Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22nd. Earth Day is a reminder of the huge job we have of saving our planet 365 days a year!
Watch the video below to learn about “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”and read the suggestions to find other ways you can “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” everyday!
1. Change a light
Replace a regular bulb with a more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulb.
2. Drive less
Walk, bike, use public transportation like a subway, bus or even car pool. Talk to your parents about considering a hybrid, or alternative fuel vehicle. And keep your tires inflated properly.
3. Recycle more
Think before you throw away trash. Recycle instead. Cut down on how much you throw in the trash, which ultimately ends up in a landfill. And be sure to take e-waste, like computers, cell phones and hazardous waste to a special recycling facility.
4. Avoid products with a lot of packaging
When it comes to your shopping habits, consider buying products that are better for the environment or that are made from recycled materials, and have less or no packaging. And when it comes to food, support local farmers markets.
5. Use less hot water
It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Install a low flowing shower head and wash a full load of clothes in cold or warm water.
6. Adjust your thermostat.
Moving your thermostat down 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer can save a lot of energy. And ask your parents if your local utility company offers alternative power like solar power. If so, consider switching.
7. Plant a tree
A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.
8. Turn off electronic devices
Simply turning off your TV, DVD player, stereo, and unplugging your iPod and cell phone charger when not in use, will save you thousands of pounds of CO2 a year.
9. Spread the word
Talk to your friends, family and teachers. Teach them what you’ve learned and make your house and school as green as possible. Think of ways to raise awareness & educate others, create fund-raisers in your local community to make a change.
10. Go Green
Work to make these changes in your daily life so it becomes second nature.
In the video below, Ms. Kolesar’s class suggests more ways we can “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”!
Try This!
- Play My Garbology! My Garbology is an interactive game that teaches about sorting garbage for recycling, reusing, and composting. Sort garbage into four bins according to where you think each piece of garbage should go.
- Have a fashion show! Create an outfit from materials that were destined for the trash! Below is an example of how much fun it is to”Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”!
- Use the pair The Curious Garden and Helping Out to teach students about our role in conservation and the many ways that we can help the earth. In The Curious Garden, Liam changes his entire community by making their town a greener place. Trees and seedlings are also traditionally planted on Earth Day. Discuss how plants create clean air while beautifying the landscape. Then, plan a class garden. What kinds of plants will the class grow, and how will the class care for them?
- Use recyclable materials to make crafts for Earth Day! Create paper flowers out of colorful pages from old magazines and line them up in recyclable jars to make a bright windowsill garden. Or, gather broken crayons throughout the month. Melt different shades of blue, green, and white in old muffin tins to create new.
- Trashy Town and Making Less Trash to teach your students why cutting down on garbage and pollution is necessary for the well-being of the planet. Create lists of ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle as a class. Are there ways that you can help improve your school’s recycling program? How can you encourage others in your school and community to be more eco-friendly?
- Use the pair Joseph Had a Little Overcoat and Recycle That! to share how we can make small changes that help the planet in a big way. What are some items we tend to throw away that can be reused or recycled into something new?
Challenge:
Research and report on an environmental concern. Give at least one way for others to help. Can you make a “Breaking News: Earth Day 2014″ video with your parents for the school to watch on April 22nd?
