Earth Day is April 22. But to make a true impact make every day Earth Day.
Commit to protect the environment. Take action. Learn – teach – share. Want info about “Earth Day”? Check out the EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/earthday/ & http://www.epa.gov/students/teachers.html. And a great blog post: http://www.ecobabysteps.com/2011/07/19/how-to-teach-your-children-about-eco-friendly-living/. I love the tips they give, especially about being “easy going”, giving kids a little information at a time, don’t scare them, and let them arrive on their own at the place where it clicks.
Here are a few suggestions for things to use in teaching kids about eco-friendly living. ….
Books (Earth Day, Conservation, Recycling, Environment, etc…):
10 Things I Can Do to Help My World by Melanie Walsh (free activity guide: http://www.walker.co.uk/UserFiles/file/Ten%20Things/10Things%20Activities-02.pdf)
All Around Me I See by Laya Steinberg (activities: http://dawnpub.com/activities/Camo_Activity.pdf, free teachers guide from the author: http://www.layasteinberg.com/AAteacherguide.pdf)
All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon (post from Alluem Kids Yoga: http://alluemkids.blogspot.com/2011/03/all-world.html – includes a great visualization idea & a free teachers guide from the author: http://www.lizgartonscanlon.com/PDFS/All%20The%20World%20TG.pdf )
Care for Our World book & playset from Compendium / Live Inspired
Earth Day: An Alphabet Book by Gary Kowalski
Earth Day Birthday by Pattie Schnetzler
Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (video trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVQeY8bodYs)
How Can I Help? (series of 3 books: Protect the Land, Protect the Ocean, Save the Wildlife) by Earthwise Kids
Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel
My Mama Earth by Susan B. Katz (See a video preview on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-joIbJSDN4o)
One Child, One Planet: Inspiration for the Young Conservationist by Bridget McGovern Llewellyn (website: http://onechildoneplanet.com/)
Our Big Home: An Earth Poem by Linda Glaser (free activity guide: http://www.lindaglaserauthor.com/Our_Big_Home.pdf)
The EARTH Book by Todd Parr (free coloring pages: http://www.toddparr.com/imgs/fun/earthbook_coloring.pdf, the author reading the book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXnWUS_K0XQ)
The Happiness Tree by Andrea Alban Gosline (free teachers guide: http://www.ambledance.com/media/pdf/HT_Teachers_Guide.pdf)
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss (see website below)
This Tree Counts by Alison Formento (free teachers guide: http://www.alisonashleyformento.com/Alison_Ashley_Formento/MY_BOOKS_files/Teacher%27s_Guide_THIS_TREE_COUNTS.pdf)
Where One There Was a Wood by Denise Fleming (free activities: http://www.denisefleming.com/pages/activities-wood.html)
Coloring Pages (to be eco-friendly, use both sides of the paper):
“Save Our Species” free coloring book from US EPA – http://www.epa.gov/espp/coloring/cbook.pdf
Free kids Earth Day Booklet from US EPA – http://www.energystar.gov/ia/business/k12_schools/KidsBrochure.pdf
Environmental Websites for Kids:
Conserving Now: http://www.conservingnow.com/parent-resources#pre
Dr. Seuess’ The Lorax Project – http://www.seussville.com/loraxproject/ & http://www.seussville.com/Educators/lorax_classroom/educatorlorax_discuss.php
Kids for Saving Earth – http://www.kidsforsavingearth.org/
Leave No Trace – http://www.lnt.org/programs/peak.php
PBS EekoWorld – http://pbskids.org/eekoworld/
Planet Pals – http://www.planetpals.com/
Check out this fabulous post on the Small Potatoes blog! http://mysmallpotatoes.com/2012/04/20/namaste-mother-earth/
Free Earth Day lesson plan from Kids Yoga Stories: http://www.kidsyogastories.com/free-resources/
Printable Earth Day Memory Game from LearnCreateLove.com: http://learncreatelove.com/?p=7018
Check out the Natural Kidz website for lots of eco-friendly products: http://naturalkidz.com/
Share your ideas for helping kids learn about being eco-friendly & going green by leaving a comment below or joining the discussion on the OMazing Kids Yoga Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga 🙂
Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – wellness & inclusive activities for kids of all abilities
Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2
E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
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Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Thanks to everyone who shared ideas as part of the discussion we had about kids books on the OMazing Kids Yoga Facebook Page
OMazing Kids AAC Consulting 