Earth Day is not just about taking care of the environment—it’s also an opportunity to build social awareness by helping students understand how people around the world experience the Earth differently. These mini-lessons are designed to help students develop empathy by imagining what life is like in different environments and considering the challenges others may face due to pollution, climate, or access to resources.

By guiding students to see the world through others’ eyes, these lessons promote empathy, responsibility, and a sense of global citizenship. When students understand how their actions impact people everywhere, they become more thoughtful, caring, and motivated to protect both the planet and the communities that depend on it.

Grades K-1

Time: 25 minutes

Materials:

• Globe or world map
• Pictures of different environments
• Crayons or markers
• Printable “Imagine You Live Here” coloring pages

Objective:

Students will explore different places on Earth and begin to understand that people experience the world in different ways.

Instructions:

Introduction (5 minutes)

• Show students a globe or map and say, “People all over the world live in different places! Some people live near the ocean, some in big cities, and some in cold, snowy places.”
• Show pictures of different environments and ask, “How do you think it feels to live here?”

Activity – “Imagine You Live Here” (10 minutes)

1. Give each student a printed “Imagine You Live Here” coloring page.
2. Ask them to draw themselves living there. What would they see? What would the air feel like? What would they wear?
3. Have students share their pictures with a partner or the group.

Discussion & Reflection (5 minutes)

1. Ask simple questions to spark thinking:

• • Did everyone’s pictures look the same?
  • What might be hard about living here?
  • What might be fun about living here?
  • What do you think people who live in this environment might need to be comfortable?

Closing (5 minutes)

• What’s something you are lucky to have in the environment that you live in?
• What’s a way you can keep your environment clean and healthy for all who live there?

Grades 2-3

Time: 30 minutes

Materials:

• Globe or world map
• Pictures of different environments 
• One sheet of paper/drawing paper for each student
• Markers or crayons

Objective:

Students will begin to understand how people in different environments experience the world differently and discuss why it’s important to care for others and the planet.

Instructions:

Introduction (5 minutes)

• Ask: “Do you think everyone in the world experiences Earth the same way?”
• Show pictures of different environments and discuss how living in each place might be different.

Activity – “A Day in Their Shoes” (15 minutes)

• Assign or let students choose an environment (ocean, city, desert, etc.).
• Ask them to write or draw about a day in the life of a child who lives there. Encourage them to think about:
  • What would make it hard to live here?
  • What would be fun about living here?
  • What would be the biggest difference living here than where you live now?
• Have students share their drawings or ideas with a partner or the class.

Discussion & Reflection (5 minutes)

Ask:

• How would you feel if you lived in a place where the air was very dirty?
• What would happen if the water was polluted with trash or chemicals?
• Why is it important not to litter?
• Why is it important to care about people and places outside of where we live?

Closing (5 minutes)

• Ask, “What is one way we can take care of the Earth so everyone can live in a healthy place?”
• Have students write or draw one action they can take, like using less water or picking up litter.

End with: “When we take care of the Earth, we’re also helping people around the world!”

Grades 4-5

Time: 35 minutes

Materials:

• Globe or world map
• Pictures of different environments 
• Sticky notes or index cards
• Markers

Objective:

Students will explore how different communities experience environmental challenges and reflect on how their actions can make a difference.

Instructions:

Introduction (5 minutes)

• Ask: “How do you think the environment affects people’s daily lives?”
• Discuss examples: Some people struggle with polluted air, while others deal with extreme weather.
• Show images of different places and discuss their challenges.
  
  

Activity – “Stepping into Their World” (15 minutes)

• Assign or let students choose a specific environment.
• Ask them to write a short journal entry as if they were a kid living there.
  • What do they see, hear, and smell?
  • What environmental challenges do they face?
  • How does it affect their daily life?
• Have students share their journal entries with a partner or small group.
  
  

Discussion & Reflection (10 minutes)

• “What was it like to imagine living somewhere else?”
• “How do you think people feel when their home environment is unhealthy or unsafe?”
• “How can we show empathy for others and help make a difference?”

Closing (5 minutes)

• Have students write one action they can take to help the planet on a sticky note and place it on a “Promise to the Earth” board.
• End by reminding them: “Even small actions—like recycling, saving water, or using less plastic—can help people all over the world.”