Thanks to a post in the SacBee, I just learned that Earth Day turns 40 this Thursday. All around the greater Sacramento area, organizations are hosting regional projects and celebrations to promote the Earth Day concept of “Think globally; act locally.” If you’re at a school site with field trip money (which is pretty unlikely at any California public schools right now), you have a range of possible real-time activities to help make this year’s celebration meaningful and memorable.
No money for field trips? Not a problem. Here are some free ways you and your students can join in the celebration:
CelebrateUandMeDigitally – Thanks to a tweet from Eva Buyuksimkesyan, an English teacher Turkey, you and your students have an invitation to join in a number of activities for Earth Day, starting with the EarthBridges VoiceThread.
The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge – Author Joanna Cole and illustrator Burce Degen will be joining the April 20th webcast (10:00 am, PST). Registration is required. As long-time fan of Miss Frizzle, I’m looking forward to this conversation.
PBS continues to add to their Earth Day offerings. You might want to start your site visit by viewing the American Experience Earth Day Trailer and then move on to your specific interest area:
PBS KIDS! is presenting an entire new line of eco-friendly episodes on April 22 in its “Share the Earth Day” celebration where families can learn about earth science
PBSTEACHERS.org is hosting a webinar entitled “Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day,” which explores environmental curriculum and student preparedness for green jobs.
PBSPARENTS.org offers tips on throwing eco-friendly birthday parties, getting tips on making crafts out of recyclable material and supporting a child’s interest in nature.
Education World has activities and ideas for kindergarten through high school.
Earth Day Network’s Green Schools promotes a “Generation of Respect for Education and the Environment Now.”
Thinkfinity – Because the site seems to be down right now (have never had this happen before with TF), I’m linking to Green Technology’s site for a preview of Thinkfinity’s Earth Day resources:
In the Green Roof Design lesson from Science NetLinks, students will work in small teams to design a heat and water-conserving roof of plant material for an urban apartment building.
The True Green Kids: 100 Things You Can do to Save the Planet lesson helps students to understand that products and objects that humans produce have lifespans and that they need to be recycled, reused and re-imagined so there will be less pollution and waste on the planet.
The National Geographic Environment Video Library present in the Verizon Thinkfinity Environmental/Earth Day feature contains a series of short videos from National Geographic on topics ranging from water conservation to farm restoration to manatees.
Protecting Our Precious Planet from ReadWriteThink, allows students to take part in an Internet-based Earth Day groceries project, decorate paper bags with environmental messages, and examine similar work by children around the world.”
If you have Earth Day resources, lessons, and links to share, please jump in with a comment!