23 Earth Day 2023 Ideas
God made all our kids differently. Smart in different ways! Different things interest them and help them learn. (Words, art, logic, body, nature, music, people, pictures, and food to name a few!) Look through the list below, and find something that excites them. Do it today to show God that we care for His creation!
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” –Genesis 1:1
- E-A-R-T-H D-A-Y (Word Smart Kids):
Write an acronym for the letters in EARTH DAY. It could be things God made, conservation ideas, or anything in the whole earth! Talk about who made the earth and all the things in it!
Read Acts 17:24. "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.” - “SWORD” SIGN (Word Smart Kids):
Find a Bible verse for Earth Day and write it on a piece of paper. Put it up (decorate it if you want) and read it each time you pass it!
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit” Hebrews 4:12a
“…the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Ephesians 6:17b
(Hints: Look for verses on this page or do a web search for “Earth Day Bible verses”) - DIRTY DUST (Nature Smart Kids):
Get outdoors, and get your hands dirty! Do some landscaping! Pull some weeds, plant a new plant, make a mudpie…mmmm, yummm.
Read Genesis 2:7 “Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
God made man…what can you make? Additional Fun Kids Gardening Ideas: https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/9491/how-to-garden-with-kids/ - SQUIRMY WORMS (Nature Smart & Body Smart):
Check out these fun facts about worms. https://letopusa.wordpress.com/2012/06/13/worms-and-fun-facts-for-kids/
Now head outdoors and hunt for a worm…or 2! Did you know worms are mentioned over 20 times in the Bible! Read Jonah 4 to find out how a worm served the Lord. - CRAZY CREATIVE BIRD FEEDER (Art Smart Kids):
Make a bird feeder using a recycled milk carton, water bottle, mason jar, orange peel, 2 liter soda bottle, pinecone, toilet paper roll, or even legos! (Google any of those for directions)
Read Luke 12:24. “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” - MISSION EXPLORE (Nature Smart Kids & Logic Smart Kids):
Grab your eyeballs and head outdoors. (If you have a magnifying glass, take it too)
Find each of these things God created, then get down and take a close look at them. As you complete each mission, read the Bible verse that goes along with it.
- Find 10 ants. Read Proverbs 6:6-8. “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise. It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” How is the ant wise/smart? How can we be wise right now?
- Closely examine 2 different types of weeds. What makes them different? Why do we have weeds? Read Genesis 3:17-18. To Adam He [God] said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. What are they good for? Read Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 vs.40 “Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.”
- Locate a bird. Try to do what it’s doing. Luke 12:24. “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!”
- Look at the sky. Find a cloud in the shape of something else God’s created. Read Psalm 19:1. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” How does the sky “declare” something?
- Get dust on your finger. Read Genesis 2:7 “Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” Read Psalm 103:13-14 “As a father shows compassion to His children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”
- SUNRISE SHOW (Picture Smart Kids):
Watch the sunrise together! (6:24AM) or sunset (7:52PM) If you’ve never intentionally watched the sunrise with your child, I highly recommend it. Read these verses together and talk about them! Which is your favorite and why?
Psalm 113:3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Genesis 1:3-5 “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
Luke 1:78-79 Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” - MASTER OF EARTH – DAY (Logic Smart Kids):
Ponder this verse. “This is what the Lord says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for Me? Where will My resting place be? Has not My hand made all these things, and so they came into being?’ declares the Lord. ‘These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at My Word.’” Isaiah 66:1-3
Now read it 2 more times, and ask yourself these questions:
What does it say about God?
What does it say about me?
What am I going to do about it? - BLOW YOUR BRAIN LIST (Logic Smart Kids & Word Smart Kids):
Read Job 38. Make a list of all the things God says He did or does. Now answer these 3 questions:
What does it say about God?
What does it say about me?
What am I going to do about it? - SHHH…LISTEN (Music Smart Kids):
Listen to “How Great Thou Art” by your favorite artist or check out Lauren Daigle, Home Free, Anthem Lights, or Pentatonix featuring Jennifer Hudson*. Listen to the words…then sit quietly and listen to what God has to say. Tell Him how great He is.
Read 1 Chronicles 29:11. “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.” *my favorite
- WORK IT OUT (Body Smart Kids):
Get active and do your favorite thing to work out. (Bike, walk, jog, dance, etc.) If you’re outdoors, appreciate His creation along the way. If you’re indoors, think of one thing God created in you that you can thank Him for.
Read these 3 verses. Which is your favorite and why?
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” - Psalm 73:26
“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” - Psalm 139:13-14
Last question: Can exercise be an act of worship? Check out this article and see what you think. https://soveryblessed.com/make-exercise-act-worship/ Bible verses on exercise https://soveryblessed.com/8-bible-verses-exercise/ - FACE IT, WE NEED EACH OTHER (People Smart Kids):
Facetime or call someone to encourage them! “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Use teamwork to figure out how you can make a difference or show extra special care during this Stay-at-Home time. “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1
Write thank you notes to a nurse, teacher, grocery store worker, public transportation worker, or other essential workers you may know during this time
Post thank-yous to essential workers online. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:35
(See also: 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Colossians 3:13, Galatians 6:2, 1 Peter 4:8-11, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) - PRAISE ROCKS! (Art Smart Kids & Nature Smart Kids):
Get a rock you can paint or decorate. Read the verses below.
“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” – Psalm 95:1
“As He [Jesus] was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of His disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’ And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.’” – Luke 19:37-40
If your rock could cry out, what words do you think it would use to praise God? Write a word or phrase on the rock praising God and decorate it. Put it somewhere to remind you to praise God so the rocks don’t cry out in your place! - LEAF PRINTING (Art Smart & Nature Smart Kids)
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever.
Make an leaf print and talk about the intricacies of God’s creation! https://artfulparent.com/printing-leaves-on-fabric/ - TIN CAN DRUMS (Music Smart Kids & Art Smart Kids):
Follow the link below to make cool recycled drums!
Psalm 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
https://handsonaswegrow.com/music-art-tin-can-drums/ - UPCYCLED CANDLE JARS (Art Smart Kids):
Follow the link below to create an upcycled light! Read these verses about light; you can even include one in your artwork if you’d like!
https://tinkerlab.com/baby-food-candle-jar/
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”
Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. - DRAWING SHADOWS (Art Smart Kids & Logic Smart Kids):
Click on the link below to see how to trace your child’s shadow with chalk outside. Read and talk about James 1:17.
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
https://tinkerlab.com/drawing-shadows/
(FOR OLDER KIDS) How big was Goliath compared to your child? Draw their shadow, and mark out Goliath’s size (approx. 9ft 9in). Read 1 Samuel 17. - CALCULATE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT (Logic Smart Kids):
Click on the link below to help you calculate your carbon footprint. Then come up with ideas to show God we care for His creation.
Read Psalm 145:9. “The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.” https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/carbon-footprint-calculator/ - FOR LITTLES: ANIMAL PARTY!
Gather stuffed animals (If you don’t have stuffed animals a book with them or pictures of them online will work.) Pick up or point to each animal.
Say: God made the animals. God made ____(the bears). What sound do ____ (bears) make? Then ask, “Who made ______(the tigers)? God made the tigers! What sound do the tigers make? After you’ve finished all your stuffies, ask them what else God made. Them!
“God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” Genesis 1:31a
As you read the verse below, have your littles do the actions along with it!
“How many are Your works, Lord!...” (Gather up all the stuffed animals in their arms)
“In wisdom You [God] made them all;…” (Point to your head, to God, and to all His creation)
“…the earth is full of Your creatures.” (throw them all up in the air!) - Psalm 104:24
Do this a couple times to help them understand the verse! - FOR FOODIES:
Enjoy these Bible verses, then enjoy the food below!
1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
Proverbs 16:24 “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
John 6:35 “Then Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'”
Earth Day Inspired Treats http://www.goodcook.com/7-adorable-earth-day-recipes-everyone-will-love/
Earth Day Smoothies https://awhiskandtwowands.com/earth-day-smoothie/
Earth Day Sugar Cookies https://www.aboutamom.com/earth-day-cookies/
Earth Day Popcorn https://simpleasthatblog.com/easy-earth-day-treat-cups/
Yummy Green Earth Day Recipes https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/107029/5-yummy-green-dishes-for-earth-day/ - E IS FOR EARTH (Art Smart Kids):
Draw and cut out a giant “E”. Draw things in it that are part of the earth. Bonus: Draw and cut out numbers 1-7. Inside each number, draw what God created on that day according to Genesis 1! - WATCH FOR GOD (Picture Smart Kids, Nature Smart Kids):
Watch a show or documentary that showcases God's creation. (Disney Nature or National Geographic have lots!) Watch for things God's created. After name some of the things you noticed and ask these 3 questions:- What would God like about the movie/show?
- What would God NOT like?
- What are we going to do about it?/What's one thing we can do in response to it?
- EARTH DAY DANCE PARTY (Music Smart Kids & Body Smart Kids & Picture Smart Kids):
Listen to these songs and worship the Lord!
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” - Psalm 150:6
While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”- Genesis 8:22