Earth Day Elementary School Classroom Presentations

Overview

Registration for Earth Day 2024 is now closed! Check back in January 2025 to register for Earth Day presentations for April 2025.

In observance of Earth Day each year, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) offers free, hands-on classroom presentations to elementary schools across the state during the month of April.

Earth Day Classroom Presentation Criteria:

• The topics to choose from are air quality, land quality, water quality, and recycling.
• Presentations are available for elementary schools, grades kindergarten through sixth.
• A teacher must be present during all presentations.
• Each school may request up to four presentations (30-50 minutes each).
• Due to the interactive nature of our presentations, classroom size must be limited to a maximum of 30 students.
• Each classroom is limited to one topic/one presentation during the month of April.
• Presentations are available on a first come, first served basis throughout the month of April. If we cannot accommodate your needs for an Earth Day presentation in April, we are available for programming at another time of year.

The deadline to make an Earth Day presentation request was February 23, 2024.  After we receive all requests, each school is matched to an IDEM speaker who will contact you in March.

To request an Earth Day Classroom Presentation, please complete this form.

For questions, contact the Environmental Education Outreach Coordinator.

Description of Earth Day Classroom Presentations

Air Quality

Indiana’s Environment and You Puzzle

Summary: Students will learn that air is an invisible but tangible substance that enters their bodies every day and that wind carries air pollution around the world.

Objectives: Students will:

1. Learn to recognize air as an actual substance rather than “blank space” by using their sense of smell.
2. Realize how invisible substances are part of their world.
3. Learn how wind moves air pollution around the world.

Land Quality

How Long Does Your Trash Last?

Summary: Students will learn that commonplace items that are “thrown away” do not go away. The most prevalent disposal method is landfilling. Students will discuss the effects of landfill design on how long trash lasts.

Objectives: Students will:

1. Learn about landfills and how they are constructed.
2. Discover how long different items take to degrade.
3. Discuss simple things they can do to help divert the amount of trash sent to landfills.

Water Quality

Incredible Journey

Summary: With a roll of the die, students simulate the movement of water within the water cycle.

Objectives: Students will:

1. Describe the movement of water within the water cycle.
2. Identify the states of water as it moves through the water cycle.
3. Identify the processes (i.e. evaporation, condensation, precipitation) at work that move water through the water cycle.
4. Discuss the importance of water protection and conservation.

Recycling

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Your Trash

Summary: Students will look at how they can reduce the amount of trash thrown away by reusing, recycling, or composting items they would otherwise throw away.

Objectives: Students will:

1. Sort trash into categories.
2. Recognize that everyone contributes to and is responsible for the amount of trash created each day.
3. Discuss simple ways they can divert the amount of trash sent to landfills.