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Thank You, Earth

Thank You, Earth

Students can express their appreciation for our planet by creating a drawing that celebrates Earth.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    We all have one planet to call home, and it supplies the resources that support all life. Have students think of reasons to express appreciation for Earth. For example, it provides our food and nutrients, it supports our health and well-being, its beauty inspires our creativity, it provides shelter for wildlife, etc. Have a discussion about why it's important to learn how to care for the Earth and protect its many ecosystems.

  • Step 2

    Ask students to create a piece of art that shows the beauty of our Earth. They can use either markers or crayons to create a background and add images that remind them to appreciate planet Earth in the foreground. Older students could write a brief paragraph about why they're thankful for the image they depicted in the scene. Younger students could narrate their thoughts while a scribe writes for them.

  • Step 3

    Display the art on a bulletin board as a reminder to take care of our planet.

Standards

SCI: Use evidence to support the concept that behaviors can be influenced by the environment and the environment is impacted by behavior. 

SS: People, Places, and Environments: Understand various perspectives and examine changes in relationships between peoples, places, and environments.  

Adaptations

Read a book such as "We Are Water Protectors" (a Caldecott Medal winner) by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade, which honors Indigenous-led movements that call for safeguarding the Earth's water, or "Earth Day Fun Facts" by Marie Petry and Jessica Ra Publishing. Have a discussion about ways to protect our planet.

Have students learn about the origin of Earth Day, an annual event to show support for environmental protection across the world that began in 1970. Ask students to design and create a poster to promote Earth Day.