Unleashing the Eco-Warriors: Teaching and Engaging Students on World Environment Day!

World Environment Day, celebrated annually on June 5th, is a global event that raises awareness about the importance of environmental protection. It presents an excellent opportunity for you to engage your students in learning about the environment, fostering a sense of responsibility and encouraging sustainable practices. If you would like a starting point, check out our range of COP26 and COP27 lesson content here and read on to discover more activities to explore with your class. 

Begin by explaining the significance of World Environment Day to your students. Discuss the importance of environmental conservation, including the need to protect our planet's resources, reduce waste and preserve biodiversity. Encourage open discussions to gauge students' existing knowledge and opinions about environmental issues. 

You could also start an open conversation about sustainability and what this means. Discuss concepts like recycling, energy conservation, water conservation and reducing single-use plastics. Encourage students to implement these practices at home and in school.

Ideas for further activities: 

Plant a Garden:

1. Allocate a small portion of the school grounds for a class garden. Teach students how to prepare the soil, sow seeds and care for the plants. This activity promotes teamwork, responsibility, and an understanding of the importance of plants for the environment. Students can later use the produce for cooking lessons or donate it to local charities. If you are currently teaching any of our units on plants, you could link this activity to the content your class are learning from the curriculum. 

Upcycling Art Project:

1. Encourage students to bring in recyclable materials like cardboard, plastic bottles or old newspapers. Guide them in creating artwork or useful items from these materials. This activity not only sparks creativity but also reinforces the importance of reducing waste and finding new purposes for discarded items. You could get creative and use materials such as pressed flowers and stems to create a garden collage, or even create models from different sized plastic bottles. For classes that are currently exploring our materials units, this would be the perfect opportunity to explore textures, durability, flexibility and colour in a fun and creative way. 

Environmental Debates:

1. For an upper KS2 class, you could organise a class debate on environmental topics like renewable energy, wildlife conservation or sustainable transportation. Assign students to different teams and allow them to research and present arguments supporting their assigned positions. This activity helps improve critical thinking, public speaking skills and awareness of different perspectives on environmental issues.

Eco-Friendly Fashion Show:

1. Host an eco-friendly fashion show where students design and create outfits using recycled materials like newspaper, plastic bags or fabric scraps. Encourage them to showcase their creations on the runway and explain the inspiration behind their designs. This activity combines art, creativity and environmental awareness in a fun and engaging way.

By incorporating World Environment Day into your curriculum, you can inspire young minds to become environmentally conscious individuals. Through interactive activities and discussions, students will gain knowledge about environmental challenges and develop a sense of responsibility towards the planet.