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EARTH DAY THEME

CRAFTS:

Experiment with Earth Jars
Gather the following: 4 jars with lids, dirt, sand, salt, gravel and a large pitcher of warm water. Have the kids help pour the warm water into each jar. Add one of the elements to each jar, and cover it tightly. Let them predict what will happen when you shake each jar. Shake them one at a time. What happens in each instance? Which of the elements dissolve in water and which ones sink to the bottom? The children may want to bring in other nature items/substances to continue this experiment.

Earth's Wonders
Display natural earth wonders, such as : sea shells, rocks, crystals, geodes, pine cones, seeds, twigs, etc. Encourage the children to add to the collection. Provide magnifying glasses to study the wonders. Have books nearby that picture earth's natural resources.

Earth's Colors
To make natural earth colors, you'll need red cabbage, beets, celery tops, carrot tops, and vinegar.
Simmer each vegetable in water, drain, saving the liquids. Mix one tablespoon of vinegar into each liquid, and let cool. Let the children use the natural colors and brushes to paint a large piece of muslin or cotton fabric. Let dry and hand in the playroom for all to see.

Earth Painting
Fingerpaint with mud indoors or out. Let the children mix dirt with water until it reaches the desired consistancy. Then they can paint on the art table, sidewalk, or even the tile floor if you are brave!

Earthcakes
Cover the work surface with newspaper. Place a tub of each of the following on the art table or floor: sand, dirt, salt, gravel.
Have small pitchers of water plus old bowls and spoons nearby. Let
each child concoct an earthcake by choosing some of the materials in the tubs, mixing them in a bowl with water. Let the earthcakes dry. Have the children collect items on a walk to decorate their cakes, such as twigs, grass, stones, etc.

Litter Bags
Have the children decorate a white lunch bag with markers or crayons and stickers. Use the bags to collect the littler, or take the bags home, to hang in the family car.

Marble Painting Earth
Have circles cut out of blue construction paper to fit just inside of a pie pan. Have the children put a marble into some blue paint and into some green paint. Use a spoon to take it out... move the pie pan back and forth and create "an earth".. We then talk about what the green stands for and what the blue stands for. (I show them a globe first..and we talk about all the different names for the earth.)--ie...world...globe...earth...etc.

Make Your Own Paper
Age: 5+ 
What you'll need: egg cartons, detergent, water , pot , screens, newspaper , construction paper, any odd wool sparkles,etc. to add to paper , food coloring (optional) 
How to make it: 1. Encourage children to tear up egg cartons. 
2. Put the pieces in pot with detergent, cook on low for 2-3 hours. 
3. Put in food processor, until smooth consistency. 
4. Add water to mixture before and after cooking. 
5. You can add a touch of food coloring or other items to enhance your paper (string, confetti dots, etc.) 
6. Strain through screen until desired thickness--flip over onto newspaper, put more newspaper and towels on top. 
Cover with heavy books, etc for 24 hours. Peel off paper and let dry for 24 more hours--can also make bowls and other fun stuff--put flat paper works the best. You can also use old newspaper and other scrap paper.
A neat way to make your own screen - metal coat hanger bent into a "square" shape & a panty hose stretched around it (stuff the hanger into the leg) tie both ends - you now have a neat little screen!

Nature Creations
Collect a variety of nature items: sea shells, dried wheat, grasses, and flowers, sand, rocks, pebbles, bark, twigs, and small branches. Put these out with glue and foam trays and let the kids go for it.

Trash Collage
Use throw away paper, labels, scraps cut from junk mail, everything you can find that is typically thrown away - to make a collage.
 
 

GAMES & ACTIVITIES:

Earth View
Ask the children to pretend that they are birds flying high over the earth. Let them take turns telling what they see. Encourage them to use as much detail as possible. What do they encounter in the sky as they're flying?

Litter Brigade....
Clean Up Parade
Make banners, signs, etc. stating what the Clean-Up parade is. Gather wagons, sacks, bags and boxes to put the litter in. Go for a walk in the neighborhood and collect litter (being very careful what the children pick up). When the containers are full, go back to the classroom and sort out the litter. Separate the paper, cans and other junk. The kids love the parade idea to help clean up their play yard!
 

SONGS:

Clean Up
(Tune: Twinkle, twinkle, little star)
Twinkle twinkle little star
Time to clean up where you are.
Put litter back in its' place,
Keep a smile upon your face.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
Time to clean up where you are.

Recycling In My Home
(tune: wheels on the bus)
Recycling in my home goes round and round,
Round and round, round and round.
Recycling in my home goes round and round,
All through the day.
Tie up the papers and take them back,
Take them back, take them back.
Tie up the papers and take them back,
All through the day.
Crush the cans and take them back.....
Rinse the milk bottles and take them back....
Save the glass and take it back......

This Old Earth
(tune: This Old Man)
This old earth
Needs our help
To stay fresh and clean and green
With a pick it up; pitch it in; and throw it in the can--
This old earth needs a helping hand!

This Land
(tune: This land is your land)
This land is your land
This land is my land,
Let's work together
To make it better
From tall green forests to clear blue waters
This land depends on you and me!

Ten Little Candles
Ten little candles on an Earth Day cake.
"Wh! Wh!" Now there are eight.
Eight little candles on a candlestick.
"Wh! Wh!" Now there are six.
Six little candles, and not one more.
"Wh Wh!" Now there are four.
Four little candles, red, white, and blue.
"Wh Wh!" Now there are two.
Two little candles standing in the sun.
"Wh Wh!" Now there are none.

STORIES:

Have any good stories? Let us know!
 

FOOD SUGGESTIONS:

Have any good food ideas? Let us know!
 

TIPS/NOTES:

Trash Hike
We go on a trash hike...and "help clean up our Earth"