Earth Day Ideas

Hydroponics expert and all-around amazing veteran middle school science teacher, Hope Kennedy, shares her top 10 ideas for celebrating Earth Day. Enjoy!

10. Plant some seeds

Use reusable paper roll inserts or cardboard egg cartons for biodegradable seed starters.  Or make seed bombs from natural clay, water, locally sourced seeds, and compost.  Contact your extension office to find out what seeds you need in your area. Bonus points for local butterfly plants! [Below: Planting butterfly-friendly plants pays off when the Atala butterfly emerges from its cocoon. Seed bombs are easy to make and deploy.]                                                                           

9. Make your own simple hydroponics system

Mason jars, a net pot, a square of rockwool and some seeds will yield soil-less produce from your classroom window.  Hint: basil is fast growing and smells great.

8. Campus Cleanup

Campus maintenance staff will love you and they should have all of the supplies you’ll need! (Hint: Students love using counters to track how many pieces of trash they collect.)

7. Sidewalk chalk with “Love the Earth” messages (Virtual option available)

6. Recycled Art

Use single-use beverage bottle caps to create a cool Earth design

5. Make Solar Ovens

Use pizza boxes lined with aluminum foil as the basic design.  Encourage students to swap materials for the best design.

4. Invite the class to dress like hippies who celebrated the first Earth Day in 1970

3. Plant some trees on campus. 

Contact your county agriculture office for native plants and maybe donation leads!

2. Spend the day reading and enjoying being outside

1. Create memories with the Kesler Science EARTH DAY Escape Room!!

“Shout out to Kesler's Earth Day Escape room!  Ended our last day before Spring break with a modified version of it. My students really enjoyed it!” - Madison W., middle-school science teacher