What will our world look like if the forests keep disappearing?

The signs are everywhere: record-breaking heat waves, devastating forest fires, rising sea levels, and shrinking green spaces. Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it’s here, reshaping the way we live and threatening the ecosystems we depend on.

Deforestation alone has wiped out millions of acres of forests in the last decade, taking with it countless species and the very trees that clean our air.

As these challenges grow, our responsibility to act grows too. We can’t reverse the damage overnight, but every tree planted, every bit of waste reduced, and every conversation we have about protecting the planet makes a difference.

So, on this Earth Day, April 22, 2025, let’s pledge to come together, to learn, to act, and to create a ripple of positive change. Whether you’re a teacher shaping young minds, a parent guiding future generations, or a professional looking for corporate Earth Day ideas, small, meaningful actions can add up to something far bigger.

In this guide, you’ll find 20 practical and inspiring Earth Day activities, tailored for classrooms, homes, and workplaces, to help turn awareness into action.

Earth Day Activities for Teachers

Earth Day Activities for Teachers

Children learn best when they experience the world around them, and teachers are ideally positioned to spark that connection with nature. And Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to teach kids why protecting the planet matters and how even small actions can make a big difference.

Here are seven creative Earth Day activities for teachers to make Earth Day 2025 for kids truly impactful:

1. Nature Journaling

Take students outside to observe the world around them, including trees, flowers, insects, and birds. Encourage them to write or sketch what they see in a dedicated nature journal. This not only improves their observational skills but also helps them connect with the natural environment on a personal level. You can turn this into a week-long project, where students track daily changes in the weather or the growth of plants over several days.

2. Recycled Art Projects

Host an art session using only recycled or upcycled materials such as bottle caps, cereal boxes, old newspapers, and fabric scraps. Challenge students to create something that represents the Earth, like a globe collage or an “eco-hero” sculpture. Pair this with a brief discussion about how recycling reduces waste and helps protect forests from excessive logging.

3. Mini Classroom Gardens

Set up a small garden in the classroom using pots, old containers, or seed trays. Plant fast-growing herbs, vegetables, or flowers that students can watch sprout over time. Assign each student a “plant buddy” to care for, water, and track its growth. This hands-on experience teaches children the value of nurturing life and reinforces the importance of greenery in reducing their carbon footprint.

4. Earth Day Fact Hunt

Organize an interactive scavenger hunt with questions about what is Earth Day 2025, famous environmentalists, and facts about forests and wildlife. Hide clues around the classroom or playground, turning the hunt into both a game and a learning opportunity. You can also end this fun session with a quick quiz to reinforce what students discovered during the activity.

5. Climate Pledge Wall

Create a “Pledge Wall” where students can write one small action they’ll take to help the planet, such as switching off unused lights, carrying a reusable water bottle, or planting a tree. Display these pledges in the hallway or classroom as a visual reminder of their commitment. You can also turn this into a class-wide challenge to see how many pledges can be kept for 30 days.

6. Schoolwide Clean-Up Challenge

Get students involved in a clean-up drive around the school grounds, nearby parks, or playgrounds. Provide gloves and bags, and teach them how to separate recyclables from other waste. To make it more fun, set up small teams and offer eco-friendly prizes or certificates for participation. This activity instills teamwork, responsibility, and respect for shared spaces.

7. Virtual Talk with an Environmentalist

Invite a local environmentalist, conservationist, or even a volunteer from a tree-planting organization to speak to the students. Hearing real-world stories about climate challenges and solutions makes a strong impact. You can also encourage students to write short reflections on what they learned and how they can make a difference.

Earth Day 2025 Activities for Parents and Kids

Earth Day 2025 Activities for Parents and Kids

Children naturally look to their parents for guidance on how to treat the world around them. Earth Day 2025 is the perfect opportunity to turn everyday moments into lasting lessons on sustainability. These Earth Day activities are fun, practical, and full of teachable moments, helping kids understand that caring for the planet starts right at home.

8. Plant a Family Tree or Garden

Planting a tree or starting a small vegetable or herb garden is a hands-on way for kids to see the cycle of life and growth. Involve them from the start: let them pick the seeds, dig in the soil, and water the plants. Explain how trees clean the air we breathe and why planting even one tree can help fight climate change. Over time, the plants become a living reminder of their efforts and the responsibility they have taken on.

9. Backyard or Balcony Bird Feeders

Help children appreciate local wildlife by creating simple bird feeders from recycled items, such as milk cartons, jars, or even old teacups. Hang them in your backyard, on your balcony, or in a nearby park. Encourage kids to observe the birds that visit and keep a log of the different species they see. This encourages curiosity, patience, and an understanding of how animals rely on us to protect their habitats.

10. Upcycling Day at Home

Turn what might otherwise be waste into something useful or beautiful. Assign a family challenge to repurpose old jars into lanterns, convert worn-out clothes into tote bags, or make decorative wall hangings from cardboard. Discuss how reusing materials reduces landfill waste and saves natural resources, making this activity both creative and educational.

11. Zero-Waste Family Challenge

Pick a day (or even a weekend) where the family avoids all single-use plastics. This means swapping disposable water bottles for reusable ones, avoiding pre-packaged foods, and composting leftovers. At the end of the challenge, talk with your kids about how much waste was avoided and brainstorm ways to reduce single-use plastics every day. It’s a simple yet powerful way to change habits.

12. Eco Storytelling Night

Stories are a powerful way to shape young minds. Choose books like The Lorax or The Great Kapok Tree that convey important environmental messages. Pair the reading with a short discussion about what the story teaches us about protecting nature. For older kids, watching documentaries about forests, oceans, or endangered animals can spark questions and a sense of responsibility.

13. Nature Walk Treasure Hunt

Turn an ordinary walk into an adventure. Create a checklist of natural items, such as a smooth stone, a unique leaf, or a fallen feather, and let kids “hunt” for them during a walk in the park or even in your own neighborhood. Use these moments to discuss ecosystems, pollinators like bees, and the importance of preserving these spaces.

14. DIY Composting Project

Composting teaches kids how food waste can be transformed into a valuable resource for plants. Start with a small container or bucket, add kitchen scraps like fruit peels and vegetable leftovers, and layer them with soil. Have your kids mix and monitor the compost over a few weeks, and use the finished compost in your garden or potted plants. It’s an engaging way to teach both recycling and the importance of soil health.

Corporate Earth Day Ideas

Corporate Earth Day Ideas

Businesses have a unique opportunity to amplify environmental impact, not just through policies but by engaging employees and fostering a culture of sustainability. Earth Day 2025 presents an ideal opportunity to launch initiatives that go beyond symbolic gestures, creating tangible change both within and outside the workplace.

Here are six corporate Earth Day activities that can inspire your teams and leave a lasting impact:

15. Team Volunteer Clean-Ups

Organize a corporate volunteer day where employees clean up local parks, riversides, or neighborhoods. Provide reusable gloves, biodegradable trash bags, and eco-friendly cleaning tools. Not only does this activity make a visible difference, but it also strengthens team spirit. You can even partner with local environmental groups to make it part of a larger Earth Day 2025 event, enhancing the company’s community presence.

16. Corporate Tree Planting Programs

Partner with organizations like Plantd to plant trees on behalf of employees or clients. To make it more engaging, organize a “green day” where employees physically plant trees in local spaces or urban areas. This is a high-impact way to offset your company’s carbon footprint while reinforcing the importance of reforestation and long-term environmental responsibility.

3. Green Office Challenge

Launch a week-long challenge in the workplace focused on reducing waste, saving energy, and adopting eco-friendly habits. Teams can compete to see who reduces paper use the most, recycles effectively, or comes up with innovative sustainability ideas. Wrap up the challenge with small rewards such as eco-friendly gift cards or reusable products. This is one of the most effective corporate Earth Day ideas because it encourages lasting behavior change.

17. Sustainability Lunch & Learn Sessions

Invite environmental experts, sustainability advocates, or local green entrepreneurs to give a short talk during lunch breaks. Topics could range from climate change solutions to personal carbon reduction strategies. These sessions encourage employees to think about sustainability both at work and at home, making Earth Day corporate activities not just about action, but education too.

18. Eco-Productivity Swaps in the Workplace

Take Earth Day as an opportunity to eliminate single-use plastics, switch to energy-efficient lighting, or introduce eco-friendly office supplies. You can also install indoor plants to improve air quality and employee well-being. Pair these changes with a mini awareness campaign in the office to explain how small shifts make a significant difference over time.

19. Donation Matching & Green Pledges

Encourage employees to donate to environmental charities or initiatives, and pledge to match their contributions. Alternatively, set up a “green pledge wall” in the office where employees can commit to small, eco-friendly habits, such as biking to work or reducing electricity usage. This creates a sense of shared purpose and aligns the company’s values with real-world impact.

20. Host a “Green Innovation” Day

Encourage employees to brainstorm and pitch ideas for making the company more sustainable. This could include reducing office energy consumption, finding ways to recycle electronics, or launching a company-wide sustainability initiative. Turn it into a fun, interactive session with team presentations, and reward the most impactful ideas. Not only does this encourage innovation, but it also empowers employees to contribute to the company’s green mission.

Make This Year’s Earth Day Count with Plantd

The challenges we face, including climate change, deforestation, and the vanishing of green spaces, are too big for one person or one day to solve. But together, our actions can create powerful ripples of change.

At Plantd, we believe that change begins one tree at a time. Whether you’re a teacher inspiring your students, a parent teaching your child the value of nature, or a business looking to make a meaningful impact, we have ways for everyone to get involved.

Our mission is clear: to restore forests where they’re needed most and create a future where nature thrives alongside us. By supporting Plantd, your actions, big or small, directly help replant the earth, fight climate change, and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

If you’re ready to take your commitment beyond Earth Day, join us supporting reforestation efforts where they’re needed most.

Choose How You Want to Plant:

One-time Contribution: Want to plant a few trees today? Make a one-time contribution to support trusted reforestation projects that restore ecosystems and build resilient local economies.
Subscribe Monthly: Make tree planting a habit. Support reforestation projects and track your impact in the Plantd app.
Start a Fundraiser: Empower your school, nonprofit, or team to plant trees with every donation.
Partner as a Business: Build sustainability into your brand by planting trees with every purchase, service, or milestone.

With verified planting partners, real-time impact tracking, and a mission rooted in ecosystem renewal, Plantd makes it easy to take meaningful climate action, one tree at a time. This Earth Day, don’t just celebrate the planet, help rebuild it.

Let’s plant a future we can all be proud of.
Start planting with Plantd.