Earth Day Ideas for PreK – 2nd Grade

After a long winter, Earth Day is the perfect excuse to spend even more time outside. Muddy shoes, sun-kissed noses, and the kind of exhaustion you only get from copious amounts of fresh air.

Earth Day isn’t just an opportunity to talk about Reuse-Reduce-Recycle. Those things are important, but Earth Day is about celebrating all the beauty & wonder that’s right outside our front doors.

Reading is a super way to learn about our planet and all the amazing things in it. Snuggle up with one of these books and discover new ways to care for Earth!

Books for Lap Readers

• The Earth Book by Todd Parr
• Thank You, Earth by April Pulley Sayre
• We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom

• All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon
• The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
• The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

• Wangari’s Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa by Jeanette Winter
• The Wolf Effect: A Wilderness Revival Story by Rosanne Parry
• The Magic & Mystery of Trees by Jen Green
• Wonder Walkers by Micah Archer

Books for New Readers

• How to Help the Earth by The Lorax
• Seed to Plant (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 1)
• Earth Day: Ready-to-Read Level 1 (Robin Hill School)
• Wild Creature Adventures! (Step into Reading) by Chris & Martin Kratt
• The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

Outside Adventures

There’s no better way to celebrate & learn about this amazing planet than actually getting outside in it. Here are some simple ideas.

1. Pick up trash. Whether it’s through your neighborhood or at a nearby park, filling up a small bag with litter is a concrete activity. Keep the bag small, so their attention doesn’t wander before the bag is filled.
2. Fill a bird feeder. If you or a neighbor doesn’t have one, making one doesn’t have to be a giant project. Here are a few low-key DIY ideas.
3. Take a nature walk. Keep it simple & just enjoy the walk. If you want to add a little more intention to your walk, count flowers, challenge your kids to look for different types of leaves, or bring along a pocket-sized microscope. Would you like a few more ideas? Check out this list of nature walk activities for preschoolers.
4. Plant something. If you don’t want to run to the store for a pack of seeds, there may be something in your produce drawer that you can use as a starter.

Watch and Learn

Want to see how animals live, how plants grow, or how we can protect our environment? These educational shows are perfect for learning more about Earth and nature!

• Sesame Street: Earth Day Episode (Season 49, Episode 23) – Join Elmo, Abby, and the gang as they learn about being kind to the Earth.
• The Magic School Bus: Rides Again – Ms. Frizzle and her class take multiple field trips that teach about nature, ecosystems, and conservation. (Check listing here.)
• •SciShow Kids: Happy Earth Day! – Join Jessi and Squeaks as they talk about some things you can do to make the earth a better place!
• Sid the Science Kid (Season 2, Episodes 9-12)

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