10 Earth Day Activites for Kids

We have compiled our favorite monarch activities to do with kids this Earth Day! These activities can easily be paired with free online lesson plans to give kids an educational experience that they won't forget!

Try our Pollinator Pouches for a variety of wildflowers and milkweed! These seed pouches contain 17 different nectar-rich wildflowers and 4 types of milkweed for a complete nectar and host plant source for butterflies! 

Here are a list of Amazing Monarch Facts that will fascinate kids of all ages! 

Milkweed Seed Balls

Submitted by Jennifer Dawson

Milkweed seed bombs are fun and easy to make and a great way to create Monarch habitat. Seed bombs are also the perfect winter project to get kids interested in gardening and the environment!

In the same vein as making seed bombs, one could also make a seed bomb out of native pollen-rich plants, so that not only can children save the monarchs, bees, and other pollinators, they can get physical while doing so. After all, many children, especially those who are neurodivergent, tend to learn better through touch. Parents of children on the autism spectrum know this fact intimately, which is why milkweed gardening may provide an additional benefit. 

Milkweed seeds can be purchased from Save Our Monarchs here. If you are a school, 4-H club, scout troop or homeschool provider click here for your FREE seeds. 

Clay Butterflies

Here is a great tutorial by 'that artist woman' on making clay butterflies! 

Start Milkweed from Seed

Growing milkweed from seed is a fun activity for all ages and can be taught alongside Rearing Monarchs in the Classroom or a Starting a School Pollinator Garden. 
*Note: It is best to cold stratify milkweed seeds for 30-60 days in order to increase germination rates. Plan your lessons accordingly.  

Milkweed seeds available for purchase here.

If you are a school, 4-H club, scout troop or homeschool provider click here for your FREE seeds. 

Rear Monarchs 

In the wild, Monarch eggs and larvae have a very small chance of survival. Several studies have documented mortality rates of over 90% during the egg and larva stages. That means only 10% of eggs and caterpillars will reach adulthood!

There are many free online printables on the life cycle of butterflies. This is a great printable for a butterfly journal.  We recommend teaching a lesson on Monarch life cycles in conjunction with rearing Monarchs.  This is a great how-to on rearing monarchs in the classroom or at home. 

Monarch Mask

Creating and painting Monarch Masks are another fun activity to make with kids while learning about the wonderful world of monarchs! 

Butterfly Stick Puppet

Perfect for home, school, and butterfly-themed community programs, this color and cut butterfly stick puppet is an easy, inexpensive, and engaging craft for kids of all ages.

Butterfly Squish Painting

The Butterfly Squish Painting is a very simple, easy art project that can be fun for all ages but especially K-3rd grades. 
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You can also pair art projects like this with activities such as:
​- Rearing monarchs in the classroom
- Starting a butterfly garden
- Fundraising
- Monarch tag and release program
- Bio-blitzes
- Scavenger Hunts
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Start a Fundraiser

Save Our Monarchs wants to partner with your school! 

We are currently working with school districts across the country that want to educate their students about the plight of the monarch, and spread the word throughout their community through various fundraising efforts and outreach.

Click here to read more about our two fundraising options. 

Plant a Butterfly Garden

You don't need a lot of space to start a pollinator garden! A few containers or raised beds can provide a habitat for hungry butterflies and bees. Outdoor classrooms can encourage observation, exploration and  instill land stewardship values. Teachers can also build a curriculum around the garden, focusing on subjects such as: biology, environmental studies, writing, and art.

Our goal is to reach 20K schools garden in 2020 and this includes homeschool gardens!
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More information on starting a school pollinator garden. 

Symbolic Monarch Migration

Every year Journey North sends a flock of Monarch symbolic butterflies in the mail to schools in Mexico and they return in the Spring. 

"Join students across the globe to create symbolic monarch butterflies to send to Mexico. Children who live beside the monarchs’ winter sanctuaries in Mexico will protect the paper butterflies and return them in the spring. Through the Symbolic Migration, children are united by the monarch butterfly and celebrate its spectacular migration. They learn authentic lessons of conservation and international cooperation."

​Metamorphosis Dramatization

Submitted by Jennifer Dawson

​This last method needs no actual plants or animals – only enthusiastic children. A monarch caterpillar’s metamorphosis is one of the most dramatic events in the animal world, so why not dramatize it? Children can be induced to put on a play wherein a monarch caterpillar transitions into a monarch butterfly. This can be done with a class of students or at home with parents playing some of the roles. A personalized approach to monarch awareness can be more effective than one that is theoretical.
Monarch butterflies are iconic creatures that many children will feel privileged to learn about. However, they are currently experiencing a population crisis. With the knowledge gained from guest speakers, milkweed planting, and metamorphosis dramatizations, such children can join the fight to save the monarchs.

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Get creative and think up your own activity! Please send any Monarch activity ideas to becki@saveourmonarchs.org and we will keep adding to the list. Thank you for reading!