Kids love exploring the world around them, and Earth Day offers a great way to introduce them to environmental science and engineering. The following sampler includes activities, lessons, and resources ranging from starting a school-wide energy audit to “green” buildings, the science behind solar ovens, and sustainable design.

Engineering, Go For It Past Lessons:

• Landfills and contamination
• Build a Solar Still
• Map the Green Space
• Life After Trash
• Trash Talkin’
• Oil Spill Solutions
• The Energy of Decay
• Green Roof Design

Green Education Foundation’s Top 10 Earth Day Projects. How to start a school garden, “green team” activities, and more! Includes a link to lessonopoly’s science of solar ovens and other sustainability projects.

HowToSmile.org’s environmental science activities for various age groups.

Earth Day-related articles and video from our eGfi blogs:

Earth Day teachers’ newsletter (April 3, 2010)

From our eGfi Students’ blog:

• Houses Could be Powered by Artificial Leaves (green design)
• Energy-generating Waterfall Proposed for 2016 Olympics (waterfall in Rio)
• Sustainability Workshop from Autodesk (video series)

Filed under: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans, Web Resources

Tags: Class Activities, Curriculum, Environmental Engineering, Environmental science, Internet Resources, Lesson Plan, Lesson Plans, Resources for Teachers, Teacher Resources, Videos, Web Resources