Earth Day 2024

On April 22, 1970, 10% of the US population participated in the first Earth Day. This celebration had far-reaching implications. In fact, the government founded the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and created a variety of environmental laws thanks to this first Earth Day.

Today, Earth Day is the world’s largest secular holiday. More than 1 billion people celebrate it every year across the globe.

Earth Day 2024 Resources:

Do you like saving the environment?  Do you like virtual escape rooms?  Then the bundle at this link will be for you!  Matt Miller, author of Ditch That Textbook, releases an email newsletter 3 time each week.  The bundle is for 'subscriber appreciation'.  If you are interested in subscribing to his newsletter, the information is below.  

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In addition, below is a Wakelet Board with activities for K-2, 3-5, Middle School, and High School students.

Earth Day Wakelet Board

Iowa State Water Rocks!   Looking for a fun way to celebrate Earth Day on April 22? The Rock Your Watershed! Game Challenge is a FREE, one-day-only competition for Iowa schools. Your students will get to develop their own watershed via our award-winning Rock Your Watershed! computer game. Think SimCity meets Minecraft! Select your land use for each piece of land – try to balance both environmental and economic impacts to earn a high score! Participants will be representing their classroom, and not as individuals. CLICK Here to start Kami - 15 Earth Day Activities for Kids of All Ages Click Here Solar Oven Challenge  Build a solar oven with your students or family using NEED's directions, or design your own oven. Use your solar oven to melt cheese for nachos, heat up a hot dog, or make s'mores!                         Written directions

• NEED's Climate Science guides provide great background information and hands-on activities!

• Understanding Climate Science includes:Land Ice/Sea Ice - activity to learn the effects sea and land ice have on sea level, when melted.

• Carbon In My Life - learn how CO2 emissions occur throughout a product's life cycle.

• Carbon Footprint - quantify and describe your individual carbon footprint.We've also got Today in Energy, Talking Trash, Plug Loads, and more in NEED's suite of energy efficiency and conservation guides.

Quiz and Calculate with your Students! Plastic Pollution Quiz Carbon Footprint Calculator Water Footprint Calculator

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE.. AND UPCYCLE Recycling has many benefits, but deciding to recycle is just the first step. You'll want to ensure you recycle items correctly! What is recyclable depends on your area. Do a quick online search or make a call to your local government or recycling provider and learn more on how to recycle common household items here. Did You Know? Recycling one ton of office paper can save the energy equivalent of consuming 322 gallons of gasoline. Recycling just one ton of aluminum cans conserves more than 152 million Btu, the equivalent of 1,024 gallons of gasoline or 21 barrels of oil consumed. Recycling just 10 plastic bottles saves enough energy to power a laptop for more than 25 hours. Paper makes up 23 percent of municipal solid waste (trash) generated each year, more than any other material.  Source: United States EPA

Energy Conservation Contract In this outreach activity, students learn about energy conservation and ask their families to sign contracts in which they agree to save energy. Students then calculate the energy savings, and re-evaluate their conservation measures. Free PDF download