Happy Earth Day

Earth Day is this Wednesday, April 22nd, and we are celebrating our beautiful Earth all week long! Join in the fun with these simple Earth Day activities!

Drawing the Earth
Art Hub for Kids is a website and YouTube channel with great directed drawing activities for kids of all ages. In honor of Earth Week, see if your little one can draw our planet!

If your artist needs a little bit more of a challenge, click on this directed drawing - Heart-Shaped Earth - or this one - Plant with a Folding Surprise.

Playing Recyclable Hopscotch
Using old cardboard boxes of any kind (cereal boxes, pizza boxes, etc.), cut out 10 large squares. Ask your child to write one number (1-10) on each square. If your child needs a little writing help, write the numbers with a pencil and ask him/her to trace with a marker or paint. Your child could also use markers or paint to decorate around the numbers! Once your squares are complete, arrange them in a hopscotch pattern inside (on a carpet so that they don’t slide around) or outside. Find a small rock or toy to serve as the token. The first player tosses the token onto a number. If, for example, the token lands on 2, the player hops to 1, skips 2, hops from 3-10, turns around, hops back, and picks up the token. For an extra challenge, try hopping while balancing something on your head! To practice number recognition, mix up the numbers and ask your child to say each number as he/she hops on it. To see a great example of this game, click on this link - Indoor Cardboard Hopscotch - from Jackie of the blog Happy Hooligans.

Reading The Earth Book with Todd Parr
At the Cottage, we love books written by Todd Parr! His stories have simple, heartfelt messages with bold, bright illustrations. In this video, the author himself reads his wonderful story The Earth Book.

At the end of this book, Todd provides a great list of ideas for protecting our planet. Using old pieces of cardboard or the backs of used papers, create signs with your child to post around your home. For example, make a sign that says “Save Water” to hang by the bathroom sink. You can write these words in pencil, and then, ask your child to trace the words with a marker and decorate the sign!

Planting with Recyclables and Feeding the Birds
If you have empty plastic water bottles or milk containers at home, use them to create planters! Cut the tops off of bottles and poke holes in the bottom for drainage. Tape over any sharp edges, and allow your child to decorate the container! Next, fill the container with dirt. Then, plant your seeds, give them water, and wait for them to grow! If your container is clear, you might even be able to watch the roots grow through the soil! For an example of this craft, click on this link - DIY Bottle Planter - from Cassie of the blog Hi Sugarplum!

In addition to making planters with recyclables, you can also make bird feeders! If you have any toilet paper or paper towel rolls around the house, use them to make bird feeders! First, punch two holes in the top of a roll. This is where you will attach a string. Next, help your child coat the roll in peanut butter. If you have a blunt or plastic knife, allowing your child to spread the peanut butter onto the roll can be great for strengthening fine motor skills! Then, spread birdseed on a flat surface and roll your toilet paper roll in the bird seed until it is covered. Attach your string (floss, fishing line, yarn, etc.), and hang it in a tree! Sit back and watch the bird show! For an example of this craft, click on this link - DIY Bird Feeders - from Sarah of the blog A Thrifty Mom.

Constructing Fairy Homes
This imaginative building activity is fun for boys and girls of all ages! Challenge your child to build a home for a fairy (or troll, gnome, mole, mouse, etc.). First, he/she needs to gather building material. This material can include acorns, leaves, sticks, bark, dirt, etc. Next, find a good spot for constructing your fairy home, then, build! Challenge your child to make walls and a roof for his/her fairy home. Get creative! Give your home a door, sidewalk, chimney, swimming pool, swing set, etc. For an extra challenge, ask every family member to create a home, and then, vote on your favorite! Siblings could even team up against parents to build a better home! For an example of this activity, click on this link - Fairy Homes - from Sharon of the blog Rediscovered Families.