Today I have some ideas to incorporate hands-on geography and a fun new handicraft to celebrate Earth Day. Also, look at this other post Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map for more ideas. Too, look at my page Homeschool Geography for hands-on and simple ideas and tips.
This hands-on geography craft gives your child practice in fine motor skills, planning, and problem solving, as well as a fun way to celebrate Earth Day.
I have come up with a wonderful new skill to share with you that incorporates handicrafts into an Earth Day celebration.
Have you heard of needle felting?
If you have ever wanted to try it but have been intimidated by its seeming difficulty don’t be.
It is much simpler than it looks, and the end results are super cute.
Also, I have rounded up a list of 8 hands-on ways to celebrate Earth Day.
8 Hands-On Ways To Celebrate Earth Day
Conserving water and electricity, reducing our waste in the landfills, upcycling, recycling, planting food for pollinators, and doing our part in general should be a daily habit.
But it’s nice to have a specific day to reflect on some changes we can make and how we affect the earth we live on.
Look at these 8 hands-on ways to celebrate Earth Day.
- Planting wildflowers is a wonderful way to celebrate and give something back to the earth. These Wildflower Seed Bombs are an easy way to spread wildflowers for the pollinators and upcycle paper scraps.
- Celebrate with dirt cups for Earth Day and have a discussion about what gardens, switching to natural insecticides and even worms can do for the environment.
- Make a Bird Feeder to help our feathered friends who help pollinate the earth, spread nutrients through their droppings, transport seeds, exterminate insects, and help keep ecosystems healthy.
- Clean up a park or field in your area. Grab a trash bag and a pair of grabbers and collect all the loose trash you can find. You can often find organized groups going out to clean up parks or beaches, especially around Earth Day but don’t let it stop you if you can’t find one nearby. This is a great family project.
- Start recycling, create bins for paper, plastic, and metals. Find a recycling center in your area and drop off regularly.
- Research how and then create your own composting bin. Doing this you create your own rich natural soil and fertilizer, reduce your household waste, reduce the need for pesticides and chemical fertilizer.
- Make a craft to spread the word about Earth Day to help yourself and others remember just how important this one earth we have is.
- Make Earth Day Cookies & Fascinating Earth Facts
I would recommend this activity for kids ages 8 and up as well as adults.
It is a wonderful way to keep hands busy while reading aloud, waiting for a long appointment, or anytime. I love the focus that it helps you keep and the rather quick results you get are very satisfying.
Other Hands-on Geography Activities
Next, look at some other fun hands-on geography ideas.
- The Benefits Of Using Games That Teach Geography | Review Of Scrambled States
- Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map
- 18+ Fun and Interactive Ways to Learn Geography With Kids
- STEM and Geography: How to Build an Ancient Viking Ship
- 100 BEST Books for Kids from all 50 States (Easy Geography)
- 5 Ways to Raise a Natural Geography Lover Easily
- Hands-On Geography Activity: Make a Pangaea Puzzle
- Hands-On Geography: Australia Awesome and Deadly Animal Art
- Hands-on Geography: Longitude/Latitude Mapmaking Activity
Then, look at this The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study for a fun edible geography idea.
Also, I have a few more resources to make geography come to life.
8 U.S. Geography Resources
If you're looking to teach U.S. geography in a hands-on way, you'll love adding one or two of these resources to your day or study.
Quick! Find a state that ends with the letter A. Now find one that borders Tennessee. Have fun learning about the United States in this madcap game of observation and quick reflexes.
Kids will have fun learning about each and every U.S. state in this amazing 6th edition atlas, packed with maps, stats, facts, and pictures
Who knew history could be so delicious? In The U.S. History Cookbook, you'll discover how Americans have lived and dined over the centuries. This scrumptious survey of periods and events in U.S. history mixes together a delectable batter of food timelines, kid-friendly recipes, and fun food facts.
How do you sum up a whole country in just 100 words? This striking book takes on the challenge! From amendment to Vegas, each of the carefully chosen 100 words has its own 100-word-long description and beautiful illustration, providing a snapshot of what the USA means to people today: its roots, its values, its culture, and customs. Basically, everything you need to know in a nut shell.
This Toob includes figurines of the Lincoln Memorial, Hoover Dam, Liberty Bell, Alamo, Mount Rushmore, Statue of Liberty, Gateway Arch, U.S. Capital, Empire State Building, White House, as well as a flag and an eagle.
Easy Storage: Unfold and spread flat when you need it or scrunch it up and store away when you're done. The USA map makes a wonderful addition to your home, office, library, kid's room, classroom or playroom.
LEARN STATES & CAPITALS IN A FLASH: Get to know each of the 50 states! How well do you know your home state and neighbors? Perfect for all ages
50 FLASH CARDS: Includes 50 educational flash cards for studying important school subjects such as US Geography and History!
9 LEARNING GAMES: Teach and participate in 9 specially made enrichment activities: Name Games, What's the Motto, Heads Up, Region Round-up, State Trivia and more! Fun symbols
Test your geography knowledge with Talking Tables beautifully illustrated 1000-piece USA 50 States Map Jigsaw Puzzle & Poster. This USA Map Puzzle features landmarks from across America! Our Jigsaw Puzzles For Adults make for Fun Indoor Activities and can be framed as Wall Art
Then, you’ll love adding this idea for more hands-on geography.
Finally, look at how to make this felt earth wool craft to celebrate Earth Day.
How to Make A Felt Earth Wool Craft
You will need:
- Cotton batting or a styrofoam ball
- Wool Felt Needle
- Felting Pad
- Blue and Green Wool
Now you can either use a small styrofoam ball as the center of your earth to save time and get a perfectly round sphere circle or you can use a ball of cotton batting to get started.
Go with whatever you have on hand.
For me that was cotton filler.
The steps after preparing the cotton filler will be the same for the rest of the project.
Grab a piece of cotton and ball it.
Roll it in your hands to create as close to a sphere as you can.
Add more as needed to get a ball slightly smaller than you want your end product to be.
Pull a piece of blue felt from the ball and wrap it around the cotton filling (or styrofoam ball).
Continue covering with a thin layer until it is all wrapped.
So, take your felting needle and move all around the sphere poking with shallow stabs all over until there are no furry spots sticking up off of it.
Add more blue as needed to cover any bare spots.
Moreover, to keep the shape round you can roll and tuck the felt, poking it in those areas a little extra to hold the shape in place.
Once you are happy with your blue wool as the ocean base you can begin building your continents,
Don’t worry about getting the scale or shapes perfect.
It will be obvious when you do what you have created.
Experiment with rolling the green into balls or twisting it to get various shapes for your continents before felting them onto the blue.
Again, just tap the needle all over the green until it is moderately smooth.
Add to the landforms as you need. It’s easy to add more small pieces.
If you gently tug on the fibers and they fray and become loose you will need to poke it a bit more to give it a tighter weave.
Enjoy your new felt earth globe.
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