After many wonderful years in the classroom, I’m thrilled to share some of my absolute favorite Earth Day activities that consistently engaged and inspired my students. These are tried-and-true winners that teach important environmental concepts while creating those magical learning moments we all treasure.
These six Earth Day activities are designed with elementary teachers in mind, striking the perfect balance between meaningful environmental education and the practical reality of our busy teaching lives!
From reading fluency to hands-on Earth Day crafts, engage students in purposeful fun that helps them learn how to care for the planet in a way they’ll remember.
Get students reading and raising awareness with an Earth Day-themed Reader’s Theater! This simple reader’s theater with characters Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Earth will have even your most reluctant readers volunteering to participate.
What makes it special? When Earth shares feelings of sadness about pollution and waste, you can literally see the empathy bloom across children’s faces. Then when the “hero” characters (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) explain how they help, students start bouncing with ideas of their own!
The rhythm of the script makes it perfect for building fluency and expression, and confidence in shy readers. Plus, students learn real-world ways to help the planet!
This activity creates such a warm classroom atmosphere! There’s something deeply satisfying about watching 25 young artists carefully following directions to create their own Happy Earth—each one uniquely beautiful.
To take the message even further, have them draw on recycled paper—newspaper, junk mail, or scrap pages work great. Use this as an opportunity to spark conversations about “giving things a second life”!
These drawings not only make beautiful Earth Day displays around the school, but they also help build fine motor skills and become a visual celebration of our planet!
Hang the drawings around your classroom or hallways to spread Earth Day cheer!
Teacher tip: I’d collect newspapers and junk mail weeks ahead. When students realize they are creating art by RESCUING paper headed for the trash, they feel like environmental superheroes!
This interactive craft is all about student voice. Each child creates an Earth Day mobile featuring three sections: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. On each piece, they write a specific way they can care for the Earth in that category.
Going beyond classroom exercises, this activity creates real commitments! The mobile helps students deepen their understanding of Earth-friendly habits and generate real-life ways to make a difference like:
Even if you can’t hang these from your classroom ceilings, they’ll look beautiful on your April bulletin board!
Earth Day is the perfect time to introduce your students to one of nature’s quiet helpers: earthworms. These fascinating creatures play a big role in keeping soil healthy and gardens thriving.
The beauty of this activity is how it connects students to the less glamorous side of environmentalism. Not everything is about cute polar bears or pandas—sometimes Earth’s heroes are small, wiggly, and live in the dirt!
After watching a short video about earthworms, students would fill out a simple graphic organizer about these amazing creatures’ actions, features, and habitats.
It’s a quick and effective way to integrate nonfiction reading, writing, and science exploration into your day. Other ideas for bringing in science can include discussing the role of plants, or diving into a parts of a flower activity.
These simple headbands were always a highlight when I was teaching! Beyond being fun to make, they create walking advertisements for Earth Day as students proudly wear them throughout the school day. But what I love most is how these headbands spark conversations at home.
Students can color, cut, and wear Earth Day headbands that showcase their love for the planet. They are fun, and engaging, and make for adorable class photos! What more can you ask for?!?
Some of my most treasured teaching memories come from the hushed circle of students listening to Earth Day stories. There’s something uniquely powerful about environmental storytelling.
These picture books are perfect for Earth Day and packed with heart, humor, and environmental awareness:
When you see a classroom of children collectively fall in love with our planet through stories, you’re witnessing education at its most powerful.
Reading engagement tips: Create a cozy reading area with plants or nature items, allow a few minutes of quiet reflection after emotional stories, or create a special Earth Day bookmark where students can write one thing they learned!
These Earth Day activities will help your students connect with nature, reflect on their habits, and feel empowered to make a difference.
This classroom resource includes Earth Day crafts and writing activities for kids that include an Earth Day informational reader to learn all about Earth Day!
Hey, y’all! My name is Amy Lemons and I am passionate about providing students with both engaging and effective standards-based Math and ELA lessons.
Sample a day of Rooted in Reading with these lesson plans and activities for Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Grammar!
