Earth Day Craft
Itās Earth Day! A time to take a moment from our busy lives to stop and appreciate and celebrate Godās amazing creation. I wish I could say that I do this every day but between grocery shopping, diaper changes, cooking, cleaning, and general busyness I donāt often take time to stop and look around me at the beautiful world we live in. That whole āstop and smell the rosesā idea is wonderful, but itās difficult to do when youāre juggling a car seat, diaper bag, and totes full of groceries! Which is why I always appreciate Earth Day.
When April 22nd rolls around each year, strangers meet at local parks to pick up garbage, communities join together to plant gardens, and for one day there is a common focus: the Earth. I canāt help but think God smiles at this, as He gifted us with the earthāthe plants, animals, oceansāand calls us to take care of it.
With our experience working with kids weāve found that most LOVE activities that involve nature and the earth, so getting kids excited about Earth Day is fairly easy. In the past weāve had our classes pick up litter around the school, and the kids were more excited for this than if weād surprised them with an extra recess! But weāve wished we could take it a step further and share why it is important to care for and love the earthāthat itās Godās creation! We are so excited to do this at The Garden Preschool. To teach kids about Godās creation, how to honor and care for it, and to celebrate it not just on Earth Day, but every day!
Here are a few things you could do with your kiddos to celebrate Earth Day this year or in years to come:
- Read the creation story in Genesis with your kids
- Get out and enjoy Godās creation: go for a hike, a nature walk, or take a picnic to the park and enjoy the beauty around you
- Make a family resolution to help the earth: Start composing? Make a recycle bin? Have fun with it!
- Join with other families to clean up your neighborhood or a local park
- Use earth materials (sticks, rocks, etc.) or recycled goods to create an art project! (Our classes have done this and the kids LOVED it. And their creations were quite impressive!)
Here are a few websites/blogs we found that have other great activity ideas. Happy Earth Day!
http://www.creativefamilyfun.net/2013/04/10-ways-to-celebrate-earth-day.html
http://playfullearning.net/from-the-bin-diy-recycled-vases-flowers/
http://www.housingaforest.com/recycled-crafts-and-activities-for-kids/
http://blog.melissaanddoug.com/2013/04/19/4-ways-to-celebrate-earth-day-with-your-child/
Our craftā¦we talked about composting and set up our can.Ā We also made a scrap holder for our birds so that they can have a soft ābedā in their house.
Logan learning about continents and The Earth this morning
Composting Can
Scrap Holder for Birds
Lastly, we had our Garden Preschool meeting outside with a picnic lunch todayā¦beautiful!
Kari and Keira at our meeting
Logan and Dylan at our picnic