Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970 and continues to be a world-wide effort to raise awareness of environmental issues. On Earth Day in 2016, the Paris Agreement was signed by 175 nations. This year's theme is "Planet vs Plastics," which features a campaign to reduce plastic production by 60% by the year 2040. See the environmental lessons featured below to guide youth exploration.
This poem by Amanda Gorman may spark some awe and motivation to act.
Young people investigate the problems caused by plastic shopping bags, then propose solutions to address the problems. This lesson prompts teams to design a reusable shopping tote out of an old T-shirt using engineering, problem-solving, creativity, and communication.
The learners define environmental stewardship and determine what they care about related to the environment.
The youth take action by determining ways to reduce their own use of plastic bags and by advocating for ways to reduce the use of plastic bags in their own households, the community, state and nation. To take further action, they may propose ways to influence government officials
Children gain a feeling of ownership and responsibility for the care of the environment in their school and community.
The learners define and explain the importance of civic engagement and responsible citizenship. They explore the reasons why people may hesitate to become involved in solving problems and consider ways in which they can be "part of the solution" rather than a "part of the problem."
Young people learn about the variety of ways citizens can become active participants in the community: political parties, interest groups, voting, and providing public service.
