In celebration of Earth Month and Earth Day (April 22nd), we’ve created an Eco Challenge for kids to become Earth Protectors!
While this can be an any-time-of-year activity, Earth Day gives a great chance to celebrate the Earth and rethink how we can be kinder to it.
Our free complete kit will help you easily get this started, whether it’s in the classroom or at home. It’s all in this post and includes:
- a short (5-minute) video to get kids inspired to take the challenge
- a bingo card for kids to tally & mark off eco-friendly actions as they go
- completion certificate in both full color and coloring sheet formats
- helpful tips for how it works & ideas for rewards
It’s a simple and fun way to encourage kids to take small eco-friendly actions that can make a big difference! It can be used in the elementary, primary, homeschool, and pre-K classroom and at home too of course.
Scroll down for the how-to and all the materials below and have fun!
9 Ways to Be Eco-friendly Video:
You’ll see some of the illustrations from our children’s books in the video. To check out our collection, swim over to our author page on Amazon here.
Printable Downloads:
In case you want a text list, here are the 9 eco-friendly actions listed in the video & bingo card:
- Turn off the water when brushing your teeth.
- Recycle plastic, class, cans, and paper. Or upcycle them!
- Going outside? Use reef-friendly sunscreen.
- Use a reusable drink container instead of one that’s used only once.
- Pack food in reusable containers.
- Ask your family to bring reusable bags for shopping.
- Eat seafood? Ask your family to look for sustainable seafood or swap with an Earth-friendly protein.
- Turn off the lights every time you leave a room.
- Enjoy a walk in nature and along the way, safely pick up litter with the help of a grownup.
(Heads up: the video explains how these actions help the Earth.)
How It Works:
- Print (or download & mark it digitally) the Earth Protector Eco-Challenge Bingo Card (above)
- Show kids the Earth Protectors Eco-Challenge Video & get them excited about the challenge
- Decide the number of each action needed to mark off the square. Since the goal of the challenge is to make these actions habits, you may want to have kids tally the actions so that when they get, say 3, they can mark off the square.
- Decide the level of reward. If your kiddos need smaller chunks of success, when they get 3 squares in a row/column/diagonal, they get a reward (see below for some ideas). If not, they’ll be aiming directly for the certificate by getting all 9 squares completed.
- Encourage your kids throughout the challenge as they learn to incorporate new eco-friendly actions. Check in with them to see how they’re doing with the challenge, and celebrate their success and also for doing more than what’s on the challenge!
- Celebrate when they’ve completed the challenge: download the completion certificate (either full color or coloring sheet), and display proudly! This challenge is meant to have them continue the actions, so make a big deal about them continuing to be Earth Protectors even after the bingo card is complete.
- Keep going. We encourage kids to pursue additional ways to help the environment, as there are many more!
Optional Rewards:
For a little extra motivation along the way and break it up into smaller segments for your little ones, the bingo card can be used in true bingo form (a complete column, row, or diagonal). You can offer rewards for each completed bingo, like:
- playing their favorite game (whether it’s sports, a card or board game, or on the screen)
- time with a fidget toy, spinner, slime, etc. (maybe even one that’s eco-friendly/upcycled)
- making a sensory bottle with items you have around the house instead of buying a new toy (here are 7 ideas for ocean-themed sensory bottles)
- painting, a craft or other art project (a great way to upcycle by using materials that would end up in the trash!)
- discovering ocean animals with our Ocean Telescope Activity
- sensory table time
- listening to music and dancing
- reading a book together (check out our ocean-themed books on Amazon)
- screen time
- other special activity your child or children love to do
If your kids are at a level where they can complete the 9 strategies without breaking it into smaller goals, you can head straight to the certificate as their reward.
We hope this makes a splash and that you have fun encouraging your little ones to become Earth Protectors! Stay tuned for more challenges coming soon (subscribe to our YouTube channel).
Know a teacher, parent, or other grown-up who might want to challenge their kids to be more eco-friendly? Send them this post, pin on Pinterest, and share on social media!
Live porpoisefully,
Eve & Rett (Everett) Taylor
Disclaimer: All activities on this blog are intended to be performed with adult supervision. Appropriate and reasonable caution should be used when activities call for the use of materials that could potentially be harmful, such as scissors, or items that could present a choking risk (small items), or a drowning risk (water activities), and with introducing a new food/ingredient to a child (allergies). Observe caution and safety at all times. The author and blog disclaim liability for any damage, mishap, or injury that may occur from engaging in any of these activities on this blog.