Earth Day is April 22nd! Just because you have to use the car to run errands on Earth Day doesn’t mean you can’t teach responsible stewardship of the Earth and environment. Here are some ideas that will help…
Carschool Maintenance
Before you get on the road, make sure your car is well maintained for optimum gas mileage. Show your children how to check the car fluid levels and replenish water, oil, windshield wiper fluid, etc. Make sure the air filters are clean. Check the air pressure in the tires. All of these things make your car run more efficiently with less impact on the environment.
Batch Your Errands
Batch your errands to cut down on your mileage. Plan your route to cover the least amount of distance. If the post office, bank, and grocery store are in the same vicinity, do those errands together. Then, head across town to the library and the cleaners. Just a little advance planning can cut down on back-and-forth drive time and limit car emissions.
Take an Eco-Friendlier Route
Try not to travel during commute times. Stay away from roads that are heavily traveled to avoid getting stuck in traffic jams with the car engine idling. When you do travel on the freeway go the recommended speed limit of 55 MPH.
Play “I Spy Flora & Fauna”
Challenge the kids to identify flora and fauna you see along the road. Point to trees, flowers, birds, and animals and say, “I spy a tree – what kind is it?” or “I spy a bird – what kind is it?” Have an older carscholar look it up in a field guide and read the description to everyone.
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Make Your Own Earth Day Activity Book!
Eco-Friendly Carschooling Tips
Print out the activity pages at the following websites, put them in a binder, and include a pencil and markers for an educational and entertaining way to pass the time on the road.
*EPA Earth Day Activity Pages – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers free printable coloring pages, a word search, a word scramble puzzle, and some environmental tips and facts for children ages 8 and up.
*DLTK’s Earth Day Activity Pages – Print out a description and history of Earth Day along with coloring pages, games, poems and songs, word search puzzle, mazes, math worksheets for K-5, Sodoku, word scrambles, and more.
*Space.com’s 101 Amazing Earth Facts – Print out these fascinating fact sheets and put them in your activity book. Read the facts aloud in the car and discuss them. Then quiz each other!
*Earth Day Coloring Pages – Get a variety of free printable Earth Day coloring pages.
*MyVocabulary.com offers a variety of printable language arts activity pages (for grades 4-10) including word searches, crossword puzzles, and quizzes with Earth Day themed vocabulary.
*Dr. Seuss’ Earth Friendly Lorax Project – Get classroom lesson ideas and activities for Earth Day themed around Dr. Seuss’ ever-popular book, The Lorax. If you have internet access play the Lorax’s “Save The Trees” game online too.
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More Resources To Further Learning…
EPA’s Earth Day Website – Sign up to receive a free “green” tip every day delivered to your email inbox.
Nature Conservancy – Get an Earth Day “To Do” list and watch the live feed from the Bald Eagle Cam – with two chicks!
Scorecard! – This pollution information site allows you to input your zip code and find out who is polluting in your community, what pollutants do the most harm, and where the worst pollution is located near you. Compare your community or state to others. Search by company, location, or chemical. Note: Some of the information here may be frightening. Parents, as always, should preview this content to determine suitability.
If you like these games and resources, you’ll love the new edition of my book, Carschooling. Order your autographed copy now at www.Carschooling.com!
Diane Flynn Keith
Author of Carschooling
P.S. Here are a two more links to budget-friendly Earth Day activities.