March 29, 2017
In 1970, Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day. What began as a day dedicated to raising awareness of environmental issues soon became a global movement, aimed at building a sustainable and prosperous environment for future generations. So what better way to celebrate the day than with the people it was intended to benefit? This Earth Day, teach your students about the importance of environmentalism with these fun projects.
Report on an environmentalist.
Grades: 5 – 8
Let’s face it, famous environmentalists don’t always get the credit they deserve. The week before Earth Day, have each student research an environmentalist who made a major contribution to our planet. Then, have them present their findings to the class, or write a letter to the person they researched. You can find a full list of environmentalists at the Ecology Hall of Fame.
Write a persuasive essay.
Grades: 6 – 8
Let each student pick one environmental issue they are passionate about and have them write a persuasive letter to others, encouraging them to change their habits and become more environmentally conscious.
Create an environmental disaster situation.
Grades: 9 – 12
Break students up into several teams and give them an environmental disaster situation (like a global food shortage, extreme weather caused by global warming, or a water crisis) and have them brainstorm solutions. When students begin to think on a large scale, they will be more aware of how their daily actions affect the world. It will also help teach them problem solving and teamwork skills.
Plant a tree or garden.
Grades: All grade levels
What better way to truly experience Earth Day than by contributing to your school’s natural beauty. This Earth Day, take the class outside and teach them about different greenery in your area. At the end of the day, plant flowers or a tree and teach your students about the importance of forest preservation.
Here at Nickerson Corporation, we treat every day like it is Earth Day! We are committed to engaging in environmentally friendly business practices by offering products that are durable (to minimize waste), made from easily replicable parts (to eliminate the need to completely replace such products), and manufactured in a way that does not emit damaging products into our environment. For more information on how we can help you go green in your classroom, give us a call at (631) 666-0200!