Materials
newspapers
mixing bowl
water
egg beater
measuring cups and spoons
2 tablespoons cornstarch
food coloring
flat pan
screen (to fit into flat pan)
Instructions
1. On Earth Day (April 22) or on any day, talk to the children about how they can
help the environment by practicing the three "Rs": reduce, reuse, and recycle.
2. Following is a list of possible activities to do with the children. Choose one to
do and decide when you will do the others.
* Start a compost pile for lunch leftovers and yard waste.
* Reuse clean soup cans to make pencil holders. Have the children cover a
can with paper or fabric and decorate with buttons, stickers, or beads.
* Plant a tree seedling, if possible. Give it lots of space.
* Use old newspaper and glue to make papier-mache gifts (vase, box, or
ornament).
* Ask parents and family members to reuse their plastic bags from the
supermarket for the month.
* Encourage the children's families to pack garbage-free lunches.
* Plant a garden or window box to attract helpful insects.
* Use both sides of sheets of paper for a whole day.
* Make bead necklaces from old glossy magazines. Cut colorful pages into
different-sized triangles. Roll the triangles tightly around a pencil one at a
time, wide side first. Put glue on the last corner and hold it tight until dry.
Pull the "bead" from the pencil. Make enough beads to make a necklace.
Thread beads onto a piece of wool and tie the ends together.
Assessment
Consider the following:
* Which activities do the children find most engaging? What do the children
enjoy most about those activities?
* Do the children understand the importance of caring for the Earth?
