6 Free Techie Earth Day Activities
Earth Day is just around the corner, on April 22, 2023, and it's a good time to consider the environment. We need to create awareness and take action on many issues, like climate change, pollution, deforestation, and the loss of different types of plants and animals. We can all work together to make a difference and keep our planet healthy for the future.
Here are six techie activities to use in your classroom to get your students thinking about our planet.
1. Podcast; Brains On! Universe is an award winning science podcast for kids and curious adults from American Public Media. Each week a different kid joins Molly Bloom to co-host and find answers to fascinating questions. One of the unique features of Brains On! Universe is the participation of its young hosts, who are full of questions and eager to learn. They often share their own thoughts and insights on the topics being discussed, adding a personal touch to the show. The show is available on major podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, and is free to listen to.
There are over 100 different episodes. Here are a couple of episodes to get students thinking about our planet.
2. Host a paperless challenge; A day, a week, or a month. Have the class come up with different ideas to be paperless for any amount of time. Create a plan that they can share with another class, another grade level, or the whole school. There are so many different fun things your students could come up with to make this happen! The fact that it is their idea and plan, may help it be more effective.
Don’t forget to take an inventory of your paper usage: Before you start the challenge, take stock of how much paper you currently use on a daily basis. This will give you an idea of where you can cut back. This is a great way to add data collection and graphing for math standards.
Here are some examples to get you started:
Use worksheets/activities instead of printing out documents
Use digital alternatives such as email, cloud storage, and online collaboration tools
Use e-books and digital magazines instead of physical ones
Recycle paper properly: Make sure to recycle any paper products you do use.
Another great way to tie English standards in is to have students write the plan. Have them share how they created a plan, executed the plan, then how they would improve the plan if they were going to do it again.
3. Take your students on a field trip, a virtual field trip, to see the world! Virtual field trips are a great way to explore the world and learn about different places and cultures without actually being there.
Some virtual field trips that support earth day curriculum include:
Snow Desk: Why Winter Matters (put this on your winter calendar as they only do this event January-March)
What to Recycle: Live on Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants YouTube Channel on April 17th! You can watch the video after the event too.
Check out this Youtube video for multiple ideas, and download the free virtual field trip ideas spreadsheet for five tabs worth of virtual field trips!
4. Using thought-provoking videos or explainer videos is a great way to engage students in learning about Earth Day. You can use videos to spark discussions, debates, or even creative projects. For example, you might show a video about the effects of climate change and ask students to brainstorm ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Or, you could show a video about plastic pollution and challenge students to create a poster or a social media campaign to raise awareness. The possibilities are endless! By using videos, you can inspire students to think critically about environmental issues and motivate them to take action to protect our planet.
5. Creating a public service announcement (PSA) about the environment and recycling is a fun and engaging way for students to learn about the importance of taking care of our planet.
Activity Instructions:
Have students research different environmental issues and recycling methods to get a better understanding of the topic.
Work in small groups to develop a script and storyboard for their PSA. This activity encourages creativity and critical thinking, as students must think about grabbing the audience's attention and effectively communicating their message.
Use technology to film, edit, and publish their PSA to share with the class or even a wider audience. This activity allows students to use their voice and creativity to positively impact the environment and inspire others to take action.
Easier Tech Option: If you do not want to go all out with camera equipment and editing software, you can use Flip to have students post their PSA to a thread!
PSA Examples:
End Plastic Pollution PSA (Student Video Example)
Water Consumption (Student Video Example)
6. Explore Google Earth; this is a web-based application developed by Google that allows users to explore a 3D representation of the Earth's surface. It is a virtual globe that combines satellite imagery, aerial photography, and 3D terrain data to create an immersive and interactive experience.
Users can use Google Earth to search for and view any location on the planet, from the highest mountain peaks to the depths of the ocean floor. They can zoom in to street-level views, view 3D models of buildings and landmarks, and explore historical imagery to see how places have changed over time.
Google Earth also allows users to create and share their own custom maps and tours, adding photos, text, and other media to create an interactive experience. In addition, Google Earth has a wide range of educational and scientific applications, from studying geography and geology to tracking climate change and monitoring natural disasters.
For earth day, use the voyager tab to go on premade expeditions like Warming Planet to see how the earth has changed over time as specific locations.
Also, use these Educational Resources from Google to go from Beginner to Guru with Google Earth!
We would love to know all the ways you are celebrating earth day and helping students think about what they can do to help our planet. Please share your ideas in the Every Teacher Tech Ready Facebook group!
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