Earth Day is just around the corner and it’s time to gear up little ones! Are you ready to put on your Earth-saving superhero capes and get your hands dirty? Let’s celebrate this special day with some fun and engaging activities that will help us learn about taking care of our planet.
From creating recycled art to exploring sensory play, we’ll have a blast while we learn how to be Earth champions and make a positive impact on our world. So, let’s roll up our sleeves, put on our thinking caps, and get ready to show the world that even preschoolers can be eco-friendly! Together, we can make a difference and create a better future for ourselves and the planet. Let’s go!
Fun and educational earth day activities for preschoolers to foster environmental awareness
1. Earth Day parade
Get ready to march for the Earth! In this activity, children will use their creativity to design costumes and props that represent different elements of the environment. Then, they will proudly parade around the school or outside while sharing the importance of taking care of the Earth.
Have the children create their own costumes and props that represent different elements of the environment such as animals, plants, and trees. Then, have them march in a parade around the school or outside, while talking about the importance of taking care of the Earth.
2. Storytime
Join us for a journey into the world of environmental conservation! During storytime, children will listen to a fun and engaging book about Earth Day or the environment. They will also have the chance to interact with puppets or visuals that will bring the story to life. After the story, we’ll have a discussion about the lessons learned and how they can apply them in their own lives.
Read a children’s storybook about Earth Day or the environment, and use props such as puppets or visuals to bring the story to life. Afterward, have a discussion with the children about the lessons they learned from the story and how they can apply them in their own lives.
3. Sensory play
It’s time to get our hands dirty and explore the environment! In this sensory play activity, children will have the opportunity to play in a “garden” or “beach” setting, where they can touch and feel different materials such as soil, sand, or shells. Not only will they learn about the environment, but they’ll also develop their sensory skills in the process.
Using some sensory words, set up a sensory play area that focuses on the environment such as a “garden” or “beach” where the children can explore different materials such as soil, sand, or shells. This will not only help them learn about the environment but also develop their sensory skills.
4. Nature Walk
Are you ready to explore the great outdoors? Join us for a nature walk where we’ll discover the beauty of our environment. We’ll look for different plants, flowers, and animals, and talk about how important it is to take care of our planet. Let’s have fun while learning about the world around us!
Going on a nature walk is a fun and educational way for preschoolers to explore the environment. Start by talking about the different plants, animals, and insects they may encounter on their walk. Encourage the children to use their senses to explore and observe their surroundings. You can also bring along a nature guide to help identify different species.
Along the way, talk about ways to take care of the environment, such as picking up litter or not harming wildlife. After the walk, have the children share what they learned and their favorite part of the experience. This can also be one of the enhancing naturalistic intelligence activities.
5. Planting Seeds
Let’s get our hands dirty and plant some seeds! In this activity, children will learn about the importance of plants and how they contribute to our environment. We’ll plant seeds in a small pot and talk about how we can take care of them to help them grow. It’s a fun and hands-on way to learn about the Earth!
Planting seeds is a great way for preschoolers to learn about the importance of plants and how they contribute to the environment. Start by introducing the concept of photosynthesis and how plants use sunlight and carbon dioxide to produce oxygen.
Then, provide small pots, soil, and seeds for the children to plant. Talk about how to care for the plants by providing water and sunlight. You can also discuss the different parts of a plant, such as roots, stems, and leaves. After planting, have the children observe the plants as they grow and discuss the importance of taking care of plants and the environment.
6. Sink or Float Experiment
Do you ever wonder why some things float in water while others sink? Today, we’re going to conduct a fun experiment to learn more about the properties of water and how we can use it wisely to help protect our planet’s resources.
Begin by gathering the preschoolers and introducing the activity. Show them the large container filled with water and explain that you will be conducting a sink or float experiment to learn more about water. Next, place the container of water in the center of the table and spread out the various small objects, such as a paper clip, toy car, cork, etc.
Ask the preschoolers to make a prediction about whether each object will sink or float in the water. Encourage them to use their senses to make predictions, such as whether the object feels heavy or light or whether it is made of a heavy or light material. Encourage the preschoolers to test their predictions by placing the objects in the water. As each object is tested, ask the preschoolers to observe what happens and discuss why it sinks or floats.
You can also ask them to make comparisons between the objects, such as which one sinks faster or which one floats on top of the water. After the experiment, gather the preschoolers together and discuss the results. Ask them why some objects float and others sink, and how we can use this knowledge to use water wisely in our daily lives.
For example, taking shorter showers or turning off the faucet while brushing our teeth can help conserve water.You can also have the preschoolers brainstorm other ways we can conserve water, such as fixing leaky faucets or watering plants with a watering can instead of a hose.
7. Upcycling Art
Let’s turn trash into treasure! In this activity, children will use recycled materials such as cardboard boxes, egg cartons, and toilet paper rolls to create their own unique artwork. We’ll talk about the importance of upcycling and how it can help reduce waste. Let’s get creative and make something special while also protecting the environment!
Being a great creativity game, upcycling art is a fun and creative way for preschoolers to learn about reducing waste and recycling. Start by introducing the concept of upcycling and how it can give new life to old items. Provide a variety of recycled materials such as cardboard boxes, egg cartons, and toilet paper rolls for the children to choose from. Encourage them to think about what they can create using these materials. Once the art is complete, have the children share what they made and discuss how they can continue to reduce waste in their daily lives.
8. Eco-Friendly Fancy Dress
Are you ready to learn, represent and help the environment at the same time? Today, we’re going to learn about different environmental creatures and components and represent them using recycled materials. We’ll show everyone how every single component is important for our planet! Get ready to let your imagination run wild!
Materials:
Recycled materials such as newspapers, cardboard, fabric scraps, bottle caps, etc.
Scissors, tape, glue, and other craft supplies
Optional: a runway, music, and cameras for the fancy dress
Gather the preschoolers and explain the concept of recycling along with the different things that make up their environment and surroundings. Provide the materials and ask the children what they want to represent. It can be anything from a bird to a tree.
Encourage them to use their imagination and creativity to design their outfits. Once the outfits are complete, get the kids ready with the few lines they will speak about what they are representing and organize a fancy dress where each child can showcase their creativity. Discuss with the children how recycling and upcycling can help protect the environment and reduce waste.
9. Upcycled Birdhouse
Do you love birds? Did you know that we can help protect them and the environment by providing them a safe home as we share the same? Today, we’re going to make some beautiful birdhouses using recycled materials and learn about sharing and caring. We’ll create a cozy habitat for our feathered friends and learn how recycling can make a difference in our world!
Materials:
Recycled materials such as empty milk cartons, cereal boxes, plastic bottles, etc.
Scissors, tape, glue, and other craft supplies
Optional: birdseed or other bird-friendly treats to place in the birdhouse
Gather the preschoolers and explain the importance of birds in our ecosystem. Provide recycled materials and ask the children to create their own birdhouses. Help them cut out windows and a door in the chosen material and decorate the outside of the birdhouse. Discuss with the children how the birdhouse provides a safe habitat for birds and how using recycled materials can help reduce waste. Place the birdhouses in a safe and appropriate location and watch for birds visiting.
10. Easy Composting
Do you ever wonder what happens to the food scraps we throw away? Instead of sending them to the landfill, we can turn them into something magical! Today, we’re going to learn about composting and how it can help reduce waste and nourish the soil. We’ll create our own compost bin and learn how to turn our food scraps into something valuable for our environment!
Materials:
A compost bin or container
Fruit and vegetable scraps
Optional: garden soil or compost activator
Gather the preschoolers and explain the concept of composting and its benefits. Show them the compost bin and explain what can and cannot be composted (i.e. food scraps, paper, leaves, etc.) Ask the children to collect fruit and vegetable scraps from their lunches or snacks to add to the bin.
Discuss with the children how composting helps reduce waste and nourishes the soil. If desired, add garden soil or a compost activator to help accelerate the composting process. Monitor and maintain the compost pile by adding appropriate materials and mixing occasionally. Discuss with the children how they can continue to reduce waste in their daily lives by composting and recycling.
How do you introduce earth day to preschoolers?
Introducing Earth Day to preschoolers is an important step in helping them understand the importance of taking care of the environment. Here are some tips on how to introduce Earth Day to preschoolers:
- Keep it Simple: Start by introducing the concept of Earth Day in simple terms. Explain that it’s a special day when people around the world come together to celebrate and protect the environment.
- Use Visuals: Use different visual learning tools and resources such as pictures or videos to help illustrate the concept of Earth Day. This can help preschoolers better understand what the day is all about.
- Read Books: Reading books is a good habit for pre-schooler. Read age-appropriate books about Earth Day to preschoolers. This can help them understand the importance of taking care of the environment and how they can make a positive impact.
- Discuss the Environment: Talk with preschoolers about the environment and why it’s important to protect it. Explain how plants, animals, and people all depend on a healthy environment.
- Provide Hands-On Activities: Provide hands-on activities such as planting seeds or creating art from recycled materials. This can help preschoolers better understand the impact they can have on the environment.
- Encourage Action: Encourage preschoolers to take action to protect the environment. Simple actions such as turning off lights when leaving a room or picking up litter can make a big difference.
Conclusion
Earth Day is an important opportunity to teach preschoolers about the importance of taking care of the environment. By introducing the concept of Earth Day in simple terms and using fun and engaging activities, we can help preschoolers better understand the impact they can have on the planet.
From planting seeds to creating recycled art, preschoolers can learn how to be Earth champions and make a positive impact on the world around them. It’s important to encourage and inspire young children to take care of our planet, and Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to do so. Let’s continue to celebrate Earth Day with fun and educational activities that will help our little ones become eco-friendly superheroes!
I am Shweta Sharma. I am a final year Masters student of Clinical Psychology and have been working closely in the field of psycho-education and child development. I have served in various organisations and NGOs with the purpose of helping children with disabilities learn and adapt better to both, academic and social challenges. I am keen on writing about learning difficulties, the science behind them and potential strategies to deal with them. My areas of expertise include putting forward the cognitive and behavioural aspects of disabilities for better awareness, as well as efficient intervention. Follow me on LinkedIn