Earth Day
OUR POWER, OUR PLANET
Get Inspired. Take Action. Be a part of the green revolution.
22 April is Earth Day
A day that celebrates the environmental movement and highlights some of the issues facing our precious planet.
The theme for Earth Day this year is OUR POWER, OUR PLANET
The theme for Earth Day 2025 is OUR POWER, OUR PLANET, inviting everyone around the globe to unite behind renewable energy.
There are many ways you can get involved and make a difference for our planet on Earth Day and every day.
#EarthDayAction
Beautiful illustration for It’s Our Planet Too for Earth Day 2021 by @SketchyMuma
What’s the problem with using too much energy?
Energy is a huge part of our lives. We use it to power our homes, schools, phones, cars, and even the lights we turn on every day. But did you know that the way we get and use energy can hurt the planet? This happens mostly because of something called fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels are energy sources that come from the remains of ancient plants and animals. Over millions of years, heat and pressure deep underground turned these remains into coal, oil, and natural gas. These fuels are packed with energy, so we burn them to power cars, make electricity, and heat our homes. While this energy is super useful, burning fossil fuels comes with serious environmental problems.
Find out more about the problem with plastic here, or take a look at our Plastic isn’t fantastic themed Tool Kit For Eco Heroes.
Easy ways to cut down on energy usage
Every day we take resources from our beautiful planet and we create a lot of waste too. But we can all make a difference to the future of our precious planet by making small changes to the way that we live. Even small changes can lead to big energy savings!
Use Natural Light: Open blinds or curtains during the day to let sunlight brighten your home. You’ll use fewer lights and save energy.
Wash Clothes Wisely: Wash clothes in cold water instead of hot, and hang them to dry instead of using a dryer when possible.
Limit Screen Time: Encourage less time on devices that require charging or electricity, like TVs and tablets. Spend more time outdoors or playing board games.
Go Solar: If possible, install solar panels or use solar-powered gadgets like lights, chargers, and outdoor lamps.
Educate and Share: Teach others about the importance of saving energy and involve your family in creating energy-saving habits.
As parents, taking care of the planet and teaching our children to do the same is one of our responsibilities, but it can be tricky with a busy lifestyle. Here are some simple tips and ideas for families who want to include their children on the path to greener living (and cut down the amount of energy we use too).
Turn Off Lights and Devices: Always switch off lights, TVs, and electronics when you leave a room. Even better, unplug devices you’re not using to avoid "phantom energy" use.
Use Energy-Efficient Bulbs: Replace traditional incandescent light bulbs with LEDs. They use less energy and last much longer.
Adjust Your Thermostat: In the winter, set your thermostat a little lower and wear a cozy sweater.
Seal Doors and Windows: Stop drafts by sealing gaps around windows and doors with weatherstripping or caulking. This keeps heat or cool air from escaping.
Switch to Energy-Efficient Appliances: These are designed to use less energy while still doing the same job.
10 unbelievable energy facts!
The Sun Powers Everything: Did you know that the energy we use on Earth mostly comes from the Sun? Solar power, wind, and even fossil fuels like coal and oil owe their energy to the Sun!
Your Body is an Energy Machine: Every time you eat food, your body turns it into energy to walk, run, and think. That’s like having your very own power plant inside you!
Earth’s Electricity is Fast: Electricity travels at nearly the speed of light—186,000 miles per second! That’s why lights turn on the moment you flip a switch.
Phantom Energy Steals Power: Some electronics, like TVs or game consoles, use energy even when they’re off. This is called "phantom energy." You can save energy by unplugging devices when not in use.
Wind Can Light Up Cities: Giant wind turbines capture wind energy to make electricity. A single wind turbine can power about 1,500 homes!
The World's First Light Bulb Still Works: The "Centennial Light," a light bulb in California, has been shining for over 120 years! It’s a symbol of how far technology has come.
Water Can Make Electricity: Hydropower, or energy from flowing water, is one of the oldest energy sources. The motion of rivers and dams helps generate clean electricity.
Energy Powers Your Favourite Gadgets: It takes energy to charge your phone, play video games, or stream cartoons. Even Wi-Fi routers use electricity to keep you connected.
The U.S. Wastes a Lot of Energy: About 60% of energy in the U.S. is wasted due to inefficiency. Small changes, like turning off lights or using energy-efficient appliances, can make a big difference.
LED Bulbs Save Big Energy: LED light bulbs use 75% less energy than old incandescent ones and last much longer. Switching to LEDs can save money and help the planet.
Earth Day activities for little eco heroes
There are several ways that children can take part in Earth Day and make a positive impact on the environment. Here are a few ideas:
Plant a tree: Encourage children to plant a tree in you garden, school or a local park - it doesn’t have to be huge. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and provide oxygen, making them an essential part of the ecosystem.
Participate in a litter cleanup: Organise a litter cleanup in your local area or a nearby park. Provide gloves, bin bags, and a safe location to dispose of the collected rubbish.
Reduce, reuse, and recycle: Teach children about the importance of reducing waste, reusing items when possible, and recycling materials that can be reused.
Start a garden: Plant a vegetable garden in your own garden, in a tub or community garden. Children can learn about sustainable food practices, composting, and the benefits of growing their own food.
Turn off lights and appliances: Encourage children to turn off lights and appliances when they're not in use to save energy and reduce their carbon footprint.
Create art from recycled materials: Encourage children to create art from recycled materials such as paper, plastic, and cardboard. This helps to reduce waste and encourages creativity. Need some inspiration, take a look at our Tool Kits.
Learn about the environment: Read books and watch documentaries with children to teach them about the environment, climate change, and how they can make a difference.
“The Earth is what we all have in common.”
A brief history of Earth Day
Background
The release of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring in 1962 and her revelations about the dangers of pesticides raised awareness and concern for the planet and sparked an environmental movement.
The first Earth Day
Denis Hayes, an American environmental activist helped to organise the first Earth Day, which took place on 22 April 1970. Around 20 million people took part in protests and rallies around the US.
Where did it lead?
Earth Day caught the public’s attention and helped put pressure on governments to take environmental issues seriously. It is now one of the largest worldwide events with over a billion people taking part.
Let Sam and Lou help you learn more about the problems facing our planet…
My name is Sam and my name is Lou and guess what, it’s our planet too…
The world where we live is a special place, it can be seen for miles, from outer space;
As the number of people has grown and grown, our impact on earth, is beginning to be known.
The earth’s not been cared for as it should, pollution and destruction have brought no good;
Our resourceful planet, once brimming with wealth, is no longer such a picture of health.
Oil, gas, coal; once there was plenty, these precious deposits are running on empty.
Rainforests and oceans we need to protect, these amazing wonders deserve our respect.
But it’s not just humans we need to keep happy, to save the animals, we need to act snappy
As the world changes, their homes disappear, for so many creatures, it’s their biggest fear.
Our modern ways have changed our land, to secure a future we must take a stand;
You don’t need to turn your whole life greenust make a change, to your normal routine.
gEven the small things like recycling our waste, can make a difference to the problems we face;
Don’t put your rubbish straight in the bin, save your paper, glass, aluminium and tin.When you go on a trip and it’s not very far, try using your bike, instead of the car.
When the chilly weather starts to take hold, just put on a jumper, if you’re a bit cold!
And if you’re at home and fancy a bath, a shower uses, less water by half.
And then there’s the problem of too much plastic, we must make a change, and it needs to be drastic!
If everyone did just a little to help, we can change the hand, that we’ve been dealt.
Just try your best, please do? After all, it’s our planet too!
Blog Post: 10 Earth Day inspired activities
Earth Day is a day to remind us of the impact that humans are having on planet Earth.
This is a fantastic opportunity to try some Earth day inspired, eco-related activities with your kiddies. Check out the blog for some fabulous suggestions for getting your littles ones out and about in nature.
Why not get your little ones involved in EARTH DAY this year?
Click on the images below to download a FREE colouring sheet.
Will you take an Earth Day pledge or maybe you like our eco rhyme?
Take a look at our other EARTH DAY printables, just click on any of the images to download your FREE file.
If you’ve enjoyed our website or downloaded some of our free printables for your little eco hero, please consider leaving us a small donation to say thank you.
It feels good to do good…
Our world is changing
Want to learn more about some of the issues facing our beautiful planet?
The our world is changing Tool Kit is packed with hours of fun activities to help you take action and save our environment.
Activities include making a megaphone so you can tell everyone to save our planet, getting messy and making our own recycled paper as well as building a bee hotel. There’s also a cool experiment to help understand what happens when sea ice melts and sea levels rise.
