It’s time to celebrate Earth Day – April 22nd! This is a great time to appreciate nature and think about how we can work to make the Earth a cleaner, greener place.

Earth Day Gift

INTRODUCE

• EXPLAIN: The Earth is a beautiful place, and it’s our home. That’s why we celebrate it every year on April 22^nd, Earth Day.
• WATCH: PBS Kids Earth Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuhpygdNmcQ
• EXPLAIN: It’s always a good time to celebrate our earth, but now is a better time than ever. With COVID-19, you probably have more time to get out, take walks and enjoy nature than ever.
• DISCUSS:
  • What have you and your family done to get outside and appreciate nature?
  • What have you taken more time to notice about the earth or nature – or noticed for the first time – when you are outside?
• EXPLAIN: COVID-19 has actually changed the way we behave, and so has changed the way we treat our earth, some good and some bad.

EXPLORE

• INSTRUCT: With an adult’s help if needed:
  1. Go online and see some of the positive earth impacts of COVID-19.
  2. Write or draw a list of the impacts.
  3. Indicate what is good and what is bad.
• DISCUSS:
  • What is one of the positive impacts?
  • What is one of the negative things happening that you want to change?
• INSTRUCT:
  1. Choose a positive impact you want to continue or a negative impact you want to change.
  2. Draw or write a plan for how to keep it going/change it once the COVID-19 crisis is over and life returns back to normal.
• DISCUSS: What is one way you can make your plan into a reality, even in a very small way, by changing your own behavior or that of the people around you?
• INSTRUCT: Work to make that change as your gift to the Earth for Earth Day.

CONNECT

• DISCUSS: How can you get the word out about Earth Day when you’re stuck at home?