Earth Day 2024 Teaching Resources

Teach students about Earth Day in 2024 with printables, worksheets, activities, crafts, and more about being kind to our earth and living a more sustainable life.

This collection of teacher-created resources for ELA, math and science teachers touches on a variety of eco-friendly themes, including sustainability, environmental impact, and recycling. Most resources are curriculum-aligned and editable so you can differentiate work for individual students, and each has undergone rigorous review by an expert teacher on the Teach Starter team.

Teaching Earth Day for the first time this year, or need a quick guide to the 2024 holiday? Read on for tips from our teacher team!

When Is Earth Day 2024?

Earth Day is held on the same day each year, which means this year the holiday will be on April 22, 2024. This is a Monday, so schools should be in session!

What Is the Theme of Earth Day 2024?

Following the Earth Day theme — chosen annually by EarthDay.org — can help you focus your lesson planning to save time and have the greatest impact on your students.

The 2024 theme is Planets vs. Plastics, opening the door to talk about the impact of single-use plastics on the environment!

How Do You Explain Earth Day to a Child?

Depending on the grade level you are teaching this school year, explaining the state of our planet can be a challenge. So how do you touch on the importance of being green and sustainability in kid-friendly ways?

First, you may want to consider why it's so important that our students learn about Earth Day in the first place. Earth Day is an important opportunity for children to learn about the environment, the importance of conservation and sustainability, and to understand their role as active citizens.

Among the issues kids are learning when you teach about Earth Day in the classroom:

  1. Environmental education: Learning about Earth Day helps students understand the importance of protecting the environment and preserving natural resources for future generations.
  2. Climate change: Understanding the impacts of climate change and how to reduce carbon footprint can be started in elementary school and have a real impact as kids grow up
  3. Active citizenship: Children learning about Earth Day are learning about how they can make a difference in their own community, such as recycling, conserving energy, and protecting endangered species.
  4. Interdependence: Learning about Earth Day also helps children understand how everything in the world is interconnected, and how our actions can have a direct impact on the planet.
  5. Encouraging curiosity and creativity: Earth Day promotes curiosity and creativity in children, leading them to want to explore and learn more about the world around them.

What Can Students Do on Earth Day?

This collection is full of activities you can use with your students this Earth Day, and here are some things elementary schools can do to mark this important annual event:

  1. Get Planting at School — If you don't already have one, Earth Day is the perfect time to create a school garden and teach students about the benefits of planting fresh plants, flowers and trees.
  2. Clean-Up Litter Around the Community — Organize a clean-up event to pick up litter in the school's community.
  3. Amp Up Recycling Efforts — Encourage your students to do more to keep trash (especially plastic!) out of landfills by setting up recycling stations around the school or in your classroom.
  4. Conserve Energy — Educate your students about energy conservation and encourage them to turn off lights and unplug electronics when they're not in use.
  5. Enjoy Nature — Organize a nature walk around the school or in a nearby park. Your class can learn about different types of plants and animals while they enjoy fresh air.
  6. Bring in a Guest — Invite an expert to speak to the class about environmental issues and what kids can do to help.
  7. Get Creative With Reuse — Your class can make artwork using recycled materials and learn about how these items can be transformed into something new and beautiful.
  8. Experiment — Conduct a science experiment in your science classes related to an environmental issue, and learn about how we can make a difference.
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