4 African Picture Books for Earth Day + Earth Day Activity
Today, we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the first Earth Day. Every day we see the impact of a changing climate on some of the most vulnerable people around the world. Earth Day is an annual event that celebrates our natural environment and calls for our urgent attention to protect our planet.
During the COVID-19 pandemic which has forced much of the industrialized world to reduce movement. It seems that in many ways some of the damage to the environment has in small ways begun to repair itself.
As we spend more time indoors, we can continue to celebrate this Earth Day with great storybooks with the children in our lives. Perhaps, even extending learning to small activities such as an indoor garden and a simple almost guaranteed to grow plant is a bean seed. Here’s how to grow your own info bean plant from everyday dried beans.
Materials
plastic cups (with a hole poked in the bottom for drainage)
plastic plates to rest the cups on
potting soil
dry kidney or lima beans (NOTE: these must first be soaked overnight)
Plant Journal
paper towel
water
Vocabulary
bean
seed
soil
observe
describe
compare
predict
Directions
Planting in Soil
Let the child fill a plastic cup most of the way with potting soil and plant 2–3 beans. Cover the seeds gently with soil.
Show the child how to moisten the soil, using a soaked paper towel that you squeeze over the soil. Ask, Why do you think we’re putting water on the seeds?
Put the cups in a moderately sunny area and add water every two days.
Documenting Plant Growth
Explain that they will check on the beans in their cups each day and draw a picture of what they observe in their Plant Journals. You can make a plant journal by folding 5 sheets of blank paper, then fold it width-wise.
Reflect and Share
Talk about what they think will happen with their planted beans. In their Plant Journals, have children draw pictures of the beans they planted in the cups.