20 THINGS KIDS CAN DO TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT
20 THINGS KIDS CAN DO TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT
1. RECYCLE.
Create and label recycling bins with your kids at home, so that the process is easier for everyone.
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2. PICK UP TRASH.
Go on a ‘green team walk’ with your kids and bring along some gloves and a bag. Kids will enjoy feeling the impact that they have on the earth as they help clean up their own neighborhood or street.
3. SORT THE GARBAGE.
Many items that are often put in the garbage are compostable. Composting allows food to decompose naturally into fertile soil.
4. PLANT A GARDEN.
Growing your own organic food helps save on the
distance food has to travel to get to you.
5. MAKE LAUNDRY PRODUCTS AT HOME.
1 Gallon Homemade Borax-Free Laundry Detergent TOTAL TIME 10 minutes
Ingredients
• 14 cups very hot water, divided
• 1 cup baking soda, divided
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 cup unscented liquid castile soap
• 30 drops lavender essential oil, optional, for scent
• Gallon-sized jug
Instructions
To Make:
1.In a large glass measuring cup or bowl, combine 7 cups of the hot water with half the baking soda (1/2 cup) and half the salt (1/4 cup). Stir well until completely dissolved. The mixture will start out cloudy and fizzy, but when it’s completely dissolved, it should be mostly clear. Pour the mixture into a gallon-sized jug.
2. Repeat step one with the remaining water, baking soda, and salt, and then add the mixture to the gallon-sized jug.
3. Add in the liquid castile soap and essential oil, if using. Swirl gently, close, and label.
To Use:
• Shake the container to mix ingredients, then either pour 1/2 cup (you can use more if it’s a particularly dirty or large load) of the solution into the washer while it fills, or place it in the soap cup provided in your washing machine.
• This recipe has NOT been tested with a front-loading high-efficiency washer. I use it in my top-loading HE washer just fine though.
Notes
• We break up the baking soda addition mostly because people don’t usually have a 16 cup measuring cup! It also seems to help get the baking soda to dissolve properly. This recipe uses almost the max amount of baking soda density that can dissolve in water, so make sure not to add more baking soda or use less water.
• If you are having trouble dissolving the baking soda, heat the water, salt, and baking soda in a large pot over medium heat until completely dissolved.
© Cassie Johnston
6. REUSE ITEMS FOR CRAFTS.
The recycling bin is a great place to turn for craft inspiration!
7. MAKE HOMEMADE ART ITEMS.
MAKE YOUR OWN GLITTER GLUE
• Clear hair gel.
• Glitter.
• Liquid watercolors or food coloring.
Squeeze some hair gel into three little applesauce cups
then added glitter in three paint colors of your choice.
8. PLAY OUTSIDE!
This simple activity goes a long way in teaching sustainability. Sharing in and appreciating a love of the outdoors will inspire kids to care for the earth.
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9. COLLECT RAIN WATER.
Kids can water plants or fill up a water table with rain water that has been collected outside.
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10. MAKE HOMEMADE INSTRUMENTS.
Recycle your Easter Eggs into Maracas
• Rice
• Plastic Spoons
• Plastic Easter Eggs
1. Pour rice into some empty plastic Easter eggs, close it up.
2. Put the head of two plastic spoons on either side of the egg.
3. Wrap some colorful tape around it.
4. Tape the bottom of the spoon handles together with tape.
11. MAKE YOUR OWN PAPER.
Kids can use recycled paper scraps to make new paper!
12. MAKE A COMPOST BOTTLE.
Here is a great hands-on activity to help kids see the process of
compostable material breaking down in the soil.
13. READ BOOKS ABOUT THE EARTH.
1. “URBAN ROOSTS: WHERE BIRDS NEST IN THE CITY“ By Barbara Bash and Sierra Club Books
This book is great for expanding the concept of nature for many children. After all, for children living in cities, nature is not always rolling meadows, grassy backyards and trees aplenty. “Urban Roosts: Where Birds Nest in the City” shows the resilience of nature through birds making homes in concrete jungles after being shooed out of their natural habitats. Parents can read this book aloud to very young kids; older children may enjoy reading it themselves.
2. “WESTLANDIA“ By Paul Fleischman and Kevin Hawkes
Hello imagination! Wesley finds a new civilization during his summer and discovers a new way of living that intrigues even the mean kids. This book is recommended for ages 4 to 9.
3. “JUST A DREAM“ By Chris Van Allsburg
Walter is a boy who scoffs at a neighbor delighting in a new tree, and that may be the least of his misdeeds. His outlook changes after he has a dream (or is it a dream?) about the ways in which humans are hurting the planet. This book is recommended for children in grades 2 to 5.
4. “ON MEADOWVIEW STREET“ By Henry Cole
This book features a female protagonist. Caroline is a girl who shows that even small efforts can lead to big differences for one living thing and that a little chaos can be fun. The book is geared toward ages 4 to 8.
5. “WANGARI’S TREES OF PEACE: A TRUE STORY FROM AFRICA“ By Jeanette Winter
This story of a young woman who works to bring trees back is based on true events. Children in the United States and other English-speaking countries should enjoy learning more about Kenya and understand just how much of a global issue environmental awareness is.
6. “THE LORAX” by Dr. Seuss
7. “THE WATCHER: JANE GOODALL’S LIFE WITH THE CHIMPS” by Jeanette Winter
8. “AND THEN IT’S SPRING” by Julia Fogliano and Erin E. Steads
9. “FAREWELL TO SHADY GLADE” by Bill Peet
10. “NOT YOUR TYPICAL BOOK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT” by Elin Kelsey
14. MAKE AN AIR POLLUTION SCIENCE EXPERIMENT.
Dirty Air by Alexa Bach McElrone
When we look around, we do not typically see ‘air’ so it is easy to assume that our air is clean. In reality, our atmosphere is made up of mostly invisible gases. Additionally, most air pollutants are invisible as well. Some particles are so small that we do not usually see them floating by while others are gases without color. Given this, how do we know if the air we breathe is clean or polluted? Scientists use complex sensors to detect the presence and quantity of specific gases in the air. In this experiment, we will make a sensor to detect particulate matter in our air – any objects floating through on the wind.
Materials:
• A piece of white or clear plastic (salad plate size)
• Petroleum jelly
• Duct tape
• A wood block or brick
• Blank white paper
Experimental Procedure:
1. Coat the top of the white or clear plastic with petroleum jelly.
2. Secure the plastic to a wood block, brick, or other weighted object using duct tape.
3. Identify an outdoor location that is mostly open with decent air circulation (on a fence is preferable to on the ground). (Tip: Take a photograph to include in your presentation.)
4. Let the plastic/block sit for at least 24 hours (weather permitting).
5. At the end of your experimental time, collect the plastic/block and bring it inside. If you are using a clear piece of plastic, place it on a white piece of paper or light-colored surface.
6. Examine the top of the plastic for any particles collected. (Tip: Take a photograph to include in your presentation.) Make a list of these particles.
7. OPTIONAL: Create two air pollution sensors and place them in different locations – at home/at school, indoor/outdoor. Then compare the pollution collected by each.
References: Clean Air Kids:
15. PLANT A TREE.
If you don’t have the space for a large tree, planting even a small
tree in your backyard is one of the best things you can do for the
environment.
16. MAKE A WORM FARM.
University of Illinois Extension
Can't Live Without Me
I'll bet you think that the earthworm is only good for fishbait. Well, think again. The earthworm is one of nature's top "soil scientists." The earthworm is responsible for a lot of the things that help make our soil good enough to grow healthy plants and provide us food.
Worms help water flow through the soil.Worms help to increase the amount of air and water that gets into the soil. They break down organic matter, like leaves and grass into things that plants can use. When they eat, they leave behind castings that are a very valuable type of fertilizer.
Earthworms are like free farm help. They help to "turn" the soil—bringing down organic matter from the top and mixing it with the soil below. Another interesting job that the worm has is that of making fertilizer. If there are 500,000 worms living in an acre of soil, they could make 50 tons of castings. That's like lining up 100,000 one pound coffee cans filled with castings. These same 500,000 worms burrowing into an acre of soil can create a drainage system equal to 2,000 feet of 6-inch pipe. Pretty amazing for just a little old worm, don't you think?
Having worms around in your garden is a real good sign that you have a healthy soil.
17. MAKE YOUR OWN CLOTH NAPKINS.
This is such a simple way to cut down on waste and help the environment. Bonus: for older kids, this could be a great beginner sewing project!
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18. MAKE PAPER BEADS.
You will need:
• Paper
• Rubber stamps, inks, embossing powders, glitter glue,
• Scissors
• Craft adhesive, any adhesive suitable for the paper will work well
• Thin knitting needle or cocktail sticks
• Diluted PVA glue to seal the beads (optional)
1. Stamp and Decorate the Paper: Stamp and decorate the unprinted side of the paper. This way the printed lines will not show. A rubber stamp with a detailed and intricate design will work well. Repeatedly stamp the rubber stamp over the page to build up a dense design. Cut the bead shapes from the paper template. Tip: Ink the edges of the paper. This will emphasize the design of the bead and give a more "finished" effect.
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2. Roll the Paper: Glue the back of the paper and carefully roll the bead. We use a thin knitting needle to roll the bead around. This helps to give a consistent result. Cocktail sticks or other thin and round implements would work equally well.
3. Seal the Paper Beads and Finish: Make sure the end of the paper is firmly attached, add an extra dab of glue if required. Leave the beads to one side to dry. You can seal your paper beads with a coat of diluted PVA glue. This adds strength and gives the paper beads a slight gloss. They could also be finished with a coat of clear varnish, embossed with embossing powders or even coated in resin. Other ideas for sealing the finished beads include coating the beads in melted UTEE or adding a coat of nail varnish.
19. MAKE SOME SEED PAPER.
Small seeds are best for plantable paper, particularly if you plan to write on it. Flower seeds, a wildflower mix, or even herbs and vegetables will all work just fine.
Supplies Required to Make Seed Paper:
• Paper, to make paper pulp
• Water
• Seeds
• Mixing bowl and blender
• Towels or cloths
• Cookie cutters to make tag shapes, if desired
• A piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper
This is a messy and wet process; therefore, it is best to work on a well-protected work surface. Summer is ideal for making paper using this technique as the hot weather helps the paper dry quickly.
1. Make Paper Pulp: Tear the paper into small pieces and place it into the jar of the blender. Add twice as much water as paper––for example, if the paper reaches the one cup mark on the blender, add two cups of water. Blend the paper into a pulp, then transfer it to the mixing bowl. Squeeze the water from the pulp; all lumps should be removed at this stage and the paper pulp should be well-mixed.
2. Add a handful of seeds to the paper pulp: The number of seeds required will depend on the type of seeds used and the finished effect you are looking for. Mix the seeds well using your hands or a spoon. Do not use the blender or you will damage the seeds.
3. Press the Paper Pulp Into Shape: If you are using cookie cutters as molds to make plantable seed gift tags, place them onto a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper and press the paper pulp firmly inside for even coverage. If you are not using a cookie cutter as a mold, press the paper into the desired shape. Do not make the paper too thick, as this will take longer to dry. Use a towel to press as much water as possible from the pulp.
4. Leave to Dry and Finish as Desired: Drying the seed paper quickly is essential, otherwise, the seeds will start to sprout. Place the seed paper in a warm but not hot environment and ensure that air can circulate around it. Blowing the seed paper with a hairdryer on the cool setting will also help the paper to dry. Use rubber stamps to press the surface of the wet seed paper pulp before leaving it to dry. This can give an interesting texture to the paper and create an attractive finishing touch.
When the seed paper is thoroughly dry it can be finished as required. Decorate the gift tag with a rubber stamp or two for an attractive finishing touch. Attach the gift tag with a ribbon or string.
20. MAKE A MINI GREENHOUSE.
Start your organic garden indoors with these great mini greenhouses (and don’t forget to recycle the cup when done!)
You Will Need:
o Colored plastic solo cups
o Clear plastic cups that are smaller or larger than colored cup
o A push pin
o Potting soil
o Seeds
o Water
Instructions:
1. Use the push pin to poke several holes in the bottom of your colored cup. This will allow for some drainage, should your plants be over watered.
2. Fill your cup nearly to the top with potting soil and pat it down gently.
3. Carefully place your seeds in your soil-filled cup, making sure to leave some space between each one. You can plant as few or as many as you like, but we usually use 3 - 5 seeds per greenhouse.
4. Cover your seeds with an additional scoop of soil and once again, pat it down gently.
5. Give your seeds some water.
5. Place your clear cup over your solid colored cup to form a greenhouse. This will lock in the moisture and warmth, allowing your seeds to germinate quickly, while still allowing you to see what’s going on inside. Place your greenhouses on a tray and put them near a window that will get lots of light.
6. Now all that’s left to do is to keep a close eye on your greenhouses! Add a little water every day or two and it won’t be long before you see some little sprouts popping up. Good luck!
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