World Earth day | KS1 | Ages 5-7

What is World Earth Day?

An illustration of the Earth, which is drawn showing Africa.

World Earth Day takes place every year on the 22nd April.

This event started in 1970 as a day for people to think about their actions and how they can affect the Earth.

On this day, people come together and create ideas to try to look after the Earth.

Each year, a new theme for the day is announced. In 2024, the theme is ‘Planet vs Plastics'.

What is happening to the climate?

Ways to protect the Earth

Our actions can affect the Earth.

As the Earth gives people food, air and water, many people try to find ways to take care of it and keep it safe for future generations.

There are lots of ways which we can help look after our world. Look at the slideshow below for some ideas.

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Donate to charity
By donating unwanted items to a charity shop these can be reused and enjoyed by other people.
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Recycle
We can recycle different things like paper, glass, cardboard and plastic. These materials can then be made into something new and reused.
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Save water
We can save water by turning off taps while brushing our teeth or after washing our hands. Rainwater can also be collected outside to water plants.
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Grow your own fruit and vegtables
Planing fruit, vegetables and herbs is a great way to grow fresh produce and cut down on plastic waste.

Activity: Make your own upcycled ukulele

Another great way to take care of the planet is by reusing materials and turning them into somethings else, as this cuts down on waste.

Follow these instructions to turn some old cardboard bits and pieces into a ukulele of your own!

Plastic and the environment

An illustration of a young girl pointing at three colourful blocks which say. reduce, reuse and recycle.

Plastic is really useful and people use it every day.

Plastic is very strong and so it can be used in lots of different things such as games, bottles and even clothes! However, this makes is really difficult to break down if it gets into the environment.

Plastic can end up on land and in the sea, which can be harmful to wildlife. Some animals may become caught in packaging or eat plastic.

To help reduce plastic waste, many people follow three steps to look after the Earth. These are to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic as much as possible.