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Celebrate Earth Day 2000!

© Meg Greene Malvasi

On April 22, 1970 the first Earth Day celebration was held in the United States. The event turned out to be one of the largest celebrations ever! More than 20 million people participated in activities of all kinds, including classes on the dangers of pollution to our environment, taking nature walks, marching in parades, and learning how to protect the environment. The Mayor of New York even banned automobiles from traveling down Fifth Avenue, one of the city's busiest streets, for the day!

By 1990, Earth Day had emerged as a world-wide holiday where people came together to celebrate the Earth, its many wonders, and to learn how to protect its resources. This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of Earth Day. Listed below are some books, web sites, and other activities that aid in our understanding of why protecting the earth and its diverse offerings is so important. The list is by no means complete, but should provide a good starting point for children and adults who wish to learn more about Earth Day and our environment.

Web Sites

Earth Day: The Real Story includes a brief history of Earth Day, and a copy of the official proclamation of the First Earth Day.

Earth Day Project Library is a wonderful resource. Included are a history of the celebration, resources, activities, and events .

Earth Day Network provides a listing of Earth Day events througout the world, a listing of present and future goals in protecting the environment, an on-line store, and other resources.

The International Earth Day Site Homepage is filled with articles and other information compiled by John McConnell, founder of Earth Day.

Books

To learn more about Earth Day visit your library to see these titles:

Robert Gardner, in his book, Celebrating Earth Day: A Sourcebook of Activities and Experiments, shows exactly how things like trash, littering, and polluting affect the earth. Through a series of entertaining and enlightening projects, Gardner helps make the concept of "pollution" and "environmental responsibility" more than words. (Grade 6+)

Linda Lowery's Earth Day is a straightforward history of the celebration from its very beginnings to the world-wide event it has become today. The author also includes suggestions on how younger children and their families can help protect the environment through daily activities. (Grade 1+)

The excellent Environmental Atlas of the United States by Mark Mattson is an entertaining and educating source book for children. Topic chapters include Ecosystems, People, Farms, Cities and Suburbs, Air Resources and Garbage. Mattson also provides an extensive bibliography, places for kids to write for more information on enviromental issues, a glossary, and some interesting facts. (Grade 4+)