#1 Earth Day originated in 1970 as a way to remind all inhabitants of our planet to be responsible trustees of Earth.

• Share with a child the history of Earth Day, the controversy over its designated date of the March Equinox or a date in April, and information about our home planet.  Click here for Earth information.

• After reviewing the Introduction to the Earth, together with your student answer the following basic questions about our Earth. You might learn something new with this link.

• John McConnell was the founder of Earth Day and he has 77 Theses on the Care of the Earth that are embraced by the United Nations. An older child can locate these and help your family become aware of each person’s responsibility to our mutual living environment.

#2  April is a month of multiple weather events. You can experience the sun, clouds, rain, or snow. The temperature varies from cold to hot!!!! Making a weather chart this month will keep you busy.

• Chart on a calendar the daily temperature and type of day (sunny, cloudy, partly cloudy) Listen to the meteorologists on television for the correct wording to use. Pick a consistent time of day to check the temperature as a guide for the month – before school, before dinner, or another convenient time

• Encourage a child to forecast the weather by gathering information from newspapers, internet, or TV. Decide on a day for him to be the meteorologist and hang a map to present the weather with the family. This encourages organizing thoughts and speaking before a group. Set a timer and allow him a 3 minute segment for weather which is similar to the amount of time a meteorologist is allowed on a live news program

• There are great short poems to memorize that can be shared with friends and relatives.

Rain, Rain
Rain, rain, go away
Come again some other day
Carly’s (insert child’s name) friends all want to play
Come again some other day

It's raining, it's pouring,
It's raining, it's pouring,
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed and he
Bumped his head
And he couldn't get up in the morning.

For older children introduce them to an Alfred Lord Tennyson quote from Locksley Hall  “In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love."

• Introduce the classical music from Antonio Vivaldi, “The Four Seasons” and listen to “Spring” at bedtime or while doing homework. Most libraries will have a copy available to check-out.

#3 Spring is a good time to review your reading material. These picture books for young children illustrate how spring can offer new beginnings.

• The First Forest by John Gile

• My Mama Had A Dancing Heart, She shared That Heart With Me by Libba Gray

An older child who is intrigued with spring’s tornadoes will enjoy this book

• Storm Chasing Handbook by Tim Vasquez

• The following websites are interesting for the information and pictures shared. For those who do storm chasing as a hobby the site also provides tour information

  • Tempest Tours SCE

  • Tornado Express Tours

Let me know by e-mail what your favorite activity was this month. I am compiling information for a resource book and want your input. Thanks.