Earth Day Middle School Activities
Don't let Earth Day pass by without giving your middle-school students activities that will expand their minds and impassion their hearts. Let them know that the earth is worth taking care of and that they can each do their part to make a difference. Make sure that throughout the day's activities you are constantly filling their ears with helpful tips on reduce, reuse and recycle. Help them form habits that will last throughout their lives.
Used Book Exchange
Who says presents are just for Christmas and birthdays? Have your kids celebrate the earth with a book exchange. The catch? Their book has to be used. Have them bring in books they have already read. They can bring in more than one book if they want. The more they bring in, the more they receive. This activity illustrates the value in reusing resources. Be sure to discuss why reusing is an important part of preserving our planet.
Fly a Kite
Don't spend Earth Day cooped up in your classroom. You can't expect your students to grow a passion for their planet if they are never allowed to experience it. Taking them outside on Earth Day to fly a kite will remind them why the earth is so valuable and worth saving. Combine your day outside with a lesson on air pollution; while you are flying your kites discuss where air pollution comes from, how it affects the earth and how each student can decrease his contribution of pollution to the atmosphere.
Trash as Art
Recycling comes in many forms. One way to recycle is to take something you would ordinarily throw away and turn it into a piece of art. Have your students bring in clean materials that would normally be considered trash. These could include scrap paper, aluminum foil, dryer lint, brochures, cards, old clothing, invitations, toilet paper rolls, play programs and church bulletins. Pool everyone's resources at one table. Hold a contest to see who can produce the most creative art project using the materials provided.
Reusable Bags
Give a plain reusable cloth bag to each student. Discuss how using a bag like this will reduce our paper and plastic waste, and ask the class to list reasons why reducing waste improves the health of our planet. Provide various markers and paints to decorate the new eco-friendly bags.
Tags: bring more, each student, Earth Middle, Earth Middle School, Have your
