Earth Day STEM Activities for the Classroom

Looking for hands-on ways to celebrate Earth Day with your students? This blog is packed with engaging STEM activities that make environmental learning meaningful—and fun! Each day features a different story to spark curiosity, plus creative projects that get kids thinking critically and solving real-world problems. Whether you’re building solar ovens or turning recycled materials into treasure, these ideas will help you inspire eco-conscious thinking and outside-the-box creativity—all while reinforcing important science concepts.

Content

Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel
Why Should I Save Water? by Jen Green
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba (Young Readers Edition)
The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
Earth Day Every Day by Lisa Bullard

🌱 Monday – Reduce & Reuse

Book: Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel

STEM Tie-In: Recycling processes, sustainability, engineering design

Activity Idea: Trash to Treasure Maker Challenge

Within the classroom makerspace, set out clean recyclables—cardboard tubes, bottle caps, egg cartons, etc. Kids can work individually or in teams to create something functional (like a pencil holder or bird feeder) or artistic (a sculpture or mosaic).

🔍 Extensions:

Introduce the engineering design process: Ask kids to plan, build, test, and present their creation.
Add a “materials cost” system (e.g., bottle caps = 1 point) and challenge them to stay under a budget!
Discuss why items are recyclable and why some aren’t.

Duration: 8:03 minutes

Link: Michael Recycle Read Aloud | Kids Books | Read Along Read Along by ReadaRoo Kids

💧 Tuesday – Water & Conservation

Book: Why Should I Save Water? by Jen Green

STEM Tie-In: Water cycles, filtration

Activity Idea: DIY Water Filtration Experiment

Use clear cups or bottles cut in half to layer gravel, sand, activated charcoal, and a coffee filter or fabric. Have students pour “dirty water” (with bits of leaves, dirt, and food coloring) through their filters and observe how clean the water becomes.

🔍 Extensions:

Compare different filter setups to see which one works best.
Discuss how different communities around the world access water.
Brainstorm ways to conserve water at home and school.

Children play with water and hoses in a yard. The book cover reads "Why Should I Save Water?" Bright, colorful illustration with a playful mood.

Duration: 2:58 minutes

Link: WHY SHOULD I SAVE WATER

Read Along by Megan Norris

🌞 Wednesday – Solar Power

Book: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba (Young Readers Edition)

STEM Tie-In: Renewable energy, solar ovens, thermodynamics

Activity Idea: Solar Oven S’mores

Use a pizza box, foil, plastic wrap, and black construction paper to construct a solar oven. Test it by trying to melt marshmallows and chocolate on graham crackers to make s'mores! Measure how long it takes and use a thermometer to measure how warm it gets inside.

🔍 Extensions:

Introduce a thermometer to track temperature changes.
Compare results on sunny vs. cloudy days (or use a lamp indoors).
Research other ways solar power is used around the world, especially in places with limited electricity access.

A African American boy looks at a windmill. The book cover reads "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind".

Duration: 6:45 minutes

Link: The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

Read Along by Ms. Hertz-Newman's Library Read Alouds

🌳 Thursday – Trees & Biodiversity

Book: The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry

STEM Tie-In: Ecosystems, biodiversity, plant science

Activity Idea: Rainforest Food Web & Leaf Scavenger Hunt

Create a rainforest food web using string and paper animal cutouts—connect predator/prey and plant/animal relationships.

🔍 Extensions:

Take students outside the classroom and let students classify leaves using shape and margin types (serrated, lobed, etc.).

Book cover: "The Great Kapok Tree" by Lynne Cherry. Features vibrant rainforest scene with animals and a man, lush greenery, and colorful birds.

Duration: 6:43 minutes

Link: THE GREAT KAPOK TREE 🌳 | STORYTIME FOR KIDS 📚 | READ ALOUD FOR KIDS 📚

Read Along by Storytime with Miss Crystal

🌍 Friday – Earth Day Celebration

Book: Earth Day Every Day by Lisa Bullard

STEM Tie-In: Green engineering, sustainable habits, advocacy

Activity Idea: Green Invention Lab + Earth Day Pledges

Ask students: What invention would you create to help the Earth? They can sketch or build models with recyclables. Then have each child write or draw their Earth Day Pledge—a habit they’ll commit to. Hang them up as a pledge wall or turn them into a class book!

🔍 Extensions:

Create a classroom “Eco-Hero” badge to award when students practice green habits.
Host a mini science fair or showcase for their inventions.
Organize a school-wide cleanup.