Earth Day 2024 Activities 5th Grade to 10th Grade Low-Prep, Fun Science

Celebrate Earth Day with this collection of LOW-PREP and FUN science activities for middle and high school students. This resource has everything you need for an amazing Earth Day unit... Earth Day Bulletin Board resources, reading comprehension, puzzles, games, hexagonal thinking activity, slideshow and MORE!

Earth Day Resources Included in this Activity:

• Earth Day BINGO or Find Someone Who...
• Earth Day Two Truth and a Lie Game or Warm-Up
• Earth Day Bulletin Board Posters Famous Conservationists and Environmentalists
• Earth Day Famous Conservationists Slideshow
• Earth Day Reflection Hexagonal Thinking Activity
• Earth Day Bulletin Board Letters
• Earth Day Reading Comprehension, Puzzles and Reflection
• Ugly Sweater Endangered Animals Activity
• Solid Waste Management Activity
• Water Conservation Activity
• Earth's Spheres Activity

Resource 1: Earth Day Bingo Game or Find Someone Who... Game:

Earth Day BINGO is a fun, easy activity to celebrate Earth Day! Play this BINGO the traditional style (calling card included) or use it as a "Find someone who..." game. This is a print-and-go game, no setup involved. Perfect for class parties, incentives or just some fun!

Two Ways to Play Earth Day BINGO

Traditional Bingo Game:

To play as a traditional bingo game, each student will receive a unique bingo card and chips (use any small object!). The teacher calls out the prompt, such as "Planted a tree this year." Those students who have completed the activity put a bingo chip on their card. The process continues until a student has 5 chips in a row and yells "BINGO!"

Find Someone Who Game:

Students will search the room for classmates that can sign off on accomplishments, such as “Used public transportation this year,” on their bingo cards. When they find a student that has completed that task, the student they found will sign the bingo card. As soon as someone scores five-in-a-row, they shout "BINGO!"

What's Included:

• 30 Unique Bingo Cards in black and white and color
• 1 Teacher Calling Card with prompts and answers

Resource 2: Earth Day Two Truths and a Lie Game or Warm-ups

Celebrate Earth Day with a fun game! Your Middle or High Schoolers will LOVE this Two Truths and a Lie (seriously... who doesn't?) Game. This set is unique - it is all about Earth Day. Students will learn interesting science facts related to Earth Day, pollution, conservation, endangered species and green technology. Offer your students a playful brain break, use these for Earth Day bellringers (warm-ups) or use them for a classroom game to celebrate Earth Day.

What's Included in the Earth Day Science Activity?

• 20 Fascinating Two Truths and a Lie Questions in a PowerPoint Slideshow
• Student scorecards for students to keep track of their answers and points
• Easy-to-Understand Explanations for Two Truths and a Lie Questions
• Editable text
• Beautiful, high-quality images

How will this help YOU?

• Engagement Booster: Students are naturally drawn to challenges and games.
• Versatile Teaching Tool: This game can be used as a lesson transition, a review activity, Fun Friday, Special Days, Earth Day Celebration, or even as a reward for good behavior or task completion.
• Reinforces Critical Thinking: Students are encouraged to think critically as they evaluate each statement to determine which is false. This strengthens their analytical skills.
• Saves Time: With 20 ready-made PowerPoint slides, you can cut down on prep time, focusing more on delivering the lesson and interacting with students.
• Infuses Fun into Learning: A positive, fun-filled classroom environment can reduce stress and anxiety, making students more receptive to learning.
• Encourages Participation: Even the usually quiet students might feel compelled to participate, driven by the casual and game-like nature of the activity.

How Can This Resource Be Used?

• Warm-Up Activity: Begin your class with a slide to get those brain gears turning. It serves as a great transition from the hustle and bustle of changing classes or coming in from recess.
• Transition Tool: Use it as a bridge between two different topics or activities. It can provide a short mental break while keeping students engaged and in "learning mode."
• Group Activity: Divide students into teams and turn it into a competitive game. Which team can spot the lie the fastest? It fosters teamwork and critical thinking.
• Discussion Starter: After revealing the lie, engage the class in a discussion about the truths and the misconception. Why did they think a certain fact was a lie? It can lead to deeper dives into the subject matter.
• Homework or Research Prompt: Assign a slide as homework and ask students to delve deeper into the truths presented. They can come back with additional facts or details.
• Incentives: Use the slideshow as a reward. If the class achieves a certain goal or completes tasks ahead of time, they get to play a round of "Two Truths and a Lie."
• Digital Learning & Virtual Classrooms: For online classes, use the slides as interactive breaks to maintain student attention and engagement.

I KNOW your students will love this activity!

Resource 3: Famous Conservationists Poster Set

An Earth Day Bulletin Board featuring famous conservationists and environmentalists is a great way to celebrate Earth Day in your classroom. This attractive set of Famous Conservationists and Environmentalists posters will inspire your students to greater awareness of environmental issues! Each poster features an image of the conservationist, their birthdate (and date of death, if applicable), their place of birth and a brief bio of their major accomplishment. They are perfect for Middle School Science, High School Science and homeschooling families!

There are two sets of Earth Day Conservationists Posters:

• 25 Color Posters
• 25 Black and White Posters

Since they are digital downloads, you can print them to suit your classroom size and needs. So, they're perfect for any spot you have open - above the blackboard, one the door, even right by your desk!

Resource 4: Famous Conservationists Slideshow

Celebrate Earth Day every day by introducing your students to famous conservationists! Use this slideshow to introduce students to these amazing efforts made by individuals to protect our planet! Each slide features an image of the conservationist, their birthdate (and date of death, if applicable), their place of birth and a brief bio of their major accomplishment. They are perfect for Middle School Science, High School Science and homeschooling families!

Which Conservationists are Included?

• Ansel Adams
• David Attenborough
• Rachel Carson
• Yvon Chouinard
• Jacques Cousteau
• Gretchen C. Daily
• Sylvia Earle
• Dian Fossey
• Birute Galdikas
• Jane Goodall
• Steve Irwin
• Aldo Leopold
• Thomas Lovejoy
• Wangari Maathai
• Benton MacKaye
• Chico Mendes
• John Muir
• Margaret Murie
• Gaylord Nelson
• Gifford Pinchot
• Carl Safina
• Peggy Shepard
• Pavan Sukhdev
• Douglas Tompkins
• Edward O. Wilson

These Earth Day Conservationists Posters are Perfect for...

• Science and STEM Educators: From elementary to university levels, teachers can use these posters to inspire students and instill a love for learning and discovery.
• Tutors and Academic Coaches: Tutors could use the posters as an educational tool to motivate their students during private sessions.
• Museum Educators: These posters could be a great addition to science museums or learning centers, providing visitors with interesting quotes and information about famous scientists.
• Librarians: Libraries focused on fostering a love for reading and learning could use the posters to decorate reading or study areas.

Resource 5: Earth Day Reading Passages, Puzzles and Reflection

The Earth Day reading comprehension resource includes three differentiated versions of the passage, tailored to students with 6th, 8th, and 11th-grade reading levels, ensuring all learners can participate in meaningful discussions and activities about our planet.

This Earth Day Activity includes two versions of the passage, one with bolded terms and one without. The bolded terms act as answers to the included Earth Day Crossword Puzzle, providing a fun and interactive way for students to reinforce their understanding of key concepts and vocabulary related to environmentalism.

The Earth Day reading passages cover a range of topics, including the history of Earth Day, the impact of human activity on the environment, and ways to reduce our carbon footprint. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing our planet and the actions we can take to protect it.

Also included: The Earth Day Reflection Resource is a fun way for students to reflect on their role as global citizens and how their actions impact our planet. Students will think about...

• What Earth Day means to them
• Their eco-friendly actions
• Experiences in nature
• Environmental issues that are important to them personally
• How they can improve their daily habits
• Community projects that they could plan for Earth Day

What does this Earth Day resource include?

• Three versions of the reading passage - for 6th-grade reading level, 8th-grade reading level and 11th-grade reading level.
• Crossword Puzzles
• Word Search
• Reflection Activity

Resource 6: Earth Day Hexagonal Thinking Activity:

This is the perfect idea for your Earth Day bulletin board or classroom display! This activity will guide your students through a time of reflection on ways their actions impact the environment. Designed to be completed around Earth Day, this tool will facilitate self-evaluation and encourage students to be responsible Global Citizens.

This easy-to-implement activity is ideal for both middle school and high school science students. With no preparation required, educators can simply print the provided questions on a single sheet. Students are then guided to reflect and respond to six essential questions, fostering personal reflection on environmental issues and stewardship for Earth Day.

This activity is editable and can be used for any subject!

What is a Hexagonal Thinking One-Pager?

It’s a one-page worksheet with a hexagon split into six sections, each housing a unique and editable question. Your students get to answer questions like "Reflect on your daily habits. Identify one small habit you can change to make a big impact on the environment." in their own creative way. The questions are completely editable, so you can change them to suit your needs.

Once they've filled out their hexagons and cut them out, it's time for a class-wide brainstorm. Students find connections in their answers and link their hexagons together. For example, if a student responds that his favorite outdoor activity is that going surfing, and another student responds that she feels plastic pollution in the oceans is the most important environmental issue, then those hexagon sides will be matched together. The class continues to collaborate as they connect hexagons based on shared or complementary responses. The result is a colorful tapestry of responses.

The goal of these resources is to get students to open up, connect, and reflect on their personal choices and how those choices impact the environment. It's easy-to-use, customizable, and the perfect way to generate excitement about Earth Day in your class! Give it a shot, and watch your classroom transform into a community!

Resource 7: Earth Day(or Christmas!) Endangered Animals Ugly Sweater:

Celebrate Earth Day or Christmas with this FUN, NO PREP endangered species activity! Your students will LOVE this Earth Day or Christmas Ugly Sweater for Endangered Animals. This resource includes 30 nonfiction reading comprehension passages and ugly sweater templates (what...? endangered animals wearing sweaters?!...how fun and adorable!) This is a conservation meets fashion activity!

What Will Students DO?

1. Read a 2-page, high-interest, nonfiction reading comprehension passage about an endangered or threatened animal
2. Design an ugly sweater using the knowledge gained from the reading passage, using symbols, patterns, and colors that represent the assigned animal
3. Decorate a unique and adorable ugly sweater for their assigned animal using the ugly sweater template for their animal
4. Students present their sweaters and share their knowledge with the class

What's Included:

• Teacher Instructions*
• Student Instructions*
• 30 Nonfiction reading comprehension passages about endangered and threatened animals
• 30 ADORABLE ugly sweater templates
• Rubric for easy grading
• Color and Black and White versions

*Three versions are included.:

• "Holiday"
• "Christmas"
• "Earth Day"

How will Students Benefit?

• Science Integration: Students will learn about endangered and threatened species
• Artistic Expression: Students will express their understanding through art, developing their creative skills
• Critical Thinking: This project promotes critical thinking as students decide how to best represent their species on a sweater

How can Teachers Use this Resource?

• Fun Earth Day or Christmas-themed science activity
• Earth Day or Christmas bulletin board decorations
• Sub Plans
• Extra Credit

Animals Included:

• Giant Panda
• Siberian Tiger
• African Forest Elephant
• Orangutan
• Snow Leopard
• Galapagos Penguin
• Green Sea Turtle
• Amur Leopard
• Sumatran Rhinoceros
• Blue Whale
• Mountain Gorilla
• California Condor
• Axolotl
• Kakapo
• Tasmanian Devil
• Yangtze Finless Porpoise
• Red Panda
• Bonobo
• Grevey’s Zebra
• Iberian Lynx
• Bengal Tiger
• Golden Lion Tamarin
• Ethiopian Wolf
• Spectacled Bear
• Komodo Dragon
• Proboscis Monkey
• Aye-Aye
• Malayan Tapir
• Stellar Sea Lion
• Black-Footed Ferret

Who is this resource for?

• Classroom Teachers
• Homeschool Parents
• Homeschool Co-op Teachers
• Christian School Teachers
• Enrichment Teachers
• Special Education Teachers

Resource 8: Earth Day Bulleting Board Letters:

The Earth Day Bulletin Board letters are perfect for jazzing up your Earth Day decorations in your classroom or hallways. Two styles are included: pendant letters and letter outlines. Options for printing include 1 bulletin board letter per page, or 2 bulletin board letters per page. This simple, yet fun design is suitable for any classroom space.

Six Files of Bulletin Board Letters are Included:

• Outline Letters - One per page
• Outline Letters - Two or three per page
• Outline Letters - Two per page, mixed-up letters for printing on multi-color paper
• Pendant Letters - One per page
• Pendant Letters - Two per page
• Pendant Letters - Two per page, mixed-up letters for printing on multi-color paper

Multiple Words and Phrases Included:

• Happy Earth Day
• Celebrate Earth Day
• Famous Quotes
• Famous Conservationists
• Conserve
• Conservation
• Reduce Reuse Recycle
• Celebrate Conservation
• PLUS: Many more options to make your own from the letters included*

*Note: Only the letters in the phrases above are included. This resource does not include all letters of the alphabet.

Resource 9: Water Conservation Activity:

This water conservation activity is the perfect tool to teach students about the importance of conserving our most precious resource: water. This interactive and engaging lesson plan is designed to provide a fun and memorable learning experience for students, using just water as a model to demonstrate how water is distributed throughout the earth.

This resource includes an activity that involves measuring out specific amounts of blue-colored water to represent the amount of water in various reservoirs, such as the ocean, groundwater, lakes, swamps, and rivers. This hands-on activity helps students visualize and understand the vast amounts of water present in each of these reservoirs, and how each one plays a critical role in sustaining life on earth.

This Earth Day Water Conservation Activity is perfect for educators, parents, and anyone who wants to teach children about the importance of water conservation. This resource is easy to use and can be adapted to fit a wide range of grade levels and learning styles. It includes step-by-step instructions, materials lists, follow up questions and extension activities to help ensure that students achieve a thorough understanding of the concepts covered.

This is an excellent activity for Earth Day - it will help students become informed and responsible stewards of the environment. They will learn how to conserve water in their daily lives, and understand the impact of their actions on the world around them.

What does this resource include?

• Materials list for each activity, so you can easily gather everything you need before you get started
• Background information for students to prepare them to understand the activity
• Easy preparation which will save you time
• Expected results for each activity so you don't have to do the activity ahead of time
• Student instructions as printable worksheets, with places for students to record responses as they work through the experiment. This is especially helpful for students that may lose their place if they need to flip to a separate lab report.
• Data recording sheets for the control group and the experimental groups

What will students do?

Students will measure blue-colored water in different amounts to represent water found in the ocean, ice, groundwater, lakes, swamps and rivers. Then, they will create bar graph to represent the distribution of water. A pie graph is also included.

Who is this resource for?

• Classroom Teachers
• Homeschool Parents
• Homeschool Co-op Teachers
• Christian School Teachers
• Enrichment Teachers
• Special Education Teachers

This product supports the following Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):

• 5-ESS2-1
• 5-LS1-1

Resource 10: Solid Waste Management Activity:

This resource includes three engaging activities that will take your students on a journey to become a more environmentally responsible citizen.

In the first activity, Students will embark on a research mission to identify local municipality programs that are dedicated to reducing waste through recycling, composting and waste reduction. This activity aims to build awareness and understanding of the programs available within your community that can help to promote a more sustainable lifestyle.

In the second activity, students will let get their creative juices flowing and produce a meme that inspires others to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost. This activity aims to encourage the development of creative thinking and communication skills to help promote positive environmental change.

In the third activity, students will conduct a personal trash audit to analyze the amount of waste you generate in a day. This activity aims to provide a clear picture of how much waste we generate and what we can do to reduce it.

By the end of these activities, students will be prepared for Earth Day with a deeper understanding of the importance of waste reduction, recycling and composting and the tools they need to make a positive impact on the environment.

What does this resource include?

• Materials list for each activity, so you can easily gather everything you need before you get started
• Background information for students to prepare them to understand the activity
• Easy preparation which will save you time
• Expected results for each activity so you don't have to do the activity ahead of time
• Student instructions as printable worksheets, with places for students to record responses as they work through the experiment. This is especially helpful for students that may lose their place if they need to flip to a separate lab report.
• Data recording sheets for the control group and the experimental groups

Who is this resource for?

• Classroom Teachers
• Homeschool Parents
• Homeschool Co-op Teachers
• Christian School Teachers
• Enrichment Teachers
• Special Education Teachers

This product supports the following Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):

• 5-ESS3-1

Resource 11: Earth's Spheres Activity:

With this experiment, students will investigate how the four spheres of the Earth - the hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere - interact with one another. Each experimental group will involve changing one sphere, while the other three remain constant. Students will observe how the plants grow in each terrarium over a period of several weeks and make comparisons to draw conclusions about the importance of each sphere.

This Earth Day Activity is a fun and engaging way to teach students about the interconnectedness of the Earth's systems and how changes to one sphere can have a significant impact on the entire ecosystem. Plus, it's a great hands-on way to get students excited about science and ecology, and it is a perfect experiment to kick off this year's Earth Day.

What does this resource include?

• Materials list for each activity, so you can easily gather everything you need before you get started
• Background information for students to prepare them to understand the activity
• Easy preparation which will save you time
• Expected results for each activity so you don't have to do the activity ahead of time
• Student instructions as printable worksheets, with places for students to record responses as they work through the experiment. This is especially helpful for students that may lose their place if they need to flip to a separate lab report.
• Data recording sheets for the control group and the experimental groups

What will students do?

Students will set up 4 mini terrariums, including a "normal" terrarium with soil, water and sunlight. This is the control group. The experimental groups include a terrarium without soil, a terrarium without water, and a terrarium without sunlight. Students will make observations and take measurements several times a week, and then use their data to compare how Earth's spheres are connected.

Who is this resource for?

Classroom Teachers

• Homeschool Parents
• Homeschool Co-op Teachers
• Christian School Teachers
• Enrichment Teachers
• Special Education Teachers

This product supports the following Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):

• 5-ESS2-2

Don't forget to FOLLOW ME - all new products are 50% off for the first 24 hours. You will get only notifications of new products by following me here.

Would you like FREE Science Resources? Head over to my website and sign up for my weekly newsletter, full of freebies, science tips and updates. EasyFunScience.com

Not finding what you are looking for? I am happy to take requests for the resources you are looking for. Simply go to the "Ask a Question" on my store page to contact me directly.

You can also find me on Instagram at Easy.Fun.Science