Earth in Action

Help clean up the Earth

• PRINT
• EMAIL

A docent stamps a child's hand after completing the Biodiversity In Your Backyard activity. (Photo: Courtesy of Columbus Zoo and Aquarium)

Get ready to put on some rubber gloves and join a cleanup crew! In Columbus, Ohio, the Columbus Zoo is setting up a group called Party for the Planet. This year-old foundation is cleaning up trash around the city.

Party for the Planet is one of 70 cleanup crews for the Columbus zoo. The organization wants to invite people of all ages to help out around the community.

"This [program] is a reminder that we need to pick up," said Lisa Beebe, events/promotion coordinator for the zoo.

People are encouraged to join environmental teams. Environmental teams such as Party for the Planet give you support so you know you're not alone.

The Columbus Zoo also provides information to help the environment. On their Web site, you can visit Animal Tracks. Animal Tracks has tips for kids starting to clean their own yards.

Another program the zoo has is Habitat Hollow. This is actually an exhibit made completely out of recycled objects.

"As of right now we are taking steps to help the Earth," Beebe said.

Though we still have a long way to go, just keeping your backyard clean is a start.

Faith Aleshire is a member of the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.

Earth Day
Mayor Martin Chavez has made a positive difference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, especially when it comes to the environment. Recently he was recognized for extending his influence around the world.

Earth Day: Cleaning Up
Not all plants are great for every environment. Some plants are growing too fast and are doing harm. So to help clean up the environment, people are volunteering to pull these plants.

LESSON PLAN	Teaching math skills about natural resources Students will learn about natural resources and fossil fuels while practicing math skills.
UNIT PLAN	Bars, Lines, & Pies! Build graphing skills with lessons and activities involving real-world data about the environment and recycling.
ONLINE ACTIVITY	Kids' Environmental Report Card Make your voice heard by voting in the Kids' Environmental Report Card.