Earth Day – At Home!
The members of National Green School Society were planning for a full day of on-campus activities for Earth Day, April 22. Now, with the current situation, we’ve decided to bring our plans home.
For hands-on activities, you could ride a bike or go for a walk. With school, I never had time to walk and really enjoy nature. I would squeeze in a quick run before school just to get outside, but I didn’t appreciate the space around me. Fortunately, with all this free time, I am able to walk every morning with my brother and mom. Walking is not the only outdoor hobby you can enjoy. My sister, Isabella, went on a planting spree after only a week of being home. Now we watch as the peonies slowly blossom and as the cherry tomatoes are finally forming fruit. Especially this Wednesday, I strongly encourage everyone to get outside and maybe even pick a new hobby.
There are thousands of environmental arts-and-craft ideas that are quick and easy at home. Pine cone bird feeders are super simple. All you need is a pine cone from your yard, string, peanut butter, and nuts and seeds. First, attach the string to the wide end of the pine cone. Then, lather it in peanut butter and roll it in the seeds. Lay it out to dry and then hang it on a low-hanging branch. You can now easily watch as birds and squirrels will munch on your project! Earth Day lava lamps are also another fun experiment and everything you need is right in your kitchen. Grab a glass jar or cup and fill it 2/3rds of the way with cooking oil (any kind will do). Next, add water until it is full. Squeeze in three to four drops of green or blue food coloring to your jar. Finally, add one Alka Seltzer tablet and watch what happens!
Documents and movies are also a family-friendly activity. “Our Planet” on Netflix is one of my personal favorites because of how absolutely breathtaking and interesting it is. The Biggest Little Farm is also another favorite. I suggest animal lovers watch it because it is filled with cute baby animals! It’s on Hulu and had my whole family in awe of the story of a young couple and their quest to build a sustainable farm. Classic movies like Jungle Book, Lion King, and Tarzan that are centered around nature are great for Earth Day, too.
Even though this Earth Day is not going to be like we expected, we are still able to make the best of it! These activities will still bring us all together, even if it’s not in a classroom.