How to teach children using Earth Day activities.

Earth Day is a significant day in the year, when children learn how to take care of the earth, our home. We believe that we should not however need a special day, for this, however, it makes us more aware of what our role, as teachers is, with regard to instilling in children the importance of our natural world, our home, and our responsibility to preserve it. We would like this to become as natural as brushing their teeth.

As teachers, we are constantly thinking about the importance of the world we live in and how to encourage children to value the earth, and not take it for granted, as we so often do. For best practice purposes, we try to view children as having potential, as being capable and being able to make a difference. Some of our best lessons are learnt from them, so why not give them the opportunity to learn and put into practice, taking care of the place that we all live in.

As one child in my class said: “We need to be kind to the earth, otherwise it will get sick.” Children can learn how to reduce waste by composting all food scraps, and eating foods that are not wrapped in plastic or non-disposable wrappers. “All plastic is not good for the earth”, one of them said, so instead of throwing any plastic into the garbage, children can reuse it for art and make junk art constructions with it. Daily garbage can probably be minimized to the size of an adults’ fist.

“Zero electricity days” are a brilliant way to teach children about the value of natural sun light, a vital part of the earth’s natural resources; and how little electricity we really need, each day. A “cleanliness drive” is another fun way to clean the neighbourhood streets. Children who go for a walk in their local neighbourhood can pick up garbage lying on the street and dispose of it in an environmentally friendly way.

Children attending our school still pick up garbage on the street and in the park, even though it is more than a month since our Earth Day activities. Nature walks are another way for children to appreciate the natural world that we live and learn how to value it. By planting a fruit and vegetable garden and tending to it, every day, children again learn, that food is natural resource that comes from the earth. We can grow our own food to eat.