Leading up to Earth Day on the 22nd, the week of April 15th to the 21st is National Environmental Education Week. This week is the perfect time to get your students active 
about helping the environment.
Here are a few fun things you can do to teach your students about being environmentally-friendly:
1. Grab the classroom garbage can and sort through the waste, seeing what should have and can be recycled, and what is okay to throw away. Teach students what each number means and which are okay to recycle.
2. While going through the garbage, point out which items can be composted instead of thrown away.
3. Start a classroom recycling bin and label them for paper, plastics, cans and more.Use these materials to create crafts, on school projects and more. Otherwise, take a trip with your class to the recycling center.
4. Encourage kids to bring reusable containers instead of throwing away bags each day. Reusable water bottles are particularly good to have.
5. Take kids outside and show them the different types of plants and wildlife there are to enjoy if the environment is kept clean.
6. If there is a lot of waste and garbage around your community, plan a community clean-up. Give each student or pair of students a garbage bag, disposable plastic gloves and a found stick to help them pick up trash.
7. Find books on the environment from your school’s library and read them with your class! There are plenty of books on all types of ecological subjects that will enlighten your class about the natural wonders of our planet. Then, reiterate basic steps they can do to help.
8. Read your class a fun book that also teaches the importance of caring for the environment, such as Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax.
9. Have your students watch a movie about the environment. Then, have a worksheet with questions prepared afterwards for discussion.
10. Plan a scavenger hunt of different things found in the outdoors – certain plants, birds, rocks and more. Get children enjoying the outdoors!
Feel free to share your unique Environmental Ed Week or Earth Day activities! Want to know more about Environmental Education Week? Check out more information here.
