and sizes), cookie cutters, corks, corrugated paper, cotton balls, crayons (broken bits), cups, curtaining, cutlery
D - decals, detergent (liquid and powder), dials, dishes (unbreakable), doilies, doll clothes, dowels, drapery pleating tape, drapery samples, driftwood, drink cartons
E - egg cartons, egg shells, egg-beaters, envelopes
F - fabric, feathers, felt, film, flashlights, flowers (artificial), foamed plastic (circles, chips, trays), foil, fruit (plastic), funnels
G - game parts, garbage bags and ties, gift wrap, glasses (frames only), gloves, golf tees, gourds, greeting cards
H - hair dryers and curling irons with cords cut off, hair rollers and curlers, hangers, hats, hobby scraps, hooks, hose
I - ice cube trays, icing cake decorations, icing decorator, inner tubes
J - jars (especially baby food ones), jewellery, jugs (plastic), jute
K - keys
L - lace, leather, leaves, license plates, lids(hairspray, toothpaste, jar, etc.), light bulbs, locks, luggage, lunch buckets
M - macaroni, magazines, magnetic tape, magnets, maps, measuring spoons and cups, mesh bags, milk cartons, mineral specimens, mirrors, moss, muslin
N - nails, napkins, neckties, newspapers, nuts and bolts, nutshells
O - onion bags, orange crates
P - packing materials, panty hose, paper cups, paper scraps from various sources, pictures (from calendars, magazines, etc.), pill bottles, pillows, pine cones, ping pong balls, pipe cleaners, plant slips, plastic squeeze bottles, plexi-glass, plumbing supplies (faucets, elbows, etc.), popcorn, popsicle sticks, poker chips, pot cleaners, pots and pans, potting soil,
prisms, pulleys, purses, pussy willows
Q - quills, quilts
R - radios (broken), receipt books, ribbon, rice, rick-rack, road maps, rocks, rollers (paint), rolling pins, rubber stamps, rubber tubing, rug samples
S - salt and pepper shakers, sand, sandpaper, sawdust, scarves, scoops (e.g., laundry detergent), scrabble letters, screws, seed pods, seeds, sequins, sheets, shells, shingles, shoes, shopping bags, shower curtains, sieves, snaps, soap, socks, sponges, spools, spray bottles, springs, stamps, sticks, stir sticks, straws, string
T - tape, telephone wire spools, telephones, thread, toilet tube rolls, tongue depressors, tools, toothpicks, typewriters
U - underlay, utensils (kitchen)
V - vases, vegetables (plastic), veiling, velvet, vests, vinegar bottles, vinyl scraps
W - wallpaper samples, watches and clocks, wax, wax paper, wheat, wigs (frozen or washed for sanitary reasons), window screening, wire, wood scraps and shavings, wool, wrapping paper
X - x-ray film
Y - yarn, yarn cones
Z - zippers
*****
Where To Get Free Materials For Art- Submitted by Sherry
Alteration Shops
Fabric scraps
Spools Appliance Stores
Styrofoam packing material
Cardboard boxes
Beaches
Shells
Rocks Building Contractors
Floor samples
Tile samples
Paneling samples
Wood scraps
Knobs
Photography Stores
Empty film canisters
Mis-cut mat board
Centers from mat board frames Carpet & Floor Stores
Carpet samples
Remnants Tile
Tile samples
Copy Shops
Computer paper
Colored and white scrap paper
Misprinted paper
Ends of paper rolls Department Stores
Display material
Discarded stationary
Boxes
Catalogs
Flower Shops
Discarded cellophane
Colored aluminum foil, etc.
Dried plants and flowers Libraries
Old date cards
Date stamps
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
Wallpaper sample books
Color folders Public Schools
Old textbooks and
workbooks to cut up
Yarn Shops
Samples of yarn and fabric
Color samples
Buttons
Spools
Catalogs
Remnants
Broken packages of yarn
Cardboard tubes Around the Home
Egg cartons
Tubes from paper towels
and toilet paper
Catalogs
Fabric scraps
Empty food boxes
Shoe boxes
(check shoe stores, too)
Magazines and newspapers
Supermarkets
Egg Cartons
Boxes
Paper bags
Containers
Fruit boxes
*****
Re-Using Garbage- Submitted by Sherry
film canisters as shakers
toilet rolls as shakers, binaculars, napkins rings (when cut in quarters)
paper towel rolls for telescopes
buttons for eyes, stringing, or sorting
meat pie trays are great for paint or glue
tart trays (5 to a tray) are good for sorting activities or to hold
items for glueing, stringing etc.
*****
3R's of Earth Health- Submitted by Sherry
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
*****
Teacher Resources- Submitted by Sherry
Recycling- brochure put out by National Wildlife Federation Project: Recycle Activities to Help Kids Conserve the Earth's Resources-spiral bound book published by Current, Inc. 1991
Our Environment (Teacher Created Materials, Inc. Thematic Unit)- has a literature based unit around the book The Wartville Wizard by Don Madden- this story is all about an old man who gets tired of picking up after other people
50 Simple Things Kids Can Do To Save The Earth by Earth Works Group (1990) Children's Literature: Taking Care of the Earth by Billy Goodman (a golden book)
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (a Learn to Read Science Series book) Creative Teaching Press (1994)
Garbage Delight by Dennis Lee, Houghton, 1978- a children's story with a whimisical look at garbage
*****
Recycling Activity- Submitted by Sherry
Need collected junk materials such as emery boards, spools from thread, foam packing chips, paper scraps, cereal boxes, paper towel rolls, etc. Can solicit parents weeks ahead for donated materials (stuff they would have thrown away).
Put a box of collected junk in a special center. First use for sorting by size, texture, shape, material, etc. Compare and contrast amounts of items (more/less, alike/different) Then use it in various other ways as what follows.
This material box can be used to explore the scientific concepts of sink/float (add a shallow pail of water) , movement ( does it roll or not), weight (have a balance scale available to compare different junk materials).
Have kids make a class junk book. Discuss how items can be used. Print
these categories on paper and let students illustrate.
Lastly, use materials to make Junk Collages, etc.
*****
Saving Resources- Submitted by Patrisha
Recycling is when an object can be shredded, melted or otherwise processed and then turned into new raw material -- for instance, aluminum cans can be melted down to make more cans, glass can make more glass, cardboard and paper make more cardboard and paper, plastic bags and containers can be turned into other plastic products. This takes some energy (very little for aluminum), but it is a good choice.
Reusing is when you find a use for an existing item - like decorating a bag and using it as a gift bag instead of buying wrapping paper; putting leftovers into a clean container from some other food; turning a used box into storage; decorating a can to hold pencils; saving packing peanuts and boxes and using them the next time you need to ship something or give a gift.
It is important to 'reuse' items wisely -- reusing packing peanuts to pack an item is by far the best way to use them. Recycling them, if it is available, would be the next best thing. Turning them into an art project would be the least effective, and eventually they will end up in the landfill. Now many of us love art projects, and would be using materials to make crafts _anyway_, and so using an item that would otherwise be discarded may still be a sensible choice, it depends on the project.
Giving things in good condition that you no longer need to charity is another good way to reuse things like outgrown clothing or toys. Reusing is often the best way to save resources. This is something to consider year-round, not just around the winter holidays.
Shop Wisely to save resources. Can the container be easily recycled or reused? Will a larger container reduce the amount of packaging and perhaps cost less per serving? Is everything that can be recycled being recycled?
Save resources (and money) by asking yourself if the item is something you really need, and if it is well suited for the task, and if it will last. Not only can this save you money, it can save you space and work, too. Five toys that are loved an played with are more fun than 10 toys that are broken or are boring to play with. And it's quicker to pick up 5 toys and put them away than to pick up 10. Sometimes my kids and I imagine what it would be like if we bought everything we 'liked'..... and we realize that there wouldn't be any room left for us in the house.... and that really doesn't sound like that much fun, even to my kids.
*****
Plant a Tree- Submitted by Patrisha
You can purchase trees through the National Arbor Day Foundation (http://www.arborday.net/) to be planted in honor of each child in your class. The trees last year were to be planted in the John Denver Memorial Grove in Aspen. It was only a $1 donation per tree.
We printed up a letter/document for each child telling them about the tree that was purchased on their behalf and how it would help our earth. Plant-It 2000 (http://www.plantit2000.com/) is also a nonprofit tree-planting foundation. For every dollar contributed to this foundation a tree will be planted, and the contributor selects where the tree(s) will be planted from an international site list.
*****
Clean Up and Beautify- Submitted by Patrisha
Organize a project to clean up or beautify some area in your town. It could be at your school, or some other spot. Make sure to have a plan for how to take care of the spot after you've made it nice.
*****
Earth Day Bulletin Board- Submitted by Sherry
For a bulletin board make a large earth have each student trace their hands and write one thing they can do on it to save the Earth. Put the hands around the Earth and write "The Future of our Earth is in Our Hands"
*****
Click on the "Back" Button to go back to
"Wh! Wh!" Now there are eight.
Eight little candles on a candlestick.
"Wh! Wh!" Now there are six.
Six little candles, and not one more.
"Wh Wh!" Now there are four.
Four little candles, red, white, and blue.
"Wh Wh!" Now there are two.
Two little candles standing in the sun.
"Wh Wh!" Now there are none.
(tune: wheels on the bus)
Round and round, round and round.
Recycling in my home goes round and round,
All through the day.
Take them back, take them back.
Tie up the papers and take them back,
All through the day.
Rinse the milk bottles and take them back....
Save the glass and take it back......
Day-time, Night-time
Tune- Drummer Boy (Christmas song)
The Earth is sore they said parumpapumpum,
Don't take our tusks and horns parumpapumpum,
Don't take our fur and hides parumpapumpum,
rumpapumpum, rumpapumpum.
Under the sun.
Come, they told us parumpapumpum,
The Earth is sore parumpapumpum,
Don't chop our forests down parumpapumpum,
Don't fill our seas with waste parumpapumpum,
rumpapumpum, rumpapumpum.
Under the sun.
Let us all hold hands parumpapumpum,
To the children of all the lands parumpapumpum,
To heal what has been hurt parumpapumpum,
To plant new trees with care parumpapumpum,
rumpapumpum, rumpapumpum.
Under the sun.
She likes to change her clothes
In winter time she loves to wear
The very whitest snows
In spring, she goes about in green.
In summer, flowers bold.
And in the fall, she's very grand,
All dressed in red and gold
Verse 2 - We've got clean water for the fish
Verse 3 - We've got clean air to breath
Verse 4 - We've got no garbage on the ground
Verse 5 - We've got the whole world in our hands
Each verse just repeats itself 4 times.
(tune: He's Got the Whole World in His hands)
We've got the whole, wide world in our hands.
We've got the whole world in our hands.
We've got the whole world in our hands.
We've got to reduce all our trash.
We've got to reduce all our trash.
We've got to take care of our world.
We've got to reuse all we can.
We've got to reuse all we can.
We've got to take care of our world.
We've got to recycle all we can.
We've got to recycle all we can.
We've got to take care of our world.
(tune: This Old Man)
Needs our help
To stay fresh and clean and green
With a pick it up; pitch it in;
and throw it in the can--
This old earth needs a helping hand!
(tune: This land is your land)
This land is my land,
Let's work together
To make it better
From tall green forests to clear blue waters
This land depends on you and me!
Sing to the tune of "The More We Get Together"
Recycle, recycle,
Reduce, reuse, recycle,
And keep our world clean.
Please keep our world clean,
And growing, and green,
Reduce, reuse, recycle,
And keep our world clean.
(Tune: Twinkle, twinkle, little star)
Time to clean up where you are.
Put litter back in its' place,
Keep a smile upon your face.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
Time to clean up where you are.
Tune My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
Recycling will help save the land
If you want to keep our earth clean
Recycle as much as you can
Use it, use it,
Please try to use it again, again
Do not waste it
Recylcle as much as you can
Tune: Farmer in Dell
Let's all work together
To keep the earth clean
Let's keep the water clean (2 xs)
Let's all work together to keep the water clean
Let's keep the air clean (2 xs)
Let's all work together to keep the air clean
Tune: Battle Hymn of the Republic
I saw a piece of trash, so I went to pick it up.
I saw a piece of trash, so I went to pick it up.
But it blew away up in the air.
I keep my earth clean, so I ran and ran and ran.
I keep my earth clean, so I ran and ran and ran.
I threw that trash in the garbage can.
(adapted from a poem by Heather O.)
Save the trees!
Save the birds!
Save the bees!
Save the animals!
And plant life too...
Oh my goodness
Lots to do!
Save all these and you will see....
We're really saving you and me!
(tune of "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean")
With friends from all over the Earth
We all must take care of each other
And know what each person is worth.
Come join hands together in play...today
Caring, sharing
We'll make the world better today!
And greet each new friend with a smile
The world needs our new understanding
Give kindness a chance for a while
by Jane Yolen
And the Earth is me.
Each blade of grass,
Each honey tree,
Each bit of mud,
And stick and stone
Is blood and muscle,
Skin and bone.
Need every bit
Of me to make
My body fit,
So Earth needs
Grass and stone and tree
And things that grow here
Naturally.
Celebrate this day.
That's why across
The world we say:
As long as life,
As dear, as free,
I am the Earth
And the Earth is me.
(tune my Bonnie)
The litter blows over the park:
Unless we do something to stop it
The world will be *LITTERALY* dark
Pick up, pick up, oh pick, the litter you see.
Are spewing exhaust in the air
We're leading our world to extinction.
And just don't seem to care
Bring back, bring back please bring back a clean world to me.
But we just don't keep it that way:
Instead we pollute it from smoke stacks
and breath in the garbage each day
Bring back, bring back, please bring back a clean world to me.
Tune of Jesus Loves Me
water, forest, air, and soil
Don't toss out that used time foil
Ride your bike and don't burn oil.
Love one another
Share with each other
Save God's good earth
And learn to do with less
Only buy the things you need
Enjoy the simple things in life
Do a hobby, play some game...
Eat at home, invite some friends
(sung to "London Bridge")
All around, all around,
Trash is blowing all around
All around the town.
Pick it up, pick it up.
Let's get busy and pick it up,
All around the town.
Put it in, put it in.
Get a trash bag and put it in,
All around the town.
by Meish Goldish
(sung to I've been working on the Railroad)
All the trash we can.
We've been working on recycling,
It's a very simple plan.
Separate you plastic and tin.
Take the trash you've recycled
To your Recycling bin!
All the trash we can.
We've been working on reducing,
It's a very simple plan.
Use just exactly what you need.
Don't buy things in extra wrapping,
Reduce and you'll succeed.
All the trash we can.
We've been working on reusing,
It's a very simple plan.
Don't use it once, use it twice!
Give old clothes and toys to some one,
To reuse them would be nice!
by Meish Goldish
(sung to Ten in a bed)
And another went in.
Recycle! Recycle!
We all recycled and added a can.
There were two in the bin and another went in.
Recycle! Recycle!
Continue to you get to five...
adapted from a version by Gayle Bittinger
(sung to "Frere Jaques")
But it's there, everywhere
It fills up balloons
And it takes up space
It is air, care about the air!
You can't see it, you can't see it
But it's there, everywhere
Though air can't be seen
Keep it fresh and clean
It is air, care about the air!
You can't see it, you can't see it
But it's there, everywhere
It can make my kite go
It can make the waves grow
It is air, care about the air!
Plants need weeding by the hours.
Plants need soil to put down roots.
Plants need time to send up shoots.
Plants need air, and space you know.
With all those things, they're bound to grow.
Cheered by spring air.
Pantomime digging up the soil
Then we rake and we rake and we rake.
Pantomime raking.
With the greatest of care.
Pantomime planting seeds in the ground.
Then we wait and we wait and we wait.
Fold arms and wait.
The young seeds grow.
Curl up on the floor.
Then slowly they start to rise.
Slowly rise up.
To greet the sun.
Stand up to full height and spread arms.
Oh what a lovely surprise!
(sung to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)
Be careful with the things you choose.
Don't leave lights and water on,
Pick up litter when you're done.
Keep the air and water clean,
Help our earth stay strong and green!
Recycle ! Recycle!
So ____________ (child's name ) recycled and threw in a can.
There's 2 cans in the bin etc.
by JoAnne Nelson
by Louise Binder Scott
I sit as still as still can be.
I think about trees or a pretty tune,
Or storybook time, or a big, full moon.
Or twinkling stars as Im lying down.
I think about wings on a butterfly,
Or clouds moving gently across the sky.
And all of these bring quiet feelings to me.
Is what we like to do.
We won't pollute
We give a hoot.
Waste's a disgrace.
Keep litter in it's place.
Now-how about you?
For every little girl and boy.
But we must always be aware.
That all its beauty we must share
With all the children yet to come,
Who want to laugh and play and run
Around the trees and in the fields.
So we must keep our planet free
From messy trash and debris
With air that's clean and fresh and clear
For all to breathe from year to year.
We must never ever abuse
Our sweet Earth that's ours to use.
Grass growing
Sun shining
Flowers blooming
Bees buzzing
We love the earth!
Here is a list of great recyclables to save for crafting!
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