Fun Earth Day Activities for the Whole Family

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

22 Apr 2009 08:29 AM

Happy Earth Day! Today is a great day to talk to your children about the environment and ways you can help preserve the planet as a family.

The following fun projects can help you get the conversation started:

SEASHELL WIND CHIME

If you live near the beach, then spend Earth Day combing the sand for seashells (if you are landlocked, then head to the discount store and purchase a few bags of shells). Then, use the natural items to create a simple wind chime, which will encourage you to appreciate the breeze on a daily basis.

Materials:

Plastic milk jug

Scissors

Hammer

Nail

24 shells

Cord

Directions:

Cut the bottom off a plastic jug.

Discard the rest of the jug or save it to make a scoop.

Using the hammer and nail, make six holes in the center of the plastic circle.

Using the hammer and nail, make a hole in the top of each of the shells.

Cut six lengths of cord, 15 inches long.

String four shells on each piece of cord, making a knot in between the shells to hold them in place. Thread the ends of the cord into the holes you made in the plastic circle.

Thread another length of cord through the first hole and knot it. Thread the other end through the last hole and knot it. Use the cord to hang your wind chime from a tree or porch.

HOMEMADE FOSSILS

Materials:

1 cup of used coffee grounds

1/2 cup of cold coffee

1 cup of flour

1/2 cup of salt

Wax paper

Bowl

Small cookie cutters to make impressions in the dough

String to hang your fossil

Directions:

Stir the together the coffee grounds, cold coffee, flour, and salt until well mixed.

Knead the dough together and then flatten it out onto the waxed paper.

Use the cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the dough. These will be your "fossils."

If you want to hang the fossil, poke holes into the edge to hold the string.

Let the fossils dry overnight and then hang them for all to see.

Related Articles:

Fun Earth Day Activities

Green Recipes for Earth Hour

"Price is Right" Goes Green

How Green is Too Green?

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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Cat-Mom-of-3 (175) 23 Apr 2009 12:05 AM

Happy Earth Day! Does your child have a favorite tree? My little one does! Today she gave her favorite tree a hug as I reviewed with her the parts of a tree- trunk, bark, roots, branches, twigs, leaves. When I taught kindergarten I taught this as well and most children had never been taught the parts of a tree. Give your favorite tree a hug!!

Michele Cheplic (37236) 23 Apr 2009 12:02 PM

Thanks for sharing Catmomof3, great suggestion!