Many teachers know that Earth Day is coming! The occasion will be celebrated on April 22. And 2023 is the 53rd anniversary of the first observance of this popular non-secular holiday. This year’s theme is Invest in Our Planet. These teachers are busy right now researching resources, developing curriculum, and designing activities for their learners.

Young students can, and do, make a big difference in helping to protect the earth’s environment. As an educator, you have the opportunity to spark a passion in students that will drive them to do their part. Here are just a few different kinds of activities you could add to your lesson plans to inspire your students this Earth Day.

Most people associate Earth Day with recycling, and that is a great place to start, especially because it’s an action students can participate in right away. If you want to incorporate activities on recycling in your Earth Day lesson plan, check out these ideas teach your students how to reduce, re-use, and recycle.

Another simple way that teachers can observe Earth Day is to take their students on a nature walk, whether that’s in a local park, on a nearby forest trail, or on school grounds, depending on what’s accessible in the area. Going on a nature walk is not only about celebrating Earth Day, it’s also an opportunity for learning experiences in a variety of subjects such as science, geography, math, and art. Other activities include collecting seeds, or identifying and cataloguing plants, insects, or birds. Older students could establish a garden or composting pile, plant a tree, or raise the money to sponsor tree planting in a national park.

Check out additional suggestions in this Earth Day provided by Education World. Teachers could also explore these suggestions by Project Learning Tree. For secondary students, consider these options suggested by Suburban Science.

Feel free to mention additional ideas or websites for resources in the comments section!