Earth Day Suncatcher & Pledge

The Importance of Earth Day for Kids: Suncatcher & Pledge Activities

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22nd, dedicated to raising awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. For homeschooling families, particularly stay-at-home moms with young children, Earth Day offers a unique opportunity to combine education with meaningful activities that foster environmental stewardship.

We've got a fantastic Earth Day craft for you that pairs perfectly with our Earth Day workbook, plus it is a wonderful way to ♻️ upcycle some plastic containers.

Earth Day is an important celebration because it helps us show appreciation and care for our planet, which is our home. It reminds us of how important it is to protect Earth’s natural beauty and resources, such as clean air, water, and the vibrant ecosystems around us. By learning about the impact of pollution and waste, Earth Day encourages us to adopt habits that can help combat these issues, making sure our planet remains healthy. It’s a special day when people all over the world come together to think about how collectively we can make positive changes like planting trees, cleaning up litter, and living more sustainably. Earth Day highlights how each of us can play a part in taking care of the environment, ensuring a brighter future for everyone.

Why Earth Day Matters for Kids

1. Building Environmental Awareness
   Earth Day helps children understand the impact of their actions on the planet. It’s a day to learn about topics such as pollution, recycling, and conservation. By teaching kids about these issues early, you help them develop a lifelong commitment to caring for their environment.

2. Encouraging Engagement with Nature
   Many children today spend increasing amounts of time indoors, missing out on the wonders of nature. Earth Day can be a springboard for outdoor activities that reconnect children with nature, whether it’s planting a tree, starting a small garden, or exploring a local park.

3. Promoting Sustainable Habits
   Earth Day activities can promote sustainable habits like recycling and reducing waste. By incorporating simple, daily practices, children can learn how small actions can make a big difference.

4. Fostering Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
   Homeschooling offers the perfect flexibility to dive deep into problem-solving activities that Earth Day inspires. Discuss environmental challenges and brainstorm solutions, encouraging creative thinking and active problem-solving.

Incorporating Earth Day into your homeschool curriculum not only enriches your children’s education but also contributes to nurturing responsible, environmentally-conscious individuals. Whether through science, art, or nature, the lessons learned during Earth Day can be integrated year-round, emphasizing the importance of protecting our planet. Homeschooling provides the flexibility to adapt these experiences to fit the learning styles and interests of your children, making every moment a teaching moment.

EARTH DAY SUNCATCHER INSTRUCTIONS

Materials:

• Flower Petals

• Leaves

• White Glue

• Clear Thin Plastic ♻️

• Scissors

• Permanent Markers

• Print out of the Earth from this Earth Day unit study (available below)

  Instructions:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀​​​​​​​​
  ① Using your permanent marker, trace the print out of the earth onto your clear plastic. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀​​​​​​​​
  ② Glue leaves and flower petals onto the land, and paint or colour the water blue. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀​​​​​​​​
  ③ Once dry, cut out your Earth and hang it in the window so the sunlight can shine through. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀​​​​​​​​
  ④ Pair it with our Earth Day workbook. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Making an Earth Day pledge

This is a wonderful way for children to show love and care for our planet. By promising to protect the environment, you help ensure that the air stays clean, trees flourish, and animals have safe homes. This commitment encourages you to think about ways to reduce waste, save water, and recycle more, which helps preserve the Earth for future generations. An Earth Day pledge also teaches responsibility and shows that even small actions can make a big difference in taking care of our beautiful planet. It's a chance to join others in making the world a better, healthier place.

Pictured here: Our Earth Day workbook
Photos by @one.loved.mama