Fun Earth Day Acitivities

Growing Plants
http://fun.familyeducation.com/
Materials
Seeds, Shallow dish of water, Planters, Potting soil
Directions
Soak seeds from an orange, apple, grapefruit, lemon, or lime in water for a day or two. Fill several planters with potting soil and place three or four seeds in each one about half an inch deep. Water the seeds, place the pots in a sunny spot, and watch for the green shoots to grow. You can try plantings seeds in a pattern or shape: a letter, number, square, or circle.

Nature Hunt
Materials
One paper bag per child and one list of natural objects to collect per player
Directions
Give each child a paper bag and a list of natural objects (a bird's feather, a leaf, a smooth rock, a pine cone, a wildflower, and so on) to collect. Give the same list to all the players or have each player look for a different group of objects. Challenge the children to find all the objects on their lists. Set a time limit: perhaps ten or twenty minutes to find ten objects. The first player to find all the items on his list is the winner. A child may play this game alone or with others. For a group of children, pair up non-readers with readers.

Make A Terrarium
Materials
· A clear glass container with a wide neck to allow your hand in
· Small stones or gravel
· Activated charcoal (get from pet store)
· Potting soil
· Small sponge
· Piece of screen, mesh, or cheesecloth
· Plants or moss
Directions
A terrarium is a completely self-supporting ecosystem. The plant life replenishes the air with oxygen, light shining through provides the light and power source, and water comes from the moisture in the soil. As the dead leaves fall off, they decompose providing food for the soil. How to make one:
1. Select your plants. They should be small, like shade, and not grow too fast or too tall.
2. Put gravel on terrarium floor.
3.Sprinkle a small amount of activated charcoal on top.
4.Cover with a piece of screen with a slit cut in the middle.
5.Slice the sponge to one third inch wide and stick it in like a candle between the slit in the screen and anchor it in the gravel. The sponge will bring moisture up to the plant roots.
6.Cover with potting soil.
7.Gently make small holes and place plants in them, packing the soil loosely around them.
8. Spritz the plants with water and cover. Add small figures.
The terrarium may look a little limp for a few days but will get used to its new environment in no time.

Do you have a favorite Earth Day project or activity to do with children?