Books and Activities to Learn about the Environment

The last theme of the Storybook Science series is ecosystems and the environment. Some of my blogger friends are sharing their favorite books and activities to learn about the environment. You’ll find ideas about the beach, bug hunting, gardening, pollution, recycling, and more! Amazon affiliate links are included in this post. Click on the picture of the book.

Books and Activities to Learn about the Environment

Learn about Different Ecosystems

These activities focus on a specific ecosystem or habitat. Read the books and then have fun trying out the ideas.

After reading Mabel Jones and the Forbidden City, make your own edible pirate ecosystem (it’s a beach ecosystem). This fun idea is from Nerdy Mama.

Learn about 3 animals who live together in Sharing a Shell. Then, head out to the beach to explore. Check out Rainy Day Mum’s top tips for rock pooling with kids.

Edventures with Kids created a bug hunt (download the free printable) inspired by Small Wonders, a book about naturalist Jean-Henri Fabre and his insect world.

Check out the all of the gardening fun for kids Mama Smiles has to share. They were inspired by The Curious Garden to do some gardening of their own.

Read Planting a Rainbow and then learn more by creating flower garden collage art like School Time Snippets.

Environmental Education Activities

These activities focus on recycling and pollution. The books are a great springboard to start conversations about protecting our environment.

Begin a discussion on recycling with the question: How Long Does It Last? This idea from Smart Tinker was inspired by The Lorax.

Set up an easy decomposition experiment to see what will break down first. This idea from Science Sparks was also inspired by The Lorax.

Try this oil spill clean up experiment from Kitchen Counter Chronicles. It’s the perfect follow up to Harriet’s Home at Sea, a book about a little girl’s home on the Great Barrier Reef and the devastating effects an oil spill has there.