Hands-On Activities to Foster Environmental Awareness in Children

Photo: wavebreakmediamicro via 123RF

Kids have naturally curious minds, and there’s no better way to help them understand some of the planet’s problems is facing than doing at-home experiments about the environment.

Chances are they have already learned about some easy sustainable practices like recycling and repurposing items to reduce waste. Doing these simple experiments will help teach them even more about why it’s critical for all of us to help protect the earth for the next generation.

Water Conservation Experiment

Water is a vital natural resource that many people live without. According to Water.org, 771 million people—or 1 in 10—lack access to safe water. Unfortunately, many people waste water every day, such as when they leave the water running while brushing their teeth. So, it’s essential to teach kids how to conserve water.

This fun and straightforward Water Conservation Experiment from Rainy Day Mum provides hands-on, visual evidence of water waste.

You need a sink with running water, a tub or bowl that fits in the sink, a kitchen timer, and a cup to do this experiment.

You’re going to fill this tub twice in this activity—once with the water running into it for a constant two minutes and again while turning the water on and off for two minutes. You’ll bail cups of water out of the tub each time and count them as you pour them back into the sink.

Once you’ve completed both counts, ask your child which method used the most water. Also, ask how many more cups they used when the water constantly ran versus turning the tap on and off. Then, talk about how turning the faucet off saves water. Remind them they can save water if they turn off the tap when brushing their teeth. Get step-by-step instructions here.

Landfill Waste Biodegradability Experiment

According to the EPA, each person in the U.S. generates about 4.9 pounds of municipal solid waste (MSW) each day. In 2018, over 146 million tons of MSW went to landfills. Certain materials in the landfill, like plastic, don’t break down. Instead, they eventually drift into waterways and oceans, pollute the water, and kill unsuspecting marine creatures that ingest it.

Kids can learn more about biodegradability, as well as what kinds of trash items break down and which don’t in this Bury Your Trash Experiment from TeachEngineering.org.

In this activity, kids dig into a plot of soil and divide it into sections with string to create their own “landfill.” Then, they bury various pieces of garbage, like apple cores, a plastic jug or bag, dead leaves, and more. After two to three months, they uncover the items to see which of them decomposed and which are still intact.

When the experiment is over, discuss the negative impact the non-biodegradable items have on the environment. Also, encourage them to find ways to reduce waste and avoid using items that don’t break down. Get step-by-step instructions here.

Photo: serezniy via 123RF

Solar Oven Experiment

About 30% of electricity in the U.S. comes from coal. Per the Union of Concerned Scientists, coal releases airborne toxins and pollutants. The health impacts of these particles include asthma, cancer, heart disease, brain damage, and more.

To avoid these hazardous issues and help fight climate change, we need to utilize clean, renewable energy sources like solar power. Kids can learn a valuable—and lip-smacking—lesson about solar energy from NASA by making a solar oven to bake some s’mores.

In this activity, they will:

• Line a cardboard box with aluminum foil.
• Stretch two layers of plastic wrap across the opening, prop the box top open.
• Place it under direct sunlight for 30 minutes on an 85-degree or more day. 

Assemble the s’mores, place them on a pie tin inside the solar oven, and close the lid. Heat them for 30-60 minutes (or until they are squishy).

As the kids enjoy their yummy s’mores, talk about how they used the sun to “cook” the s’mores without using natural gas or electricity from a traditional stove. Explain how using solar energy in as many ways as we can each day will save energy and fight air pollution.

Greenhouse Gas Experiment

Typical daily activities like driving a car, flying a plane, and agriculture (including meat production), generate harmful greenhouse gases that spur climate change. Therefore, we must try to reduce our carbon footprint.

Kids can learn more about greenhouse gases in The Greenhouse Effect Experiment from Steam Powered Family.

In this experiment, kids will generate a baking soda and vinegar chemical reaction to demonstrate the warming effect of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. You’ll need five jars, white vinegar, baking soda (not baking powder!), measuring cups and spoons, elastic bands, a heat source (sunny window, heat lamp, or hot vent), a thermometer, masking tape, and a permanent marker to label the jars.

Follow the step-by-step instructions to prepare all the jars, and watch the reactions in each. At the end, discuss how the jar filled with carbon dioxide got warmer than any of the other jars when heated. Explain that carbon dioxide hanging in the earth’s atmosphere makes everything warmer on our planet. Per the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), global warming causes frequent, more severe weather, polluted air, species extinctions, acidic oceans, and more.

By doing all or any of these experiments, kids can learn essential lessons about protecting our planet and vital natural resources now and for future generations.

Keywords: Sustainability, Kids experiments, Environmental education, Eco-friendly activities, Home science

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