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Overview
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.” — Jane Goodall
Happy Earth Day! Today marks the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day — a major moment for people all around the globe to recognize, honor and celebrate our planet, our environment, our home. Over the past half century, the environmental movement has made enormous, impactful, monumental strides, yet massive, pressing, urgent needs remain to safeguard life, health and systems as we know it.
Earth Day encourages us to take pride in the work we have done, while reminding us of the critical importance of what we must do here and now! Environmental education, behavior change, community engagement and advocacy at every level are at the heart of our efforts. So today, we invite you to join us in the Turning Green Classroom for reflection, multimedia learning and concrete action, alongside thousands of middle, high school and college students, educators, families, organizations, businesses, partners and more. And we’re not stopping!
For us, Earth Day is every day. There are so many ways that each of us can be an eco hero in our daily lives, across communities, on campuses, and throughout nations the world over. Turning Green exists to inform, inspire and mobilize you to rise as the changemaker and force for good we know is alive within each of us. We’re hard at work with our student leaders virtually on many programs We may be physically apart, but we’re all here on Earth together. Do something for our environment today, and another one tomorrow (whether through Turning Green Classroom all this month, Project Green Challenge in October or any other platform at any moment). Encourage others to join you on this journey. Build diverse, inclusive, pro-active movements. Fight with passion, purpose and love. Count on us to support you however we can. On the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, let’s commit to do more for both people and planet with all we have wherever we may find ourselves every single day.
THINK
The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970 and today marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of the environmental movement, giving voice to environmental consciousness and the state of our planet. “Earth Day is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event and it led to passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States, including the Clean Air, Clear Water and Endangered Species Acts. Many countries soon adopted similar laws, and in 2016, the United Nations chose Earth Day as the day to sign the Paris climate agreement into force,” per our friends at EarthDay.org.
This pandemic reminds us how important it is to work together to protect people and our planet.
There has been dramatic change in our world over the past few months. Pollution levels have dropped due to factory closure, coal plant shutdowns, industry standstills, cars off the roads, and much more. As a result, what looks different from your vantage point? What are you noticing that you didn’t notice before? Blue skies, clean air, more bees or hummingbirds perhaps? Take note. Understand what has shifted and why — and how you can always continue to fight for the causes you believe in and our Earth!
ACTIVITY
Look around! What changes do you see?
- Find something that has shifted in the natural world around you during the pandemic
- If you can do so safely, take a picture of the something that looks different
- Caption your photo with how you will effect change to ensure a healthy and just future starting with your own life right now
- Share your photo and caption with the change you are making on social media to inform others and inspire them to take action too! Tag @TurningGreenOrg and include #TGClassroom and #EarthDay.
DELIVERABLES
Upload your responses and photo and a screenshot of your social media post. Tag @TurningGreenOrg and include #TGClassroom and #EarthDay.
Submission Guidelines
- If you do not see an upload button, you need to log in
- Submit all entries as PDFs; no Word or Pages documents
- Be sure to include all content for your submission in one document
- Do not include # or spaces in filenames
- You will see a confirmation in green that your submission uploaded correctly; if you do not see this confirmation, please try again
- Send any questions to classroom@turninggreen.org
Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #TGClassroom.
THINK
While we can’t currently explore wild spaces and the wonders of the natural world near and far, we can still experience the beauty of our planet through the lenses of filmmakers. Take a stunning, exciting, informative journey on Earth Day, thanks to artist-activists who have told stories with a message that we all need to see and internalize!
ACTIVITY
Gather with your household, get comfortable, and get ready for Earth Day 50 Movie Night! Check out our Movie Goer’s Guide to Earth Day list of films, documentaries and livestreams (below) — and celebrate our planet! While watching, jot down what you learned, what moved you, what thoughts it prompted. Pose a question to start a discussion: what impact did the experience have on each of you watching?
Post about the film or video and how it made you feel on social media, with a snapshot of your Earth Day movie night set-up! Tag the film and/or filmmaker, as well as @TurningGreenOrg with #TGClassroom and #EarthDay.
A Movie Goers Guide to Earth Day
Films:
- Before the Flood: Available to rent or buy on iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play
- Biggest Little Farm: Available on Hulu, buy or rent from Google Play, iTunes, or Amazon, or find it on demand from select retailers
- Chasing Coral: Available on Netflix
- Eating Up Easter: Purchase e-ticket for $12, airs April 23 at 6:00 PST
- Fantastic Fungi: Available to rent for $4.99 or buy for $14.99 through its website
- Minimalism: Available on Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and Vimeo
- Our Planet: Available on Netflix
- Planet Earth: Available for $1.99 on YouTube, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, Amazon, and Philo Subscription. Episodes for free on BBC UK.
- Story of Plastics: Watch on Discovery Channel at 2:00 pm EST/PST or available on DiscoveryGO
- The Lorax: Rent for $3.99 on YouTube, iTunes or Amazon Prime, then join a live conversation with illustrator Paige Braddock, hosted by David Templeton
- The True Cost: Available for digital rental for $6.00 or digital download for $9.99.
Live Streams:
- Kiss the Ground: Live podcast on Zoom featuring Paul Hawken, discussing how breakdowns can lead to breakthroughs 10am PT
- Climate Reality Project Live Stream: Various live streams running throughout the whole day featuring activists, performers, thought leaders, and artists. Be sure to check the schedule by scrolling to the bottom!
- Exploratorium Earth Day Celebration: 1:00-2:30 pm PDT. Features exploration of Earth science in your kitchen, environmental benefits of sheltering in place, and a discussion of exponential growth in regards to our environment. Streaming on site or on YouTube and Facebook.
- Saving Half the Earth by the Center for Biological Diversity: 4:00 pm PT Features a discussion through Zoom on how to prevent and end extinction.
- Meet the Explorers!: An online panel featuring two National Geographic Explorers on Thursday, April 23 at 3:00 pm PT
- Eat the Earth: Webinar on sustainable food choices
- DEEP LOOK Earth Day Film Fest: Thursday, April 23 6:00-7:00 pm PDT
- @onda.wellness: livestream with farmers who are regenerating the Earth 3pm PT
- Make Every Day Earth Day: YouTube livestream distance learning event with the California Academy of Science team at 12:30 PM
- City Nature Challenge: YouTube livestream to bring nature to you and connect with people around the world, even if you’re sheltering in place.
- Nasa Science Live: feature experts from around the agency talking about how NASA science and technology are used to understand and improve our environment. The program airs at 3 p.m. on NASA TV, YouTube Premiere, Facebook Watch Party and Periscope/Twitter.
- Earth Science Video Talks: Series of short videos on a wide range of topics, from scientific advances since the first Earth Day to research expeditions in the air and on the ground. The series will be posted in a playlist on NASA’s Science Mission Directorate YouTube channel.
DELIVERABLES
Upload a PDF Document with your responses. Post about the film or video and how it made you feel on social media, with a snapshot of your Earth Day movie night set-up! Tag the film and/or filmmaker, as well as @TurningGreenOrg with #TGClassroom and #EarthDay.
Submission Guidelines
- If you do not see an upload button, you need to log in
- Submit all entries as PDFs; no Word or Pages documents
- Be sure to include all content for your submission in one document
- Do not include # or spaces in filenames
- You will see a confirmation in green that your submission uploaded correctly; if you do not see this confirmation, please try again
- Send any questions to classroom@turninggreen.org
Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #TGClassroom.
THINK
You have learned so much this month about the world around us and how to be more environmentally conscious. Are you seeing the world through a different lens now versus just one month ago? Today is the day to celebrate the planet, take action, and commit to change. We need you too! Make a pledge to be a changemaker for the planet. Fighting for the Earth and for our future requires two kinds of change: individual and systemic. Join the We the Planet campaign this Earth Day!
ACTIVITY
Check out this We the Planet campaign video to learn more.
- Look at these resources for different pledges you may consider
- Film yourself pledging to commit to one personal change and work towards one type of systemic change this year
- Share it and challenge others to join you! Tag @TurningGreenOrg and use the hashtags #EarthDay2020 and #MyChangeOurChange, as well as #TGClassroom
DELIVERABLES
Upload a PDF Document with your pledge and a screenshot of your social media post. Tag @TurningGreenOrg and use the hashtags #EarthDay2020, #MyChangeOurChange, and #TGClassroom.
Submission Guidelines
- If you do not see an upload button, you need to log in
- Submit all entries as PDFs; no Word or Pages documents
- Be sure to include all content for your submission in one document
- Do not include # or spaces in filenames
- You will see a confirmation in green that your submission uploaded correctly; if you do not see this confirmation, please try again
- Send any questions to classroom@turninggreen.org
Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #TGClassroom.