Creative Earth Day Celebration

Looking for creative ways to celebrate Earth Day with Kids?

Of course, you'll plant a seed and hug a tree.  What else?  Here are some creative ways to celebrate Earth Day on April 22^nd.

Earth Day Medallion!  This chic art piece features a geographically correct Earth. 

The stylish Earth medallion also reminds kids that Earth is a jewel, and that we should treat it with care. 

Besides, who says you can't glam it up with glitter, sparkles or spangles?  Your Earth Day Celebration or presentation just got revved up a notch.   

Earth Day Activities -- actual ACT-tivities -- that include:

• Action Games: “Beach Ball Planet” and “NIMBY War”
• Earth Art-Project

• Earth Medallion - Wear your Earth like a Jewel!
• “I Love Earth Day” song, simple and easy to learn

• 8 Task Cards for creative discussions, activities and writing  
• Deep-thought conversation starters

• 25 Ways to Help the Earth
• 20 Earth-Loving Messages for an art poster
• Beautiful Earth Day writing paper

Earth Poems!

Higher-order thinking will leap off the page when your kids write free-verse, creative poems about the Earth.  If you'd like 16 step-by-step lessons and dazzling display pieces, check out this Poetry Writing.

Cute alert!  You can jump-start your math-literacy-art-social studies connection with super-cute and brainy Earth Day Robots, using Number Chart Robot Printables

-- and make them again for any holiday, because they’re too much fun to do only once.

Challenge your kids with the unforgettable…

Science Experiment: Will a Bean Sprout if it has Missing Parts?

Don't just plant a seed.  Plant it like a scientist.  Think deeply about the Earth.  What makes Earth tick?  How can we learn more?  How can we make Earth a better place--to live, love, and learn?

Above all, don't forget to go outside and take a few full sniffs of fresh air.

I hope you enjoy your creative Earth Day -- every day!

Poetry Writing for Kids

Poetry writing for kids is not rocket science.

In fact, kids are natural poets.  
Just turn on the tap and voila!  Poetry pours out.

Kids think like beat poets, in small observations and spurts of thought.  

That’s why I love to teach them free-style poetry writing.  It mirrors the way they naturally see the world.

With a little guidance, they'll polish it up nicely.  

If you teach kids one poetic device per day, kids will "get it."  

If you use that poetic device often during the school day, it becomes a regular part of their language.  

So, when you teach simile, use simile.  

Hey guys... 

Let's glide through the halls...like a ghost. 

OK, now process that thought...like a computer the size of a city.

Step by step, you'll move on to the next poetic device —  using sensory details, repetition, alliteration, rhymes, "million dollar words," addressing the object directly, and so on.  

You'll point out the natural arc of a poetic structure; what might come first, next and last.

When you set up the scaffold like this, and then let kids loose — you know, just like in a jungle gym — creativity will leap off the page.  

Best of all, kids will see that creativity has no boundaries and no end.  

Poetry is life, and poetry is forever. 

I’ve been creating these poems with kindergartners for years, and I’ve never seen a bad poem — not even from my just-off-the-boat ESL or RTI kids.  

Advanced kids produce jaw-dropping stuff, and older kids get doodle-framed paper with extra lines, to spin out verbal wonders till the cows come home.  

And the pride on their faces is — well, poetic!

If you’d like 16 full writer’s workshop Poetry Lessons — my time-tested recipe for these jazzy confections — here they are.  They work splendidly for K - 5.

You'll get plenty of lists, charts and examples to support each lesson.  

And, your kids will write poems that are awesome— and maybe, even life-changing.

How to Catch a Leprechaun - Writing Lesson

 How to catch a leprechaun is only half the story.

Kids will tell you, step by step how to catch a leprechaun:

First I will...

• think and plan
• look
• be quiet
• tip toe up to him
• walk softly
• sneak up
• hide



 Next I will...

• be camouflaged.  I will carry a plant!
• make a trap
• dig a hole and put leaves on top
• ride a bike
• ride a motorcycle
• ride a kangaroo
• say, "Look over there!" then catch him in a net
• tie him in a rope

Last I will...

• tie him in a rope
• catch him in a net
• put him in a cage
• hold on tight
• never let him go
• say, "Where is your gold?"
• say, "Take me to the end of the rainbow right now!"

If you want to take it to the next level, for your advanced, TAG, upper grade, creative or willing kids...

You can have your kids describe their leprechaun.  Tell how he dresses, walks, speaks, and acts.

Also, add interesting characters to the story, and unexpected settings. 

Then answer thoughtful questions, such as: should you catch a leprechaun?  And, once you've caught him and taken his pot o' gold, should you share some of the spoils with him?

Of course, you'll create a show-stopping display of your kids' work.

Got it!  Just one last question: how will you spend your gold?  On pretty shamrock-shaped paper and step-by-step lessons, lists, posters and task cards on How to Catch a Leprechaun, by any chance?