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The concept of pollution and the care we need to take of our home, the earth, is surprisingly easy to explain to children. The difficult part is in explaining how hard it is to clean the earth up from the mess we've made so the important part of taking care of the earth is to not make more of a mess. It's best to start with a little history to give a foundation of meaning to activities. (Or at least discuss why we celebrate Earth Day during the activities.)

Why do we celebrate the Earth?
The earth is our home. We share it with many other plants and creatures and because of our ability to use technology and industry, we have taken the earth over to suit our own ends. It's because of this power over the earth that we have a responsibility to also look after the other living creatures and plants we share the planet with.

When was the first Earth Day?
April 22, 1970, people first began to realize the earth was in danger from pollution. This can cause temperature fluctuations. Aside from saving the animals and plants from destruction, we also need to save future generations of people. If we continue polluting the earth like we have been, at some point in the future it won't be able to even sustain human beings.

The three R's Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce the amount of stuff you use. If you don't use it, you don't use it up and you don't have to throw it away. Reuse things you can find another use for rather than filling a landfill with it. Recycle what plastics, papers, and aluminum cans you can.

"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."

Activity: Egg Carton Garden
Egg cartons are great. You can use them to start a small garden by filling them with some potting soil and seeds. Be sure to put them over something waterproof while the seeds are starting indoors, though, because the cardboard from egg cartons is water permeable. When it comes time to plant the seedlings outside, you can plant the entire little eggcup in the ground because it will biodegrade. There's no need for transferring which means less trauma for the little plant!

Activity: Make your own paper
Here's another use for old egg cartons but also old newspapers, phone books, junk mail (so long as it isn't glossy sheets of paper) and any old recyclable paper you might have at home. Soak the paper in water first to soften it if the paper is very stiff. Otherwise, have your child help you cut it up into small pieces and blend the paper in a blender until it's the consistency of a chunky smoothie. Add a little

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