NEA: Earth Day Resources

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Earth Day Resources

Make a Difference on Earth Day!

from Education World® (updated March 2008)

Earth Day is April 22, 2008. It's a time when people around the world hold events to honor our planet -- and to remind everyone about the importance of our ecosystem. Here, we feature activities that have students cleaning up trash-filled areas in their communities, creating public-service announcements about environmental issues, and much more!

Background

Founded in 1970 by Gaylord Nelson, a former United States senator from Wisconsin, Earth Day has grown into a global event. In 1970, 20 million Americans demonstrated in streets, parks, and auditoriums for a healthier, cleaner environment. Each year, hundreds of millions of people in more than 180 countries participate in Earth Day activities around the world.

Earth Day Network Resources

Lesson Plans

Clean Up Hazardous Waste
Grades 3-12 identify sources of home hazardous waste and create posters to educate community members about how to handle that waste.
Community Clean Up
Students identify community areas filled with trash and work together to clean those areas.
Cafeteria Compost
Students create a compost pile in the schoolyard, using lunchroom food scraps and yard clippings.
Earth Day PSA
Students develop a short public service announcement (PSA) video to raise awareness about an environmental issue.
Fund-Raiser for Earth Day
Students hold a fund-raising activity to raise money to buy seeds, plants, or tree seedlings to beautify school grounds.
Improving School Recycling
Students evaluate their school recycling programs and propose improvements.
Earth Day WebQuest
In this special Earth Day WebQuest, student teams vie for funding from the fictional Help Our World (HOW) Foundation.

Other Resources

EarthLab Live Earth Calculator
Do you use energy efficient light bulbs? How much do you drive, versus taking the bus, the subway/train, or riding your bike? How much do you recycle? EarthLab's Live Earth Calculator will note your conservation habits, and let you know your Earth Conservation Plan (ECP) score. Save your score on their Web site and return to find out how much you've improved your ECP.