Welcome to our Earth Month calendar of activities! Earth Day is a time to celebrate and cherish our beautiful planet while taking action to protect it. Throughout this calendar, you'll find a diverse range of engaging and educational activities designed to inspire environmental consciousness. Join us in honoring Earth Day by participating in these events that promote a healthier, more sustainable future for our planet.

​

This resource can be printed or distributed digitally. All daily actions can be done at home or school. Click on the icon for each day to see a curated list of educational resources related to the daily action.

​

Climate action requires all of us, not just climate experts. That’s why we invite you to Make Climate a Class during Worldwide Climate and Justice Education Week (April 1-8 2024). Any educator and any student can work to Make Climate A Class, no matter the subject. Once you’ve pledged to Make Climate a Class, someone will reach out to you with climate education resources to help you spark real dialogue on climate within your institution.

For More Free Resources, Visit Our Site 👉 www.subjecttoclimate.org

turn off the AC

World

Health Day

Nat’l Gardening Day (US)

World Book Day

Earth Day

Arbor Day

protect pollinators

be a weather watcher

walk and roll

use a reusable water bottle

be a friend

to animals

donate clothing

turn off the lights

create a recycling station

start a

compost pile

unplug electronics

conserve water

collect rainwater

use less paper

What is your Carbon Footprint?

explore the outdoors

say “no” to

food waste

trash can audit

advocate

for Earth

use safe products

recycle plastic

use reusable bags

create art for the Earth

reuse & recycle to create

pick up trash

#Trashtag: The Online Challenge Cleaning Places Up

• This article from the BBC introduces students to the #Trashtag challenge, where people go to a place, clean it up, and post before and after pictures on social media.
• The article conveys an important message that we need to get to the root of the problem by first refusing to purchase disposable items, then reduce, reuse, and (as a last resort) recycle.

“Tuyen's Tremendous Trash Tour"

• 1st-5th grades
• In this digital picture book from Climate Science, Tuyen and Earthly tour Vietnam and learn about different types of waste and where they end up.
• By reading this book, students learn about the consequences of improper waste disposal on the environment.

Pollution

• 9th-12th grades
• This detailed video from Crash Course highlights many types of pollution and the effects of that pollution on human health and the environment.
• It spans from the simplest piece of litter to natural and synthetic chemical compounds and the pollutants from mining and burning fossil fuels.

The (Not So) Great Garbage Patches

• 3rd-5th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn about plastic pollution and write a letter to a local official advocating for a solution to plastic pollution.

​

Pick Up Trash

Encourage students to clean up trash in their neighborhood, school, and community. Teachers can use the following resources to teach students about the importance of proper waste disposal.

The Great Global Cleanup Campaign

EARTHDAY.ORG is focused on accelerating solutions to combat plastic pollution by activating governments, citizens, and businesses to do their part– everyone accounted for, everyone accountable. It's YOUR turn to make a difference, starting with organizing or joining a community cleanup. Cleanups are a fun and easy way to amplify your impact on Earth Day and every day. Learn more about this campaign from EARTHDAY.ORG!

back

Interactive Case Study for "The Effects of Fungicides on Bumble Bee Colonies"

• 9th-12th grades
• In this video from BioInteractive, entomologist Shawn Steffan investigates the effects of fungicide applications on bee colonies. The video is embedded with questions that challenge students to make predictions, develop explanations, and analyze data.

Protect Pollinators

On this day, students can learn about the important role that pollinators play in the ecosystem, understand how pollinators are being threatened, and develop strategies to protect our pollinators! Explore the following resources to learn more about pollinators.

Pollinators

• 6th-12th grades
• This article from The Climate Initiative explores the importance of pollinators in food production, why the amount of pollinators is drastically declining around the world, and how climate change is making life harder for pollinators.
• Students will learn that pollinators are responsible for a third of all food production, the number of worldwide pollinators is decreasing because of habitat destruction, pollution, and other man-made factors, and climate change is throwing off the timing between pollinators and the plants they pollinate.

Growing a Pollinator Garden

• Kindergarten-6th grade
• This engaging activity from the National Wildlife Federation guides students through the process of growing a pollinator garden.
• The guide thoroughly explains how to set up a pollinator

garden, monitor it, and collect data on its success.

Bee and Me

• Kindergarten-5th grade
• This animated video, based on a wordless picture book by Alison Jay, tells the story of a girl who befriends a bee. Bee and Me is published by Old Barn Books. Students will learn about the importance of bees in nature and the importance of nature in humans' lives.

Insect Lesson Plans

These activities from EARTHDAY.ORG are designed to stand alone or work together as a set and can be used before, after or during data collection. The levels are not assigned to specific grade levels but rather are geared to explore the topic in increasing depth. Each lesson is adaptable so you can customize to your learners’ needs. Challenge your students to learn about insects and their role in the health of our planet!

​

back

The Difference Between Weather & Climate Change

• 6th-12th grades
• In this video from The Kid Should See This, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson explains the difference between weather and climate and discusses the global forces driving climate change.
• The resource includes a short article with links to helpful information.

Understanding Weather

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• This SubjectToClimate lesson introduces the concept of weather to students.
• Students will read about weather, create weather journals, and design a weather wheel.

Weather vs. Climate

• 3rd-8th grades
• This short video from Crash Course explains the difference between weather and climate for young learners.
• It discusses many types of weather patterns and events, and takes students through an animated investigation of climate.

​

Be a Weather Watcher

On this day, students can learn about weather, track weather patterns, and build understanding about the difference between weather and climate. This is a great time to start long-term projects like weather journals or graphs. Learn more through the resources below.

Extreme Weather Lab

• 3rd-5th grades
• In this lesson from Technical Education Research Centers, students reflect on their personal energy use, make a bar graph to analyze data from the class, and create a conservation poster for display.

Careers in Information Technology and Electronics Maintenance

• In this brief article from NOAA, students will read about careers in the National Weather Service as information technology specialists and electronics technicians.
• Students will learn about duties, work environment, and education requirements for these two green careers.

​

back

Walk and Roll Day

• 3rd-12th grades
• This resource from ACE outlines the steps students can take to implement a school-wide "Walk and Roll Day" to encourage students and faculty to get to school by biking, taking public transportation, walking, or carpooling.

How Do We Get There From Here?

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• This SubjectToClimate lesson explores modes of transportation and the energy they use.
• Students read a book about energy sources, generate a list of transportation types, and explore energy sources for transportation.

Emissions by Mode of Transportation

• 3rd-5th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students compare and contrast emissions from different modes of transportation and explore the concept of transportation planning.
• Students analyze data about emissions as well as commuter survey results, while learning about transportation planners.

Walk and Roll

Encourage students to think of ways to get around that do not involve driving. Is it possible to walk to the store? Ride your bike to your friend’s house? Take public instead of private transportation? Celebrate the concept of Walk and Roll day with a nice walk around school grounds. Explore the following resources for more ideas!

Transportation Audit and Action Plan

• 3rd-12th grades
• This activity from the National Wildlife Federation assists students in developing questions about which public transportation options are available in their local city or town, what they think about it, and what they can do to make a difference.

No Idling Action Toolkit

• 6th-8th grades
• This toolkit from Learning for a Sustainable Future encourages students to actively observe the traffic around their schools to determine how big of a problem car idling is. Students will gather and analyze data and complete a visual project showing what they learned.

​

back

School Hydration Stations

• 3rd-12th grades
• This resource from Climate Generation provides step-by-step instructions on how to secure funding for a water bottle refilling station. Explore information about plastic production, plastic pollution, water insecurity, and grant resources available.

Solutions to Multiplying Plastics

• 3rd-5th grades
• In this lesson, students use multiplication to understand the problem of single-use plastics and how they impact climate change.

30 Days Without Single-Use Plastic

• 6th-12th grades
• This video from NowThis Earth follows a woman who chose to avoid single-use plastics for one month.
• Students will learn tips for how to avoid single-use plastic, challenges that might come up, and data on plastic consumption and waste from around the globe.

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

Students can learn about the toll that plastics take on the environment and discuss how switching from single-use plastic can make a difference. Involve students in developing action plans and teaching others in the school community. View the following resources for more information and activities.

Plastic Pollution Quiz

Take a quiz on EARTHDAY.ORG to determine how much you know about the threats that our planet faces from plastic pollution. Students can take the quiz individually or as a whole class. Use the quiz results to springboard discussion on plastic pollution and solutions to plastic use.

A Million Bottles a Minute

• 4th-8th grades
• This workshop from Learning for a Sustainable Future is designed to provide an overview of the plastics problem for children and introduce several engaging and hands-on activities to learn about its impact, widespread existence, and ways that they can make a difference.

​

back

The True Cost of Cheap Clothes

• 6th-12th grades
• This video from the Council on Foreign Relations demonstrates the need for a sustainable textile industry, as fast fashion is responsible for many environmental problems, including carbon emissions, water consumption, and water pollution.

Fashion Footprint

• 9th & 10th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn about the harmful environmental effects of fast fashion and discover ways to increase personal responsibility and fashion sustainability.

Life Cycle of a T-Shirt

• 6th-12th grades
• This video by TED Ed explains how cotton T-shirts are made and the environmental and health effects of this entire process.

​

Donate Clothing

Encourage students to donate instead of throw away unwanted clothing. Students can learn about the fast fashion industry, how clothing production affects the climate, and steps we can take to limit the impact of our choices on the environment. Explore these resources related to clothing.

Fashion for the Earth

EARTHDAY.ORG’s Fashion for the Earth Campaign contains videos, facts, action steps, and projects related to climate change and the fashion industry. Students can also take a quiz to learn more about how they can make a difference. Additional helpful information can be found in toolkits like “How to Swap for the Earth” and “How to Care for Your Clothes”.

back

Healthy Environment, Healthy You

• 6th-12th grades
• In this outdoor journaling activity from the EPA, students spend time observing the natural environment and then answer one of three prompts on happiness, anxiety, or self-esteem.
• Students will learn that spending time in nature can be an important component of mental health.

Take it to the Forest

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• This SubjectToClimate lesson introduces students to the relationship between health and climate change through play and movement.
• Students play a game focusing on exercise, breathing, the carbon cycle, and climate change.

Eco-Health Relationship Browser

• 9th-12th grades
• This interactive flow chart from the EPA identifies the many connections between ecosystems, ecosystem services, environmental issues, and human health. Students can click on an item to read its description and see how it affects, and is affected by, many other things.

How Does Nature Improve Your Health?

• This short, animated video by The Nature Conservancy describes the many reasons why taking care of our planet is one of the best things we can do to improve human health.
• Students will learn specific reasons why trees and nature are fundamental to our health, such as protection from air pollution and shade from the heat, and how many communities have little access to it.

​

World Health Day

April 7 is World Health Day, sponsored by the World Health Organization. On this day, students can learn about the impact of climate change on human health. Students may also discuss steps they can take to live healthier lives. Check out the resources below.

Plastics & Human Health Quiz

Take a quiz on EARTHDAY.ORG to determine how much you know about the connection between plastics and human health. Students learn about microplastics, how plastic impacts health, and common health conditions related to plastic pollution. Use the quiz as a starting point for learning more about the impacts of pollution on human health.

back

Why You’re Recycling Wrong

• 6th-12th grades
• This Vox video explores how difficult it is for people to decide what to recycle and what not to recycle.
• It shows people's habits when it comes to recycling, the varying recycling programs in the United States, and the lessons learned in order to prevent recycling contamination and aspirational recycling.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repeat!

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• This SubjectToClimate lesson introduces the idea of reduce, reuse, recycle and has students create a classroom waste management plan.
• Students learn about recyclables, play a sorting game, and make a plan for their classroom.

EPA Recycle City Challenge

• 3rd-8th grades
• In this interactive game from the EPA, students visit 5 different locations in an online city and answer questions related to recycling.
• Learners stop at city hall, a household, a school, a café, and a grocery store to explore ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle at each site.

Create a Recycling Station

As a class or school community, set up a recycling station for common recyclable materials. This could be in the classroom for paper, cardboard, plastic, etc. Take it up a level by creating a station in the cafeteria! Learn more about recycling through the resources below.

back

Can Wildlife Adapt to Climate Change?

• 3rd-12th grades
• This resource from TED Ed highlights the need for humans to preserve natural habitats and the genetic diversity of wild populations in order to help plants and animals cope with climate change. Students will learn about several species that are already adapting to their changing climate but not all species have the space, time, or genetic diversity to evolve.

Save the Sea Turtles

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• This SubjectToClimate lesson introduces students to sea turtles and the human-caused dangers they face while encouraging them to create a way to help save these beautiful creatures.
• Students read a story, identify dangers turtles face, and design a solution to help sea turtles.

The Dirt on Factory Farms

• 8th-12th grades
• This short, animated video from ACE introduces students to the environmental, health, and moral implications of farming animals in a factory-like manner.

Crossword on Endangered Animals

• 3rd-5th grades
• This digital crossword puzzle from Green Guardians features images, information, and vocabulary about endangered plants and animals.
• Students will learn about several different species, their habitats, and the causes of their endangerment.

Be a Friend to Animals

On this day, students can reflect on the relationship between humans, animals, and the environment. Students can learn about threats to animals and how humans can make positive changes. Ask students how they can make a difference for animals. Explore the following resources for more!

Endangered Species Quiz

Explore the world of endangered species with this personality quiz from EARTHDAY.ORG. Students can answer a series of fun questions to see which endangered animals best represents their personalities. Students can read about your animal at the end of the quiz. Take it a step further and invite students to complete a research project about their given animal.

back

Worm Bin: 100 Day Time-Lapse

• Kindergarten-12th grade
• This video by The Kid Should See This is a 100-day time-lapse of a vermicomposting bin that is divided into three chambers containing leaves, cardboard, or paper.
• Students can visualize the process of decomposition and watch new soil being formed.

Composting: A Treat for Mother Earth

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn about composting and its benefits to Mother Earth.
• Students read about composting, sort items, and identify things that plants need to grow.

Scraps into Soil

• Kindergarten-5th grade
• This lesson from Population Education provides instructions for a composting experiment that investigates the decomposition of organic and inorganic waste. Students will gather materials, observe how they decompose over time, differentiate between natural and human-made products, explain the difference in decomposition rates between the two, and explain the importance of composting to reduce landfill waste.

Start a Compost Pile

On this day, students may either start their own classroom/school compost pile or learn how to make one at home. Students can learn which materials are compostable, how compost helps plants grow, and the what the process of composting entails. Learn more below!

Composting Advocacy Packet

Take a dive into this detailed guide from EARTHDAY.ORG on implementing a composting system at your school. Identify stakeholders, develop a step-by-step plan, and discover more information throughout this packet from EARTHDAY.ORG.

Build a Vermicomposter Action Toolkit

• 3rd-8th grades
• Through this toolkit from Learning for a Sustainable Future, students will learn about the science of composting and how composting can benefit the planet.

back

Energy Conservation Methods

• 9th-12th grades
• This resource from Khan Academy discusses a sometimes forgotten solution to climate change, energy conservation.
• The video explains the importance of energy conservation and methods for conserving energy at a personal and societal level and there are practice questions to check for comprehension.

Energy Conservation Audit

• 3rd-8th grades
• This worksheet from the National Wildlife Federation guides students to examine their current energy use at home and create a plan to conserve more energy. Students complete a set of questions, create a map of their home, fill in a data table to track "energy vampires," and write an action plan.

Per Capita Electricity Consumption

• 6th-12th grades
• This interactive map, chart, and table from Our World in Data shows the average annual electricity consumption per capita starting from 1985.
• It provides a graphical representation of the individual energy use in each country and can help provide a projection towards the future.

​

Unplug Unused Electronics

Encourage students to unplug electronics when not in use. This action can spark a further discussion on energy use and conservation in our daily lives. Explore the following resources for more information about examining energy use.

back

Milly Zantow: Recycling Revolutionary

• 3rd-8th grades
• This resource from PBS explores how Milly Zantow started a global movement to recycle plastics, what motivated her to start this movement, and what challenges she faced in the movement's early phases.
• The resource includes a digital book with audio, a video, a brief biography, and a photo gallery.

Sea of Plastic

• 3rd-12th grades
• This mural in Cairns, Australia shows a sea full of single-use plastic bottles in an effort to bring awareness of the plastic waste issue. The artist also lists ways to limit waste and reduce plastic consumption. The mural was created as a part of PangeaSeed Foundation’s Sea Walls program.

What Happens to Plastic in the Soil?

• 6th-10th grades
• In this simplified scientific paper from Science Journal for Kids, students will read about how plastic that ends up in our soil undergoes chemical and physical changes over time. Students will learn that different types of microplastics react to soil differently based on their specific properties.

Recycle Plastic

On this day students can learn more about the impact of plastic waste on the environment. Students may develop plans for recycling plastic at home and school. Explore the following resources to support learning about plastics and recycling.

Plastic Calculator

• Use this calculator on EARTHDAY.ORG to learn about how many plastic items you consume and discard every year.
• For every material listed, you’ll see three boxes. In the first box, fill in your daily consumption of the specific item. The second box will auto-populate with your total consumption every year.

back

Water Footprint Calculator

• 6th-12th grades
• This interactive Water Footprint Calculator asks a series of questions in order to calculate an estimated water footprint.
• Students will learn about how their personal and household choices impact their water footprint and how they can reduce their water usage.

Gallon Challenge

• 3rd-8th grades
• This activity from Green Guardians challenges students to use just one gallon of water for everything they need in one day.
• Students will have to think critically about their water use and consider what they most value when it comes to the water they use.

Importance of Conserving Water

• 6th-8th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students create a timeline of Native Hawaiian sustainability practices, and promote a water conservation law in their community.
• Although developed for Hawaiian students, this lesson plan can be adapted and used for any student population.

Conserve Water

This day provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the need to preserve water. Students can participate in activities that highlight the significance of water conservation and brainstorm ways to reduce water consumption in daily life. Take a look at the resources below!

back

Why You Should Turn Your Lawn Into a Food Garden

• 6th-12th grades
• This video from NowThis Earth explains why growing a food garden is a better alternative to maintaining a lawn.
• Students learn how to grow a food garden and its advantages for the gardener and the planet.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students investigate plant growth by measuring their own plants.
• Students learn about what plants need and the benefits of having an outdoor space like a garden.

How Radical Gardeners Took Back New York City

• 6th-12th grades
• This video from Vox tells the stories of two influential women in New York, Hattie Carthan and Liz Christy, who worked tirelessly to improve their communities through gardening and greening abandoned urban areas. It provides the historical context for these events and the present-day benefits that remain for these urban communities.

Resources for Building a School Garden

• 3rd-12th grades
• This resource from the Nature Conservancy provides information about how to plan, build, and maintain a school or community garden. It teaches students about sustainability within their community, discusses the difference between abiotic and biotic factors within a habitat, and helps students develop

knowledge about biodiversity and ecosystems.

National Gardening Day

Celebrate this special day with lessons, activities, and more related to gardening. Students may even design and create their own garden. Check out the resources below for students of all ages!

Pollinator Garden Planning

Students use this worksheet from EARTHDAY.ORG to examine the outdoor spaces around them and plan out a pollinator garden. Students research, design, and plan a garden. Students may also work in groups to develop a group plan and implement it on school grounds.

back

Recycled Paper

• 9th-12th grades
• This article from Project Drawdown highlights the role of paper recycling as a climate solution, focusing on the carbon dioxide released by the production of recycled paper versus the production of conventional, or virgin, paper.
• Students will learn about the processes used to produce both recycled and conventional paper, the energy and greenhouse gas emissions released during both processes, the financial implications of this climate solution, and predictions about global paper production and consumption.

Snack-Sized Science: Plant Your Paper!

• Kindergarten-8th grade
• In this 30-minute video from EarthEcho International, students will see a demonstration of how to make plantable seed paper out of shredded junk-mail paper.
• Students will learn about the history of Earth Day and why recycling is important for the environment.

Take a Lesson from Nature

• 3rd-12th grades
• This is a watercolor and colored pencil piece by scientist and artist Jill Pelto made with paper, magazines, and natural materials such as leaves.
• Students can create their own piece of art using recycled paper.

​

Use Less Paper

Encourage students to think about how they can use less paper in their daily lives. Students can start collecting scrap paper for writing or drawing, start a paper recycling program, or replace paper with digital tools or whiteboards and markers. Check out more ideas in the following resources.

back

Calculating Your Carbon Footprint

• 3rd-5th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn about climate change, calculate their carbon footprint, and take steps to reduce their carbon footprint.

​

Carbon Check: Your Carbon Footprint

• 6th-12th grades
• This activity from BioInteractive provides a way for students to evaluate their own carbon footprints and to explore many ways of reducing it, including an estimation of the up-front costs and cost savings for various solutions.
• Students will use the interactive calculator to enter data about their household, travel habits, energy sources, food choices, and shopping habits, then select a number of provided solutions.

Footprint Renovation

• 3rd-8th grades
• This short animated video from Green Ninja introduces students to the concept of a carbon footprint and shows them how individual choices made at home can really add up.

What is Your Carbon Footprint?

Ask students to examine their daily lives and determine how the actions they take affect the environment. Use the following resources to learn about what a carbon footprint is, how to calculate a carbon footprint, and what can be done to reduce impact.

back

A Nature Journal, Oh Yeah!

• Kindergarten-5th grade
• In this activity from PBS Kids, students will create a nature journal, and use to use it to record questions and observations about nature.
• Although designed for elementary, any student can create a nature journal of their own using recycled paper, digital devices, etc.

My Green Space

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• This engaging lesson plan from Green Guardians uses storytelling to teach about green and blue spaces, how they impact our mental health, and what we can do to protect nature and interact with nature more often. Students will learn through reading a digital story, playing games, and designing their own green space.

Nature Show & Tell

• Kindergarten-3rd grade
• In this activity from ClimateScience, students find an object from nature and write a short speech about it to share with classmates.

​

Explore the Outdoors

It’s time to get outside! Go for a nature walk, journal under a tree, or plan a trip to a nature preserve. Kids who love nature will grow into adults who fight to save it. Take the opportunity to explore this idea through the resources below.

Step Outside: Newsletter

• teachers of all grades
• This Newsletter from Learning for a Sustainable Future is a compilation of seasonal happenings that can be used to bring nature into your classroom.

​

back

Where Does Your Food Come From?

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn where food comes from and the importance of taking care of natural resources.
• Students discuss foods they eat, where those foods come from, and what it takes to grow these foods. Students will learn about the connection between food and natural resources.

Food Waste & Our Planet

• 6th-8th grades
• This SubjectToClimate lesson explores the complexities of food waste and its connection to climate change.
• Students learn about different sources of food waste, the connection to inequity, and how waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Say “No” to Food Waste

On this day, students can learn about the impacts of food production on the environment. Students can discover ways to reduce food waste. Explore the resources below to learn more about food waste.

Alexis Cromer: Climate Solutions Require Creativity

• 6th-12th grades
• In this resource from Project Drawdown students will learn the many reasons why reducing food waste is one of the most impactful climate solutions, and one that all people can participate in.

Fighting Food Waste Means Fighting Climate Change

• 6th-12th grades
• This article from the UNFCC discusses the first observance of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. It highlights the scope of the food waste problem and the many benefits of addressing the problem, including ending hunger, ensuring sustainable food production and consumption, and fighting climate change.

Food for Thought Action Toolkit

• 9th-12th grades
• This resource from Learning for a Sustainable Future has students analyze the global food system from a ‘systems’ perspective to develop a better understanding of the important issues related to where their food comes from.

back

Solar Wobble Bot

• 3rd-8th grades
• In this project from Instructables Circuits, students will assemble a small motor and solar cell with reused materials to create a wobble bot. This is a hands-on project that will help students problem-solve and innovate.
• Students could experiment with other materials and light sources or different colored lights to see if it changes the activity of the bot.

​

At-Home Upcycle Projects

• Kindergarten-12th grade
• This resource from National Environmental Education Foundation provides instructions for six upcycling projects that will turn discarded items into something useful.
• Each project includes step-by-step instructions with pictures.

Grow Plants from Paper

• Kindergarten-8th grade
• In this activity from ClimateScience, students will use old paper to make new seed paper which can be planted to grow native wildflowers.
• Students will learn that recycling is a way to conserve natural resources like trees.

​

Reuse & Recycle to Create

It’s time to get creative! How can we use recycled or reused materials in new ways? In the following resources students will use recycled materials to create art, build machines, and grow new things. What other uses can your students think of?

back

Why Heaters are the Future of Cooling

• 9th-12th grades
• This video by VOX describes an efficient solution for heating and cooling homes and the increase in geographic regions that will need temperature regulation in the coming years, due to climate change.
• It highlights electric heat pumps as a climate solution for one third of the world's population, providing the framework needed to help incentivize this transition away from heaters powered by fossil fuels.

How Can we Conserve Energy?

• 3rd-5th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students reflect on their personal energy use, make a bar graph to analyze data from the class, and create a conservation poster for display.

How a Sticker Kept 3 Billion Tons of CO2 Out of the Air

• 3rd-12th grades
• This engaging video from Hot Mess outlines the history of energy efficiency improvements in household appliances since the 1980s.
• The video highlights EnergyGuide and Energy Star stickers and how they limit carbon emissions and save consumers money.

​

Turn Off the AC

Encourage students to conserve energy at home and school by only using the air conditioning and heat when needed. Just a few degrees can make a difference in energy consumption! Take a look at these resources about energy conservation.

back

What is a Cloud?

• 6th-12th grades
• This video from Crash Course explains the three types of clouds, how cloud characteristics can indicate atmospheric conditions and help us predict weather patterns, how humidity and water vapor are connected to cloud formation and rain, and how different types of clouds absorb or reflect differing amounts of radiation.

Plant Survival

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• In the 3rd lesson in the Water and Plant Survival unit from SubjectToClimate, students learn about science experiments, design and execute an experiment to learn about what plants need to survive, and communicate their findings to others.

Water You Up To?

• 2nd-6th grades
• This short animated video from Green Ninja follows a water droplet as he and his friends learn about the water cycle. There are discussion questions and additional links provided below the video. The group travels through the water cycle learning about evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Collect Rainwater to Water Plants

Encourage students to make a plan to conserve water at school and home. One way to do this is to water plants and grass using collected rainwater. Students can lead the charge to make this change at home or school. Learn more about water, plants, and more in the following resources.

School Garden Advocacy Packet

• 9th-12th grades
• Explore this thorough guide to developing a school garden chapter in your school from EARTHDAY.ORG.

back

It’s Up to You!

• 6th-12th grades
• This resource from ACE features a video and activities that empower students to take climate action. The video features a short story about two wolves. It is important to note that ACE does not credit the origins of the story, which are rooted in the traditions of the Cherokee and Lenape Nations.

Earth Day Activities from Subject to Climate

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• Kindergarten-5th grade
• 3rd-5th grades
• 6th-8th grades
• 9th-12th grades

Climate Trackers

• 6th-8th grades
• This engaging resource from PBS Wisconsin Education introduces students to several climate scientists, includes a creative activity, and lets students hear from the scientists about their research, equipment, and discoveries made in the ecometeorology lab.

Earth Day

It’s time to celebrate! Use these activity bundles from SubjectToClimate as well as activities from ACE and PBS to help spread the word of Earth Day. Take the opportunity to explore the concept of climate activism and advocacy with students. Don’t forget to check out the menu of activities for schools from EARTHDAY.ORG.

Earth Day Themed Classroom Pack

• Kindergarten-12th grade
• This slideshow features printable name tags, bookmarks, posters, growth mindset cards, certificates, and table signs to support teaching and learning about environmental stewardship.

Earth Day Menu

Explore a collection of activities from EARTHDAY.ORG that you can do with your school community to celebrate Earth Day. Activities include writing letters to global leaders, hosting a clean up event, or hosting an Earth Day poster contest!

Does Nature Have Rights?

• 6th-12th grades
• This engaging video from PBS describes the threats facing natural ecosystems and details the reasons why Ecuador included a legal right for nature to exist in its constitution.

back

“Saving Planet Earthly”: Read Aloud

• Kindergarten-5th grade
• The children's book Saving Planet Earthly by ClimateScience, provides a clear introduction to the causes, consequences, and solutions of climate change.

Without Warning! Wildfire Comic Book

• 6th-12th grades
• This digital comic book from Dark Horse Publishing is an engaging tool for teaching students about the dangers of wildfires and how they can be prevented.
• Students will learn about just how quickly wildfires can begin, how wildfires impact ecosystems, and what people can do to prevent wildfires.

World Book Day

To celebrate World Book Day, invite students to read about climate change and climate solutions. Explore these options to get started!

How Renewables Work: A Practical Guide to Solar, Wind, and Geothermal

• 6th-12th grades
• This e-book from The Climate Reality Project provides an overview of solar, wind, and geothermal energy. Students will learn about the cost of installing solar, wind, and geothermal systems, how much energy each system produces, and the best locations for each energy source.

All About Earth: Our World on Stage

• 3rd-5th grades
• This illustrated book from The Globe Program explains how Earth's many systems are interconnected and important for life on Earth by telling a story about students in a school play.
• Students will enjoy the illustrations, singing the song at the end, and the fun story.

Reading List

Head to your nearest library and check out these titles! This reading list from EARTHDAY.ORG is divided into elementary, middle school, and high school. Share these texts and start a discussion with your class. Students can also respond to the reading using response to reading pages or book reports. Invite students to share what they learned from the books.

back

What is the Circular Economy?

• 10th-12th grades
• This video from The Kid Should See This explains how we could use the natural world as a model for a less wasteful economy.
• Students will learn about reducing waste through biodegradation, repurposing products, and rethinking our economic infrastructures.

Together No Trash

• 3rd-12th grades
• This ready-to-use project guide from Roots & Shoots will get students thinking about their communities and creating initiatives to clean them up.
• Using an inquiry model, students will have opportunities to think, plan, question, communicate, and advocate for litter reduction in their neighborhoods.

The Chemistry of Landfills

• 6th-8th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students use chemical reactions that occur in landfills and composting as a vehicle to learn about chemical changes found in their daily lives.

​

Trash Can Audit

Invite students to complete an audit of the classroom (or their personal) trash can. What items are being thrown away? Could more items be recycled or reused? Which items can be eliminated completely? Check out resources about the impact of waste on the climate.

back

Kids Can Change the World

• Kindergarten-5th grade
• In this digital picture book from ClimateScience, Ava, an Indigenous girl from Canada, and her friend Earthly discover that children around the world are working to make the Earth healthier.

What Can YOUth Do?

• 3rd-5th grades
• In the 3rd lesson in the Art For the Earth Unit from SubjectToClimate, students learn about youth activists around the world, choose an environmental campaign, and collect data to support their campaign.

Why You Should Be a Climate Activist

• 6th-12th grades
• In this video from TED, climate activist Luisa Neubauer discusses her journey to becoming a climate activist and explains why all people should become climate activists.

Advocate for the Earth

Children are capable of amazing things. On this day, invite students to become climate advocates and activists. From story books to climate activist profiles, the fire of advocacy can be lit through the following activities and resources.

How These Youth Climate Activists

are Changing the Future

• 6th-12th grades
• This video interview from NowThis Earth highlights four young climate activists as they discuss their involvement with the climate movement.

Climate Justice Instructional Toolkit

• 11th-12th grades, AP/College
• This toolkit from MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative provides numerous resources to teach an entire unit on climate justice, including educator guides, student worksheets, videos, data sets, and presentation modules.

Ocean Heroes: Coastal Frontline Communities and Climate Justice

• 6th-12th grades, AP/College
• This video from The Nature Conservancy highlights programs and efforts to engage with youth and many disadvantaged groups about the risks of our changing oceans, careers in science, and ways to express their feelings through art.

back

Trees in the Rainforest

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students will learn about trees in the rainforest. Students will read a book, examine the layers of the rainforest, lean about the carbon cycle, and analyze the impact of deforestation on the environment. Although this lesson focuses on the rainforest, students can make connections to the trees in their community.

Tree Identifier

• 5th-10th grades
• This virtual guide book from Tree Bee helps students identify and research trees from the database of 158 species that are found in N. America.
• Students can explore and read about different trees from the list or use the "Identify a Tree" function from the menu and answer questions about their tree, narrowing their search results.

Where Are All the Trees?

• 3rd-8th grades
• In this interactive game from SubjectToClimate, students play the role of an urban planner who must decide if Los Angeles needs to plant more trees.
• The game includes two informational videos and an interactive tree equity map with a variety of demographic indicators that students can use for research.

Arbor Day

Arbor Day is a special day when we celebrate trees and their vital role in our environment. It's a time to plant trees, learn about their benefits, and work together to create a greener and healthier planet for all. Teachers can use the following resources to support learning about trees.

Love Song for a Tree

• 9th-12th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn how trees are invaluable allies in our fight against climate change and utilize the power of music to honor a tree in the form of a love song.

How Systemic Racism is Linked to Fewer Trees in Your City

• 7th-12th grades, AP/College
• This video from NowThis Earth describes the lingering effects of redlining on tree cover in many cities across America and how planting trees in these areas can help improve human health, save money and energy, and sequester carbon. Students learn about the importance of tree cover in urban areas and the jobs that could be created planting and caring for these city-maintained trees.

back

Energy 101: Daylighting

• 6th-12th grades
• This video by the United States Department of Energy describes the concept of daylighting, which is using windows strategically to maximize natural light and help regulate the temperature of buildings.
• Daylighting helps reduce electricity consumption and saves money on utility bills.

Sun Up, Sun Down

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn about the role the sun plays in our daily lives and how solar energy can be used.
• Students can discuss how to use the power of the sun to light their rooms instead of artificial light.

Introduction to Renewable Energy

• 3rd-5th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn about renewable and nonrenewable sources, ways they use energy, and ways to conserve energy.

​

Turn off the Lights

Encourage students to turn off lights when they leave the room. Students can also learn about alternatives such as daylighting. This is a great opportunity to begin the discussion on renewable energy sources. Take a look through the following resources.

Careers in Energy Auditing/Home Performance

• 6th-12th grades
• This lesson from the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education introduces students to a career as an energy auditor or home performance consultant and gives students the chance to explore other careers in green energy. Students will watch a video interviewing some home performance consultants and explore an interactive career map to get an idea of just how many careers there are in green energy.

back

Logical Fallacies in Reef-Safe Sunscreen

• 11th-12th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn how to analyze greenwashing and logical fallacies, debunk false advertising, and design an infographic to raise awareness.
• Although designed for students in Hawaii, this lesson can be easily adapted and used with any group of students.

What Type of Shopper Are You?

• 6th-12th grades
• This interactive game from SubjectToClimate allows students to learn what type of shopper they are by watching a number of advertisements and deciding if they would purchase the products or not. The game introduces the idea of greenwashing and being mindful of the environmental and social effects of economic decisions.

Is This Greenwashing?

• 6th-8th grades
• In this SubjectToClimatelesson, students learn about greenwashing, watch a series of videos, and write a paragraph arguing if an advertisement is greenwashing or not.

​

Use Safe Products

On this day, encourage students to choose earth-safe products to help protect our environment. By making eco-friendly choices, we can all play a part in reducing waste and preserving the health of our planet. Students can also learn about greenwashing and how to be smart consumers.

back

Let’s Make a Bag

• Kindergarten-8th grade
• In this activity from PBS Kids, students can make their own reusable bags by repurposing an old t-shirt.
• Students will learn that recycling old t-shirts and using reusable bags at the store can help reduce waste.

Which Bag Should You Use?

• 6th-12th grades
• This TED-Ed video compares paper, plastic, and cloth bags to determine which one is the best for the environment.
• Students will learn that the environmental impact of an object, like a bag, is determined by how an object is produced, if it can be reused (and for how long), if it can be recycled, and if it is biodegradable.

Future in the Bag Community Action Guide

• 3rd-12th grades
• This guide from EarthEcho International will help students develop a reusable shopping bag swap station for a grocery local store. Students will learn about the environmental impacts of single-use plastic bags and single-use plastic bag legislation.

Use Reusable Bags

On this day, students can learn about the impact of single use plastic bags on the environment. Through the resources below, students can identify alternatives, create their own reusable bags, and learn more about the negative impacts of plastics.

Plastics Lessons

These activities on plastic pollution from EARTHDAY.ORG are designed to stand alone or work together as a set and can be used before, after or during data collection. The levels are not assigned to specific grade levels but rather are geared to explore the topic in increasing depth. Each lesson is adaptable so you can customize to your learners’ needs.

Reusable Bag Action Toolkit

• 4th-8th grades
• In this resource from Learning for a Sustainable Future, students will become acquainted with the concept of reusing. The resource emphasizes reducing and reusing over recycling. Students take action to decrease the number of plastic bags in circulation by constructing

their own reusable bags using old clothing items.

back

DOT Mural

• 3rd-12th grades
• This resource from ACE provides step-by-step instructions for planning and creating a "Do One Thing" mural or artistic display.
• The project will give students an opportunity to be creative and artistic, while encouraging their classmates and schoolmates to take action for the environment and the climate.

Create a Naturepiece!

• Kindergarten-5th grade
• In this activity from PBS Kids, students are encouraged to gather natural materials from their surrounding environment and use them to create works of art.
• This activity is a great opportunity for students to be

creative and to observe patterns in the natural world.

Art & Climate Action

• 9th-12th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students investigate how artists use their platforms to spread awareness about climate change.

Coloring & Art

• Kindergarten-5th grade
• This fun and inspiring activity from SubjectToClimate lets students color in various Captain Climate images, print off and color bookmarks, and make a cutout of their ideas to help the Earth. The images in the activity encourage students to be kind, read books, and protect the planet.

​

Create Art for the Earth

This is a day to inspire students to express their love for the environment through creative artwork. This day encourages students to use their imagination to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote a deeper connection with our planet. Check out the art resources below!

back

pick up trash

turn off the AC

World

Health Day

Nat’l Gardening Day (US)

World Book Day

Earth Day

Arbor Day

protect pollinators

be a weather watcher

walk and roll

use a reusable water bottle

be a friend

to animals

donate clothing

turn off the lights

create a recycling station

start a

compost pile

unplug electronics

conserve water

collect rainwater

use less paper

What is your Carbon Footprint?

explore the outdoors

say “no” to

food waste

trash can audit

advocate

for Earth

recycle plastic

use reusable bags

create art for the Earth

use safe products

reuse & recycle to create

#Trashtag: The Online Challenge Cleaning Places Up

• This article from the BBC introduces students to the #Trashtag challenge, where people go to a place, clean it up, and post before and after pictures on social media.
• The article conveys an important message that we need to get to the root of the problem by first refusing to purchase disposable items, then reduce, reuse, and (as a last resort) recycle.

“Tuyen's Tremendous Trash Tour"

• 1st-5th grades
• In this digital picture book from Climate Science, Tuyen and Earthly tour Vietnam and learn about different types of waste and where they end up.
• By reading this book, students learn about the consequences of improper waste disposal on the environment.

Pollution

• 9th-12th grades
• This detailed video from Crash Course highlights many types of pollution and the effects of that pollution on human health and the environment.
• It spans from the simplest piece of litter to natural and synthetic chemical compounds and the pollutants from mining and burning fossil fuels.

The (Not So) Great Garbage Patches

• 3rd-5th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn about plastic pollution and write a letter to a local official advocating for a solution to plastic pollution.

​

Pick Up Trash

Encourage students to clean up trash in their neighborhood, school, and community. Teachers can use the following resources to teach students about the importance of proper waste disposal.

The Great Global Cleanup Campaign

EARTHDAY.ORG is focused on accelerating solutions to combat plastic pollution by activating governments, citizens, and businesses to do their part– everyone accounted for, everyone accountable. It's YOUR turn to make a difference, starting with organizing or joining a community cleanup. Cleanups are a fun and easy way to amplify your impact on Earth Day and every day. Learn more about this campaign from EARTHDAY.ORG!

back

Interactive Case Study for "The Effects of Fungicides on Bumble Bee Colonies"

• 9th-12th grades
• In this video from BioInteractive, entomologist Shawn Steffan investigates the effects of fungicide applications on bee colonies. The video is embedded with questions that challenge students to make predictions, develop explanations, and analyze data.

Protect Pollinators

On this day, students can learn about the important role that pollinators play in the ecosystem, understand how pollinators are being threatened, and develop strategies to protect our pollinators! Explore the following resources to learn more about pollinators.

Pollinators

• 6th-12th grades
• This article from The Climate Initiative explores the importance of pollinators in food production, why the amount of pollinators is drastically declining around the world, and how climate change is making life harder for pollinators.
• Students will learn that pollinators are responsible for a third of all food production, the number of worldwide pollinators is decreasing because of habitat destruction, pollution, and other man-made factors, and climate change is throwing off the timing between pollinators and the plants they pollinate.

Growing a Pollinator Garden

• Kindergarten-6th grade
• This engaging activity from the National Wildlife Federation guides students through the process of growing a pollinator garden.
• The guide thoroughly explains how to set up a pollinator

garden, monitor it, and collect data on its success.

Bee and Me

• Kindergarten-5th grade
• This animated video, based on a wordless picture book by Alison Jay, tells the story of a girl who befriends a bee. Bee and Me is published by Old Barn Books. Students will learn about the importance of bees in nature and the importance of nature in humans' lives.

Insect Lesson Plans

These activities from EARTHDAY.ORG are designed to stand alone or work together as a set and can be used before, after or during data collection. The levels are not assigned to specific grade levels but rather are geared to explore the topic in increasing depth. Each lesson is adaptable so you can customize to your learners’ needs. Challenge your students to learn about insects and their role in the health of our planet!

​

back

The Difference Between Weather & Climate Change

• 6th-12th grades
• In this video from The Kid Should See This, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson explains the difference between weather and climate and discusses the global forces driving climate change.
• The resource includes a short article with links to helpful information.

Understanding Weather

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• This SubjectToClimate lesson introduces the concept of weather to students.
• Students will read about weather, create weather journals, and design a weather wheel.

Weather vs. Climate

• 3rd-8th grades
• This short video from Crash Course explains the difference between weather and climate for young learners.
• It discusses many types of weather patterns and events, and takes students through an animated investigation of climate.

​

Be a Weather Watcher

On this day, students can learn about weather, track weather patterns, and build understanding about the difference between weather and climate. This is a great time to start long-term projects like weather journals or graphs. Learn more through the resources below.

Extreme Weather Lab

• 3rd-5th grades
• In this lesson from Technical Education Research Centers, students reflect on their personal energy use, make a bar graph to analyze data from the class, and create a conservation poster for display.

Careers in Information Technology and Electronics Maintenance

• In this brief article from NOAA, students will read about careers in the National Weather Service as information technology specialists and electronics technicians.
• Students will learn about duties, work environment, and education requirements for these two green careers.

​

back

Walk and Roll Day

• 3rd-12th grades
• This resource from ACE outlines the steps students can take to implement a school-wide "Walk and Roll Day" to encourage students and faculty to get to school by biking, taking public transportation, walking, or carpooling.

How Do We Get There From Here?

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• This SubjectToClimate lesson explores modes of transportation and the energy they use.
• Students read a book about energy sources, generate a list of transportation types, and explore energy sources for transportation.

Emissions by Mode of Transportation

• 3rd-5th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students compare and contrast emissions from different modes of transportation and explore the concept of transportation planning.
• Students analyze data about emissions as well as commuter survey results, while learning about transportation planners.

Walk and Roll

Encourage students to think of ways to get around that do not involve driving. Is it possible to walk to the store? Ride your bike to your friend’s house? Take public instead of private transportation? Celebrate the concept of Walk and Roll day with a nice walk around school grounds. Explore the following resources for more ideas!

Transportation Audit and Action Plan

• 3rd-12th grades
• This activity from the National Wildlife Federation assists students in developing questions about which public transportation options are available in their local city or town, what they think about it, and what they can do to make a difference.

No Idling Action Toolkit

• 6th-8th grades
• This toolkit from Learning for a Sustainable Future encourages students to actively observe the traffic around their schools to determine how big of a problem car idling is. Students will gather and analyze data and complete a visual project showing what they learned.

​

back

School Hydration Stations

• 3rd-12th grades
• This resource from Climate Generation provides step-by-step instructions on how to secure funding for a water bottle refilling station. Explore information about plastic production, plastic pollution, water insecurity, and grant resources available.

Solutions to Multiplying Plastics

• 3rd-5th grades
• In this lesson, students use multiplication to understand the problem of single-use plastics and how they impact climate change.

30 Days Without Single-Use Plastic

• 6th-12th grades
• This video from NowThis Earth follows a woman who chose to avoid single-use plastics for one month.
• Students will learn tips for how to avoid single-use plastic, challenges that might come up, and data on plastic consumption and waste from around the globe.

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

Students can learn about the toll that plastics take on the environment and discuss how switching from single-use plastic can make a difference. Involve students in developing action plans and teaching others in the school community. View the following resources for more information and activities.

Plastic Pollution Quiz

Take a quiz on EARTHDAY.ORG to determine how much you know about the threats that our planet faces from plastic pollution. Students can take the quiz individually or as a whole class. Use the quiz results to springboard discussion on plastic pollution and solutions to plastic use.

A Million Bottles a Minute

• 4th-8th grades
• This workshop from Learning for a Sustainable Future is designed to provide an overview of the plastics problem for children and introduce several engaging and hands-on activities to learn about its impact, widespread existence, and ways that they can make a difference.

​

back

The True Cost of Cheap Clothes

• 6th-12th grades
• This video from the Council on Foreign Relations demonstrates the need for a sustainable textile industry, as fast fashion is responsible for many environmental problems, including carbon emissions, water consumption, and water pollution.

Fashion Footprint

• 9th & 10th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn about the harmful environmental effects of fast fashion and discover ways to increase personal responsibility and fashion sustainability.

Life Cycle of a T-Shirt

• 6th-12th grades
• This video by TED Ed explains how cotton T-shirts are made and the environmental and health effects of this entire process.

​

Donate Clothing

Encourage students to donate instead of throw away unwanted clothing. Students can learn about the fast fashion industry, how clothing production affects the climate, and steps we can take to limit the impact of our choices on the environment. Explore these resources related to clothing.

Fashion for the Earth

EARTHDAY.ORG’s Fashion for the Earth Campaign contains videos, facts, action steps, and projects related to climate change and the fashion industry. Students can also take a quiz to learn more about how they can make a difference. Additional helpful information can be found in toolkits like “How to Swap for the Earth” and “How to Care for Your Clothes”.

back

Healthy Environment, Healthy You

• 6th-12th grades
• In this outdoor journaling activity from the EPA, students spend time observing the natural environment and then answer one of three prompts on happiness, anxiety, or self-esteem.
• Students will learn that spending time in nature can be an important component of mental health.

Take it to the Forest

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• This SubjectToClimate lesson introduces students to the relationship between health and climate change through play and movement.
• Students play a game focusing on exercise, breathing, the carbon cycle, and climate change.

Eco-Health Relationship Browser

• 9th-12th grades
• This interactive flow chart from the EPA identifies the many connections between ecosystems, ecosystem services, environmental issues, and human health. Students can click on an item to read its description and see how it affects, and is affected by, many other things.

How Does Nature Improve Your Health?

• This short, animated video by The Nature Conservancy describes the many reasons why taking care of our planet is one of the best things we can do to improve human health.
• Students will learn specific reasons why trees and nature are fundamental to our health, such as protection from air pollution and shade from the heat, and how many communities have little access to it.

​

World Health Day

April 7 is World Health Day, sponsored by the World Health Organization. On this day, students can learn about the impact of climate change on human health. Students may also discuss steps they can take to live healthier lives. Check out the resources below.

Plastics & Human Health Quiz

Take a quiz on EARTHDAY.ORG to determine how much you know about the connection between plastics and human health. Students learn about microplastics, how plastic impacts health, and common health conditions related to plastic pollution. Use the quiz as a starting point for learning more about the impacts of pollution on human health.

back

Why You’re Recycling Wrong

• 6th-12th grades
• This Vox video explores how difficult it is for people to decide what to recycle and what not to recycle.
• It shows people's habits when it comes to recycling, the varying recycling programs in the United States, and the lessons learned in order to prevent recycling contamination and aspirational recycling.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repeat!

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• This SubjectToClimate lesson introduces the idea of reduce, reuse, recycle and has students create a classroom waste management plan.
• Students learn about recyclables, play a sorting game, and make a plan for their classroom.

EPA Recycle City Challenge

• 3rd-8th grades
• In this interactive game from the EPA, students visit 5 different locations in an online city and answer questions related to recycling.
• Learners stop at city hall, a household, a school, a café, and a grocery store to explore ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle at each site.

Create a Recycling Station

As a class or school community, set up a recycling station for common recyclable materials. This could be in the classroom for paper, cardboard, plastic, etc. Take it up a level by creating a station in the cafeteria! Learn more about recycling through the resources below.

back

Can Wildlife Adapt to Climate Change?

• 3rd-12th grades
• This resource from TED Ed highlights the need for humans to preserve natural habitats and the genetic diversity of wild populations in order to help plants and animals cope with climate change. Students will learn about several species that are already adapting to their changing climate but not all species have the space, time, or genetic diversity to evolve.

Save the Sea Turtles

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• This SubjectToClimate lesson introduces students to sea turtles and the human-caused dangers they face while encouraging them to create a way to help save these beautiful creatures.
• Students read a story, identify dangers turtles face, and design a solution to help sea turtles.

The Dirt on Factory Farms

• 8th-12th grades
• This short, animated video from ACE introduces students to the environmental, health, and moral implications of farming animals in a factory-like manner.

Crossword on Endangered Animals

• 3rd-5th grades
• This digital crossword puzzle from Green Guardians features images, information, and vocabulary about endangered plants and animals.
• Students will learn about several different species, their habitats, and the causes of their endangerment.

Be a Friend to Animals

On this day, students can reflect on the relationship between humans, animals, and the environment. Students can learn about threats to animals and how humans can make positive changes. Ask students how they can make a difference for animals. Explore the following resources for more!

Endangered Species Quiz

Explore the world of endangered species with this personality quiz from EARTHDAY.ORG. Students can answer a series of fun questions to see which endangered animals best represents their personalities. Students can read about your animal at the end of the quiz. Take it a step further and invite students to complete a research project about their given animal.

back

Worm Bin: 100 Day Time-Lapse

• Kindergarten-12th grade
• This video by The Kid Should See This is a 100-day time-lapse of a vermicomposting bin that is divided into three chambers containing leaves, cardboard, or paper.
• Students can visualize the process of decomposition and watch new soil being formed.

Composting: A Treat for Mother Earth

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn about composting and its benefits to Mother Earth.
• Students read about composting, sort items, and identify things that plants need to grow.

Scraps into Soil

• Kindergarten-5th grade
• This lesson from Population Education provides instructions for a composting experiment that investigates the decomposition of organic and inorganic waste. Students will gather materials, observe how they decompose over time, differentiate between natural and human-made products, explain the difference in decomposition rates between the two, and explain the importance of composting to reduce landfill waste.

Start a Compost Pile

On this day, students may either start their own classroom/school compost pile or learn how to make one at home. Students can learn which materials are compostable, how compost helps plants grow, and the what the process of composting entails. Learn more below!

Composting Advocacy Packet

Take a dive into this detailed guide from EARTHDAY.ORG on implementing a composting system at your school. Identify stakeholders, develop a step-by-step plan, and discover more information throughout this packet from EARTHDAY.ORG.

Build a Vermicomposter Action Toolkit

• 3rd-8th grades
• Through this toolkit from Learning for a Sustainable Future, students will learn about the science of composting and how composting can benefit the planet.

back

Energy Conservation Methods

• 9th-12th grades
• This resource from Khan Academy discusses a sometimes forgotten solution to climate change, energy conservation.
• The video explains the importance of energy conservation and methods for conserving energy at a personal and societal level and there are practice questions to check for comprehension.

Energy Conservation Audit

• 3rd-8th grades
• This worksheet from the National Wildlife Federation guides students to examine their current energy use at home and create a plan to conserve more energy. Students complete a set of questions, create a map of their home, fill in a data table to track "energy vampires," and write an action plan.

Per Capita Electricity Consumption

• 6th-12th grades
• This interactive map, chart, and table from Our World in Data shows the average annual electricity consumption per capita starting from 1985.
• It provides a graphical representation of the individual energy use in each country and can help provide a projection towards the future.

​

Unplug Unused Electronics

Encourage students to unplug electronics when not in use. This action can spark a further discussion on energy use and conservation in our daily lives. Explore the following resources for more information about examining energy use.

back

Milly Zantow: Recycling Revolutionary

• 3rd-8th grades
• This resource from PBS explores how Milly Zantow started a global movement to recycle plastics, what motivated her to start this movement, and what challenges she faced in the movement's early phases.
• The resource includes a digital book with audio, a video, a brief biography, and a photo gallery.

Sea of Plastic

• 3rd-12th grades
• This mural in Cairns, Australia shows a sea full of single-use plastic bottles in an effort to bring awareness of the plastic waste issue. The artist also lists ways to limit waste and reduce plastic consumption. The mural was created as a part of PangeaSeed Foundation’s Sea Walls program.

What Happens to Plastic in the Soil?

• 6th-10th grades
• In this simplified scientific paper from Science Journal for Kids, students will read about how plastic that ends up in our soil undergoes chemical and physical changes over time. Students will learn that different types of microplastics react to soil differently based on their specific properties.

Recycle Plastic

On this day students can learn more about the impact of plastic waste on the environment. Students may develop plans for recycling plastic at home and school. Explore the following resources to support learning about plastics and recycling.

Plastic Calculator

• Use this calculator on EARTHDAY.ORG to learn about how many plastic items you consume and discard every year.
• For every material listed, you’ll see three boxes. In the first box, fill in your daily consumption of the specific item. The second box will auto-populate with your total consumption every year.

back

Water Footprint Calculator

• 6th-12th grades
• This interactive Water Footprint Calculator asks a series of questions in order to calculate an estimated water footprint.
• Students will learn about how their personal and household choices impact their water footprint and how they can reduce their water usage.

Gallon Challenge

• 3rd-8th grades
• This activity from Green Guardians challenges students to use just one gallon of water for everything they need in one day.
• Students will have to think critically about their water use and consider what they most value when it comes to the water they use.

Importance of Conserving Water

• 6th-8th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students create a timeline of Native Hawaiian sustainability practices, and promote a water conservation law in their community.
• Although developed for Hawaiian students, this lesson plan can be adapted and used for any student population.

​

Conserve Water

This day provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the need to preserve water. Students can participate in activities that highlight the significance of water conservation and brainstorm ways to reduce water consumption in daily life. Take a look at the resources below!

back

Why You Should Turn Your Lawn Into a Food Garden

• 6th-12th grades
• This video from NowThis Earth explains why growing a food garden is a better alternative to maintaining a lawn.
• Students learn how to grow a food garden and its advantages for the gardener and the planet.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students investigate plant growth by measuring their own plants.
• Students learn about what plants need and the benefits of having an outdoor space like a garden.

How Radical Gardeners Took Back New York City

• 6th-12th grades
• This video from Vox tells the stories of two influential women in New York, Hattie Carthan and Liz Christy, who worked tirelessly to improve their communities through gardening and greening abandoned urban areas. It provides the historical context for these events and the present-day benefits that remain for these urban communities.

Resources for Building a School Garden

• 3rd-12th grades
• This resource from the Nature Conservancy provides information about how to plan, build, and maintain a school or community garden. It teaches students about sustainability within their community, discusses the difference between abiotic and biotic factors within a habitat, and helps students develop

knowledge about biodiversity and ecosystems.

National Gardening Day

Celebrate this special day with lessons, activities, and more related to gardening. Students may even design and create their own garden. Check out the resources below for students of all ages!

Pollinator Garden Planning

Students use this worksheet from EARTHDAY.ORG to examine the outdoor spaces around them and plan out a pollinator garden. Students research, design, and plan a garden. Students may also work in groups to develop a group plan and implement it on school grounds.

back

Recycled Paper

• 9th-12th grades
• This article from Project Drawdown highlights the role of paper recycling as a climate solution, focusing on the carbon dioxide released by the production of recycled paper versus the production of conventional, or virgin, paper.
• Students will learn about the processes used to produce both recycled and conventional paper, the energy and greenhouse gas emissions released during both processes, the financial implications of this climate solution, and predictions about global paper production and consumption.

Snack-Sized Science: Plant Your Paper!

• Kindergarten-8th grade
• In this 30-minute video from EarthEcho International, students will see a demonstration of how to make plantable seed paper out of shredded junk-mail paper.
• Students will learn about the history of Earth Day and why recycling is important for the environment.

Take a Lesson from Nature

• 3rd-12th grades
• This is a watercolor and colored pencil piece by scientist and artist Jill Pelto made with paper, magazines, and natural materials such as leaves.
• Students can create their own piece of art using recycled paper.

​

Use Less Paper

Encourage students to think about how they can use less paper in their daily lives. Students can start collecting scrap paper for writing or drawing, start a paper recycling program, or replace paper with digital tools or whiteboards and markers. Check out more ideas in the following resources.

back

Calculating Your Carbon Footprint

• 3rd-5th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn about climate change, calculate their carbon footprint, and take steps to reduce their carbon footprint.

​

Carbon Check: Your Carbon Footprint

• 6th-12th grades
• This activity from BioInteractive provides a way for students to evaluate their own carbon footprints and to explore many ways of reducing it, including an estimation of the up-front costs and cost savings for various solutions.
• Students will use the interactive calculator to enter data about their household, travel habits, energy sources, food choices, and shopping habits, then select a number of provided solutions.

Footprint Renovation

• 3rd-8th grades
• This short animated video from Green Ninja introduces students to the concept of a carbon footprint and shows them how individual choices made at home can really add up.

What is Your Carbon Footprint?

Ask students to examine their daily lives and determine how the actions they take affect the environment. Use the following resources to learn about what a carbon footprint is, how to calculate a carbon footprint, and what can be done to reduce impact.

back

A Nature Journal, Oh Yeah!

• Kindergarten-5th grade
• In this activity from PBS Kids, students will create a nature journal, and use to use it to record questions and observations about nature.
• Although designed for elementary, any student can create a nature journal of their own using recycled paper, digital devices, etc.

My Green Space

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• This engaging lesson plan from Green Guardians uses storytelling to teach about green and blue spaces, how they impact our mental health, and what we can do to protect nature and interact with nature more often. Students will learn through reading a digital story, playing games, and designing their own green space.

Nature Show & Tell

• Kindergarten-3rd grade
• In this activity from ClimateScience, students find an object from nature and write a short speech about it to share with classmates.

​

Explore the Outdoors

It’s time to get outside! Go for a nature walk, journal under a tree, or plan a trip to a nature preserve. Kids who love nature will grow into adults who fight to save it. Take the opportunity to explore this idea through the resources below.

Step Outside: Newsletter

• teachers of all grades
• This Newsletter from Learning for a Sustainable Future is a compilation of seasonal happenings that can be used to bring nature into your classroom.

​

back

Where Does Your Food Come From?

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn where food comes from and the importance of taking care of natural resources.
• Students discuss foods they eat, where those foods come from, and what it takes to grow these foods. Students will learn about the connection between food and natural resources.

Food Waste & Our Planet

• 6th-8th grades
• This SubjectToClimate lesson explores the complexities of food waste and its connection to climate change.
• Students learn about different sources of food waste, the connection to inequity, and how waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Say “No” to Food Waste

On this day, students can learn about the impacts of food production on the environment. Students can discover ways to reduce food waste. Explore the resources below to learn more about food waste.

Alexis Cromer: Climate Solutions Require Creativity

• 6th-12th grades
• In this resource from Project Drawdown students will learn the many reasons why reducing food waste is one of the most impactful climate solutions, and one that all people can participate in.

Fighting Food Waste Means Fighting Climate Change

• 6th-12th grades
• This article from the UNFCC discusses the first observance of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. It highlights the scope of the food waste problem and the many benefits of addressing the problem, including ending hunger, ensuring sustainable food production and consumption, and fighting climate change.

Food for Thought Action Toolkit

• 9th-12th grades
• This resource from Learning for a Sustainable Future has students analyze the global food system from a ‘systems’ perspective to develop a better understanding of the important issues related to where their food comes from.

back

Solar Wobble Bot

• 3rd-8th grades
• In this project from Instructables Circuits, students will assemble a small motor and solar cell with reused materials to create a wobble bot. This is a hands-on project that will help students problem-solve and innovate.
• Students could experiment with other materials and light sources or different colored lights to see if it changes the activity of the bot.

​

At-Home Upcycle Projects

• Kindergarten-12th grade
• This resource from National Environmental Education Foundation provides instructions for six upcycling projects that will turn discarded items into something useful.
• Each project includes step-by-step instructions with pictures.

Grow Plants from Paper

• Kindergarten-8th grade
• In this activity from ClimateScience, students will use old paper to make new seed paper which can be planted to grow native wildflowers.
• Students will learn that recycling is a way to conserve natural resources like trees.

​

Reuse & Recycle to Create

It’s time to get creative! How can we use recycled or reused materials in new ways? In the following resources students will use recycled materials to create art, build machines, and grow new things. What other uses can your students think of?

back

Why Heaters are the Future of Cooling

• 9th-12th grades
• This video by VOX describes an efficient solution for heating and cooling homes and the increase in geographic regions that will need temperature regulation in the coming years, due to climate change.
• It highlights electric heat pumps as a climate solution for one third of the world's population, providing the framework needed to help incentivize this transition away from heaters powered by fossil fuels.

How Can we Conserve Energy?

• 3rd-5th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students reflect on their personal energy use, make a bar graph to analyze data from the class, and create a conservation poster for display.

How a Sticker Kept 3 Billion Tons of CO2 Out of the Air

• 3rd-12th grades
• This engaging video from Hot Mess outlines the history of energy efficiency improvements in household appliances since the 1980s.
• The video highlights EnergyGuide and Energy Star stickers and how they limit carbon emissions and save consumers money.

​

Turn Off the AC

Encourage students to conserve energy at home and school by only using the air conditioning and heat when needed. Just a few degrees can make a difference in energy consumption! Take a look at these resources about energy conservation.

back

What is a Cloud?

• 6th-12th grades
• This video from Crash Course explains the three types of clouds, how cloud characteristics can indicate atmospheric conditions and help us predict weather patterns, how humidity and water vapor are connected to cloud formation and rain, and how different types of clouds absorb or reflect differing amounts of radiation.

Plant Survival

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• In the 3rd lesson in the Water and Plant Survival unit from SubjectToClimate, students learn about science experiments, design and execute an experiment to learn about what plants need to survive, and communicate their findings to others.

Water You Up To?

• 2nd-6th grades
• This short animated video from Green Ninja follows a water droplet as he and his friends learn about the water cycle. There are discussion questions and additional links provided below the video. The group travels through the water cycle learning about evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Collect Rainwater to Water Plants

Encourage students to make a plan to conserve water at school and home. One way to do this is to water plants and grass using collected rainwater. Students can lead the charge to make this change at home or school. Learn more about water, plants, and more in the following resources.

School Garden Advocacy Packet

• 9th-12th grades
• Explore this thorough guide to developing a school garden chapter in your school from EARTHDAY.ORG.

back

It’s Up to You!

• 6th-12th grades
• This resource from ACE features a video and activities that empower students to take climate action. The video features a short story about two wolves. It is important to note that ACE does not credit the origins of the story, which are rooted in the traditions of the Cherokee and Lenape Nations.

Earth Day Activities from Subject to Climate

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• Kindergarten-5th grade
• 3rd-5th grades
• 6th-8th grades
• 9th-12th grades

Climate Trackers

• 6th-8th grades
• This engaging resource from PBS Wisconsin Education introduces students to several climate scientists, includes a creative activity, and lets students hear from the scientists about their research, equipment, and discoveries made in the ecometeorology lab.

Earth Day

It’s time to celebrate! Use these activity bundles from SubjectToClimate as well as activities from ACE and PBS to help spread the word of Earth Day. Take the opportunity to explore the concept of climate activism and advocacy with students. Don’t forget to check out the menu of activities for schools from EARTHDAY.ORG.

Earth Day Themed Classroom Pack

• Kindergarten-12th grade
• This slideshow features printable name tags, bookmarks, posters, growth mindset cards, certificates, and table signs to support teaching and learning about environmental stewardship.

Earth Day Menu

Explore a collection of activities from EARTHDAY.ORG that you can do with your school community to celebrate Earth Day. Activities include writing letters to global leaders, hosting a clean up event, or hosting an Earth Day poster contest!

Does Nature Have Rights?

• 6th-12th grades
• This engaging video from PBS describes the threats facing natural ecosystems and details the reasons why Ecuador included a legal right for nature to exist in its constitution.

back

“Saving Planet Earthly”: Read Aloud

• Kindergarten-5th grade
• The children's book Saving Planet Earthly by ClimateScience, provides a clear introduction to the causes, consequences, and solutions of climate change.

Without Warning! Wildfire Comic Book

• 6th-12th grades
• This digital comic book from Dark Horse Publishing is an engaging tool for teaching students about the dangers of wildfires and how they can be prevented.
• Students will learn about just how quickly wildfires can begin, how wildfires impact ecosystems, and what people can do to prevent wildfires.

World Book Day

To celebrate World Book Day, invite students to read about climate change and climate solutions. Explore these options to get started!

How Renewables Work: A Practical Guide to Solar, Wind, and Geothermal

• 6th-12th grades
• This e-book from The Climate Reality Project provides an overview of solar, wind, and geothermal energy. Students will learn about the cost of installing solar, wind, and geothermal systems, how much energy each system produces, and the best locations for each energy source.

All About Earth: Our World on Stage

• 3rd-5th grades
• This illustrated book from The Globe Program explains how Earth's many systems are interconnected and important for life on Earth by telling a story about students in a school play.
• Students will enjoy the illustrations, singing the song at the end, and the fun story.

Reading List

Head to your nearest library and check out these titles! This reading list from EARTHDAY.ORG is divided into elementary, middle school, and high school. Share these texts and start a discussion with your class. Students can also respond to the reading using response to reading pages or book reports. Invite students to share what they learned from the books.

back

What is the Circular Economy?

• 10th-12th grades
• This video from The Kid Should See This explains how we could use the natural world as a model for a less wasteful economy.
• Students will learn about reducing waste through biodegradation, repurposing products, and rethinking our economic infrastructures.

Together No Trash

• 3rd-12th grades
• This ready-to-use project guide from Roots & Shoots will get students thinking about their communities and creating initiatives to clean them up.
• Using an inquiry model, students will have opportunities to think, plan, question, communicate, and advocate for litter reduction in their neighborhoods.

The Chemistry of Landfills

• 6th-8th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students use chemical reactions that occur in landfills and composting as a vehicle to learn about chemical changes found in their daily lives.

​

Trash Can Audit

Invite students to complete an audit of the classroom (or their personal) trash can. What items are being thrown away? Could more items be recycled or reused? Which items can be eliminated completely? Check out resources about the impact of waste on the climate.

back

Kids Can Change the World

• Kindergarten-5th grade
• In this digital picture book from ClimateScience, Ava, an Indigenous girl from Canada, and her friend Earthly discover that children around the world are working to make the Earth healthier.

What Can YOUth Do?

• 3rd-5th grades
• In the 3rd lesson in the Art For the Earth Unit from SubjectToClimate, students learn about youth activists around the world, choose an environmental campaign, and collect data to support their campaign.

Why You Should Be a Climate Activist

• 6th-12th grades
• In this video from TED, climate activist Luisa Neubauer discusses her journey to becoming a climate activist and explains why all people should become climate activists.

Advocate for the Earth

Children are capable of amazing things. On this day, invite students to become climate advocates and activists. From story books to climate activist profiles, the fire of advocacy can be lit through the following activities and resources.

How These Youth Climate Activists

are Changing the Future

• 6th-12th grades
• This video interview from NowThis Earth highlights four young climate activists as they discuss their involvement with the climate movement.

Climate Justice Instructional Toolkit

• 11th-12th grades, AP/College
• This toolkit from MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative provides numerous resources to teach an entire unit on climate justice, including educator guides, student worksheets, videos, data sets, and presentation modules.

Ocean Heroes: Coastal Frontline Communities and Climate Justice

• 6th-12th grades, AP/College
• This video from The Nature Conservancy highlights programs and efforts to engage with youth and many disadvantaged groups about the risks of our changing oceans, careers in science, and ways to express their feelings through art.

back

Trees in the Rainforest

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students will learn about trees in the rainforest. Students will read a book, examine the layers of the rainforest, lean about the carbon cycle, and analyze the impact of deforestation on the environment. Although this lesson focuses on the rainforest, students can make connections to the trees in their community.

Tree Identifier

• 5th-10th grades
• This virtual guide book from Tree Bee helps students identify and research trees from the database of 158 species that are found in N. America.
• Students can explore and read about different trees from the list or use the "Identify a Tree" function from the menu and answer questions about their tree, narrowing their search results.

Where Are All the Trees?

• 3rd-8th grades
• In this interactive game from SubjectToClimate, students play the role of an urban planner who must decide if Los Angeles needs to plant more trees.
• The game includes two informational videos and an interactive tree equity map with a variety of demographic indicators that students can use for research.

Arbor Day

Arbor Day is a special day when we celebrate trees and their vital role in our environment. It's a time to plant trees, learn about their benefits, and work together to create a greener and healthier planet for all. Teachers can use the following resources to support learning about trees.

Love Song for a Tree

• 9th-12th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn how trees are invaluable allies in our fight against climate change and utilize the power of music to honor a tree in the form of a love song.

How Systemic Racism is Linked to Fewer Trees in Your City

• 7th-12th grades, AP/College
• This video from NowThis Earth describes the lingering effects of redlining on tree cover in many cities across America and how planting trees in these areas can help improve human health, save money and energy, and sequester carbon. Students learn about the importance of tree cover in urban areas and the jobs that could be created planting and caring for these city-maintained trees.

back

Energy 101: Daylighting

• 6th-12th grades
• This video by the United States Department of Energy describes the concept of daylighting, which is using windows strategically to maximize natural light and help regulate the temperature of buildings.
• Daylighting helps reduce electricity consumption and saves money on utility bills.

Sun Up, Sun Down

• Kindergarten-2nd grade
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn about the role the sun plays in our daily lives and how solar energy can be used.
• Students can discuss how to use the power of the sun to light their rooms instead of artificial light.

Introduction to Renewable Energy

• 3rd-5th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn about renewable and nonrenewable sources, ways they use energy, and ways to conserve energy.

​

Turn off the Lights

Encourage students to turn off lights when they leave the room. Students can also learn about alternatives such as daylighting. This is a great opportunity to begin the discussion on renewable energy sources. Take a look through the following resources.

Careers in Energy Auditing/Home Performance

• 6th-12th grades
• This lesson from the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education introduces students to a career as an energy auditor or home performance consultant and gives students the chance to explore other careers in green energy. Students will watch a video interviewing some home performance consultants and explore an interactive career map to get an idea of just how many careers there are in green energy.

back

Logical Fallacies in Reef-Safe Sunscreen

• 11th-12th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students learn how to analyze greenwashing and logical fallacies, debunk false advertising, and design an infographic to raise awareness.
• Although designed for students in Hawaii, this lesson can be easily adapted and used with any group of students.

What Type of Shopper Are You?

• 6th-12th grades
• This interactive game from SubjectToClimate allows students to learn what type of shopper they are by watching a number of advertisements and deciding if they would purchase the products or not. The game introduces the idea of greenwashing and being mindful of the environmental and social effects of economic decisions.

Is This Greenwashing?

• 6th-8th grades
• In this SubjectToClimatelesson, students learn about greenwashing, watch a series of videos, and write a paragraph arguing if an advertisement is greenwashing or not.

​

Use Safe Products

On this day, encourage students to choose earth-safe products to help protect our environment. By making eco-friendly choices, we can all play a part in reducing waste and preserving the health of our planet. Students can also learn about greenwashing and how to be smart consumers.

back

Let’s Make a Bag

• Kindergarten-8th grade
• In this activity from PBS Kids, students can make their own reusable bags by repurposing an old t-shirt.
• Students will learn that recycling old t-shirts and using reusable bags at the store can help reduce waste.

Which Bag Should You Use?

• 6th-12th grades
• This TED-Ed video compares paper, plastic, and cloth bags to determine which one is the best for the environment.
• Students will learn that the environmental impact of an object, like a bag, is determined by how an object is produced, if it can be reused (and for how long), if it can be recycled, and if it is biodegradable.

Future in the Bag Community Action Guide

• 3rd-12th grades
• This guide from EarthEcho International will help students develop a reusable shopping bag swap station for a grocery local store. Students will learn about the environmental impacts of single-use plastic bags and single-use plastic bag legislation.

Use Reusable Bags

On this day, students can learn about the impact of single use plastic bags on the environment. Through the resources below, students can identify alternatives, create their own reusable bags, and learn more about the negative impacts of plastics.

Plastics Lessons

These activities on plastic pollution from EARTHDAY.ORG are designed to stand alone or work together as a set and can be used before, after or during data collection. The levels are not assigned to specific grade levels but rather are geared to explore the topic in increasing depth. Each lesson is adaptable so you can customize to your learners’ needs.

Reusable Bag Action Toolkit

• 4th-8th grades
• In this resource from Learning for a Sustainable Future, students will become acquainted with the concept of reusing. The resource emphasizes reducing and reusing over recycling. Students take action to decrease the number of plastic bags in circulation by constructing

their own reusable bags using old clothing items.

back

DOT Mural

• 3rd-12th grades
• This resource from ACE provides step-by-step instructions for planning and creating a "Do One Thing" mural or artistic display.
• The project will give students an opportunity to be creative and artistic, while encouraging their classmates and schoolmates to take action for the environment and the climate.

Create a Naturepiece!

• Kindergarten-5th grade
• In this activity from PBS Kids, students are encouraged to gather natural materials from their surrounding environment and use them to create works of art.
• This activity is a great opportunity for students to be

creative and to observe patterns in the natural world.

Art & Climate Action

• 9th-12th grades
• In this SubjectToClimate lesson, students investigate how artists use their platforms to spread awareness about climate change.

Coloring & Art

• Kindergarten-5th grade
• This fun and inspiring activity from SubjectToClimate lets students color in various Captain Climate images, print off and color bookmarks, and make a cutout of their ideas to help the Earth. The images in the activity encourage students to be kind, read books, and protect the planet.

​

Create Art for the Earth

This is a day to inspire students to express their love for the environment through creative artwork. This day encourages students to use their imagination to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote a deeper connection with our planet. Check out the art resources below!

back

subjecttoclimate.org

Scan the QR code or click here to subscribe to our newsletter!