April 22 marks the 44th anniversary of Earth Day, a day when more than one billion people in 192 countries celebrate the Earth and focus on giving back to our planet. Not sure how to celebrate? Check out these ideas for ways to involve your family in the largest civic observance in the world!
Grow Something Green. Celebrate Earth Day by planting a garden, or even just a few flowers. Involve the kids in selecting, planting and caring for plants. It’s fun, and a wonderful hands-on learning opportunity. If you don’t have room for a garden, just a few pots on the patio, or herbs on the windowsill can brighten your home and provide fresh and healthy produce for your family. Check out these ideas for gardening projects to do with kids.
If you have the space, consider planting a tree in your yard. In addition to being beautiful, trees remove CO2 from the air and provide a habitat for wildlife. Don’t have a green thumb? There are several organizations that plant trees in deforested areas with the help of donations. Just $1 replants a tree in decimated forests around the world. Visit Plant a Billion or The National Forest Foundation to learn more.
Recycle. Explore these resources with your kids about why it’s important to recycle, what items are recyclable, and how people can help. Then spend some time spring cleaning and see what items in your home could be recycled. In many areas, recycling centers observe Earth Day by offering free large item and e-waste recycling, a great chance to safely (and legally) get rid of broken or outdated clutter and electronics. Check the Earth Day website to see if there are similar opportunities in your area, or try the free iRecycle app to find a center near you.
Find Your Footprint. This would be a good exercise to try with older kids. Have them think about your family’s habits and answer the questions on this quiz to calculate your ecological footprint. You might be surprised by the results. The quiz offers some tips for simple lifestyle changes to reduce your footprint—a great opportunity to have a conversation with kids about environmental impact.
Make a Pledge. Once you know what green changes you can make, consider pledging to make an Act of Green as part of Earth Day’s Billion Acts of Green initiative. This could be as simple as recycling or planting a garden, walking or biking more, or using more green products. Share your pledge, then stick to it!
Play a Game. For younger kids, PBS Kids has free online educational games and activities perfect for Earth Day, including The Greens, Eekoworld, and Sid the Science Kid. Or, visit the Department of Energy’s site for interactive online and printable activities focusing on climate change and the environment.
High school students and adults can try their hand at CEO2, a game developed by Allianz and the World Wildlife Federation. Players take on the role of CEO and try to adopt green business practices, without bankrupting their company. It’s an interesting exercise in corporate responsibility and cause and effect.
Get Outside! Finally, take some time to enjoy and appreciate our Earth by exploring the outdoors and observing nature. Clean up litter at a local park or beach, go on a nature hike, or take a family bike ride for some fun, green, exercise. For more ideas, check out this blog post full of outdoor learning activities.
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Image: NASA/NOAA/GSFC/Suomi NPP/VIIRS/Norman Kuring
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