Celebrating Earth Day at Home
April 22, 2020 marks the yearly celebration of Earth Day. During this time, people go out of the way to become more “environmentally conscious.” Beginning in 1970 and developing into a globally recognized holiday, Earth Day is here to remind all of us to take the extra step to keep things clean for our planet. 2020 marks the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and even though school is out, there are still some fun things you can do at home. With the world on hold, we at the Afterschool Enrichment Programs would like to throw out some ideas to keep you and your little ones “thinking green!”
Blog# 004
by:Matthew Koshko
1. Do a Project That’s “For the Birds.”
One idea that is sure to be a hoot, is to create a homemade birdfeeder! This can be done with empty toilet paper rolls, wooden blocks, and even LEGOs. Find a tree just out front of a window. Take your creation and find a way to mount it on the tree. Now, a simple purchase of some bird seed and the waiting game begins. It’s a great way to start a new hobby for birdwatching and it’s even more exciting to see what kind of birds you have right in your backyard!
2. Leaf Rubbing!
Trying to get in touch with your creative side? Do you and your child wish you could take a more “natural approach” to art? Well now you can! With leaf rubbing, you can take the leaves that have fallen during the wintertime and turn them into beautiful creations. Simply put a leaf upside down on the table, place a piece of paper over the leaf and while holding the paper and leaf in place, use the side of a crayon to rub across the leaf. This is a great way to get in touch with your creative side AND get some help cleaning up the leaves in the yard.
3. Make Gardening Egg-citing!
Now is the best time to work on your “green thumb.” You may have the desire to start growing your own plants, but not enough space for a garden. No worries! With an empty egg carton, some dirt, and a few easy seeds, you and your children can take the time at home to get up close with the growing of seeds. If you want to take it to the next level, you can even place a journal next to your garden and have your child document the progress of each plant daily.
4. Go for an “Earth Walk”
Exercise is important- now more than ever. But what can you possibly do in the neighborhood you’ve driven past so many times? How about an Earth Walk! Simply have you and your child walk around the neighborhood with a notepad. Document the animals that you see. If you want to take it even further, snap photos of the various plants and research what you find. You could have an entire eco-system in your backyard and not even know it!
5. Un-plug
Part of “going green” means using less electricity. With so much time being spent on the computer and cell phones in the world, it might not be a bad day to shut down those devices, even for a small period of time. This is the perfect time to showcase the importance of conservation and it starts with a simple “power down.”