Earth Day is a perfect opportunity to help young students understand how caring for our planet connects to caring for each other. This mini-lesson will guide students to explore the relationship between environmental stewardship and community building through an engaging, hands-on activity that emphasizes how our actions affect both the natural world and the people around us.
Time
30-45 minutes
Materials
- Small paper cups (one per student)
- Potting soil
- Quick-growing seeds (bean, radish, or sunflower work well)
- Markers/crayons for decorating cups
- Watering can or spray bottles
- Poster paper, chalkboard or white board
- Markers for teacher
Objective
Students will understand the relationship between caring for the environment and caring for their community by nurturing a plant and connecting this experience to how we nurture relationships.
Instructions
- Circle Discussion (5 min)
- Gather students in a circle and ask: “What are some ways we show we care about our Earth? What are some ways we show we care about our friends and family?”
- Record responses on chart paper in two columns: “Caring for Earth” and “Caring for People”
- Plant a Seed (15 min)
- Distribute materials and explain that everyone will plant a seed to care for.
- Have students decorate their cups with their names and pictures of what makes Earth special to them.
- Guide students through the planting process:
- Fill cup 2/3 with soil
- Make a small hole with finger
- Place seed in hole
- Cover gently with soil
- Water lightly
- Growing Together (10 min)
- While seeds are being planted, discuss how plants need care to grow (water, sunlight, good soil)
- Draw parallels to how friendships and communities need care to grow (kindness, sharing, helping)
- Explain that each student will be responsible for their plant, just as they are responsible for how they treat others and the Earth.
- Commitment Circle (5-10 min)
- Return to the circle with planted seeds.
- Each student shares one way they will care for their plant and one way they will care for a friend or family member this week.
Reflection Questions
- How does your plant depend on you?
- How do your friends, family, and community depend on you?
- What happens when we don’t take care of plants? What happens when we don’t take care of each other?
- How does taking care of the Earth help us take care of each other?
Closing
As you care for your plant in the coming days, remember that you are also learning how to care for your friends, family, and community. Just like plants need water and sunlight to grow strong, people need kindness and help to thrive. When we care for the Earth, we care for everyone who lives on it. Your small actions—like planting this seed—can grow into something beautiful for our Earth and our community.
