Home
Who We Are Take Actions Become an Earth Scout Youth Changing the World Earth Scouts Stores Donations Contact Us 
The Earth Scouts Festival Guide
Katie Templin Culbert and Barbara Cloud-WeismanEach Earth Charter Principle, phrased in line with The Earth Charter for Young Children, is listed below. There are one to three activities for each Earth Charter Principle, usually one table per principle. Children can complete all of activities or just one of them - it's up to you how you want to structure the process. They get their Passport stamped at the completion of how ever many activities you want them to complete and then move on to the next table.
Earth Charter Principle - Respect for Nature: "We are all Keepers of the Earth."
Activity #1 - Sprouts
Materials
- Small plastic bags (3”x3”) pre-punch holes in the edge of the bag - above the ziplock (can be found in crafts’ stores)
- Cotton balls
- Water sprayer
- Radish seeds
- Yarn
- Hole puncher
Procedures
- Put two cotton balls in the plastic bag
- Add two or three radish seeds in the bag (between the cotton balls)
- Spritz the cotton balls with water about 3 times
- Ziplock the plastic bag
- Then put the yarn through the hole in the bag
- Measure around child’s neck – tie a knot
Things to remember
- As the child wears the Radish seed during the day – their body heat should cause the seed to sprout
- Help the child make the connection that the sprouting is caused by the water and their body heat - demonstrating our inter-connectedness with nature
- Relate water to rain and body heat to sun
Earth Charter Principle - Respect for Nature: "Love Nature and Clean Up Your Mess"
Activity # 2 - Recycling Center: Earth Day - Everyday
Materials
- Plastic bottles, cans, newspaper, cardboard, plastic rings (from 6 packs), plastic bags ….
- Recycling Information – Facts about numbers of products wasted daily – yearly
- Recycling bins
- Recycling schedules – residential/city
- Recycling Stickers
Procedures
- Discuss with the children – Which items do you see around your house? How do you dispose of them?
- How can these items destroy the environment? Endanger animals?
- What can you do to help be a 'Keeper of the Earth'?
- Point out recycling bins available throughout the Summit – Reduce – Recycle – Reuse
- Give each child a recycling sticker
Things to Remember
- Community speakers can speak about recycling and encourage the children to share their ideas with the other children in attendance
Earth Charter Principle – Human Rights: "Everyone Matters So Be Kind to Others!"
Activity # 1 – Turn This World Around For The Children (Free download of Raffi's song, inspired by Nelson Mandela — or Earth Scouts Song by Shana Banana Heartbeat of the Earth
Materials
- CD player/CD recording
- Words of the song/poem on large chart paper
- Mini maracas and tambourines
- Wonderful Worlds handouts
- Crayons, colored pencils
Procedure
- Listen to the song/poem
- Ask the children how the world could be more WONDERFUL
- What changes would they like to see
- Listen to the song/poem again
- Create a rhythm with the mini maracas and tambourines
- Children can share their ideas on another Wonderful World
Earth Charter Principle – Human Rights: "It’s the RIGHT Thing!"
Activity #2 - Song: What Can One Little Person Do?
Materials
- Illustrations/posters of Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King
- CD Player/CD recording (For free download and other activities associated with this song, click here.
- Words to the song on large chart paper
- For musical instruments: Film containers/beans or small gravel/tape
- For musical instruments: Paper plates (holes punched around the edges)/yarn/bell
- Chart paper and colorful markers
Procedures
- Each child gets a film container and some gravel
- Place the gravel in the film container. Tape the lid on tightly. (Maracas)
- Each child gets 2 paper plates/yarn/bells
- Lace the yarn through the edges of the plates and tie on the bells (Tambourines)
- As the children are working show them the posters of People who made a difference.
- Play the song - What Can One Little Person Do? – sing along – shake the mini maracas and the tambourines.
- Ask the children how One Person CAN make a difference?
Things to Remember
- Some children may not know about the people in the song – share some background information before and after the song.
- Let the children tell you about other people they think have made a difference. List their names on a poster.
Earth Charter Principle - Participatory Democracy: "Everyone Deserves to be Heard: Kids are People, too!"
Activity #1 - Button Making
Materials
- Paper circles for creating button design
- Crayons, color pencils
- Stencils
- Outer/inner ring/Plastic cover
- Button pin
- Button making machine (To save money, these buttons can be made out of white contact paper or labels that can stick to clothing)
- Poster with Earth Charter Key Words and pictures/photos (also, bumper stickers)
Procedures
- Each child is given a paper circle – use the key words and symbols to create an Earth Charter Message
- Paper is placed in the button maker on top of the plastic circle
- Rings are placed in the button maker
- Press down the handle.
- WOW! A button with a message (your voice)
Things to Remember
- Message/picture needs to be within about 1/4 inch of the outer circle so it does not get covered up inside the button
- Talk with the children about creating a personal message – something they would want others to see and ask them about regarding the Earth Charter
- There will be a poster of Earth Charter Key words and pictures/photos to help stimulate thinking about your VOICE (Note: Facilitators will need to make such a Poster. To see the Earth Charter, go to Earth Charter U.S.
Earth Charter Principle - Participatory Democracy: "Everyone Deserves to be Heard: Kids are People, too!"
Activity #2 – Bumper Stickers
Materials
- Contact Paper (white or light color) – precut into 3” x 11” lengths
- Permanent markers, crayons, colored pencils
- Stencils
Procedures
- Each child is given a precut piece of contact paper
- Use key words and symbols to create an Earth Charter message
Things to Remember
- Do not peel off the back paper until ready to stick to their car, wall, bulletin board (check with your parent for a great place to display your message)
- Talk with the children about creating a personal message – something they would want others to see and ask them about
- There will be a poster of Earth Charter Key words and pictures/photos to help stimulate thinking about your VOICE
Earth Charter Principle - Participatory Democracy: "Everyone Deserves to be Heard: Kids are People, too!"
Activity #3 - Letters to State Governor and City Mayor
Materials
- Several letters (crafted by facilitators on issues relevant to your community) on large poster/chart paper
- Pencils and pens
- Stickers of participation – similar to I Voted!
- Large Manila envelopes addressed to Governor and Mayor
Procedures
- Each child may choose which letter(s) relates to them – issue they feel strongly about.
- They sign the letter – adding their name to the concerned voices
- Each child receives a sticker indicating they used their VOICE
- Each child receives a copy of the actual letter to take with them
- The letters are mailed to Governor (First Name) and Mayor (First Name)
Things to Remember
- The letters will be about KID Concerns ... clean water, endangered animals, pollution, conservation, save the trees, stop development
- The letters will need to be read to many children and discussed – explain key words – let them tell you how they feel about the issue
- Reinforce that letter writing is a way to have your VOICE heard
Earth Charter Principle - Peace and Nonviolence: "Always Shake Hands and Make Up!"
Activity #1 - Human Knot
Materials
- 3-10 children
- Smiles and laughter
Procedures
- Each child crosses her/his arms
- Then each child holds hands with two different children
- This arm crossing should create a knot of humans
- Slowly, with respect for all those in the knot, the children begin to plan a way to un-tie themselves without breaking their hands
- The children will need to bend down and allow others to step over their arms as the knot unties
- IF – the children try and become frustrated - the knot can be broken in one place by two children letting go of each other’s hands. Then one of those children can be the leader to untie the others.
Things to Remember
- This activity needs to have facilitation so that no one gets hurt.
- Cooperation needs to be stressed as the way to reach success.
- Children of similar heights should be grouped together.
- It’s okay/GREAT if they want try it again after they experience the group problem solving Aha!
Earth Charter Principal - Peace and Nonviolence: "Always Shake Hands and Make Up!"
Activity #2 - “We Are One” Wall
Materials
- Butcher paper
- Markers, crayons, chalk
- Chart of Key Earth Charter Words
Procedure
- Butcher paper is hung on the wall
- Children are provided with markers and crayons
- Children are encouraged to express their feelings about peace and unity on the butcher paper.
- Words, sayings, quotes, drawings, graffiti that are respectful of individuals’ beliefs and the concept of World Peace and Unity
Things to Remember
- Encourage free expression
- Discuss how the activities relate to the PEACE WALL
- What can you as one person do to give PEACE a chance?
Earth Charter Principle - Economic Justice: "JUST Share!"
Activity #1 - Is the Price Right?
Materials
- Consumer Products (Nike shoe, jeans, radio, gameboy…)
- Food items (flour, rice, beans, bread, sugar…)
- Price Tags – actual prices (American/Third World)
- Income/allowance cards (names of countries on the back)
- Baby food jars of pennies – marked $10.00 each
- Comparison charts - showing average wage earned in sample countries and actual costs of food items and other products.
- World Map – countries flagged
Procedure
- About 6 children are the contestants on the Game Show
- Consumer and food products are on display. Price Tags are hidden.
- Each child is given an Income/allowance card showing how many jars of pennies they earn weekly
- Each child has a chance to spend their weekly earnings by stating how much they will pay (needs to be within their allowance)
- Jars of pennies are moved in front of each item to represent the amount the child is willing to pay.
- Actual price is shown.
- Compare how many jars of pennies earned weekly to how many jars of pennies needed to buy food or other items.
Things to Remember
- We want the children to get an awareness that not everyone – everywhere earns enough to buy what they need much less what they want - Reality vs. EARTH Charter World