World Environment Day | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with World Environment Day. World Environment Day is celebrated annually on June 5th. It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1972 at the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. The day is the biggest international day for the environment, encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Each year focuses on a specific theme, highlighting a particular environmental concern, from plastic pollution to biodiversity loss. It promotes global awareness and encourages individuals, communities, and governments to take responsibility for our planet's well-being. For official information, themes, and ways to get involved, please visit the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) website: www.un.org/en/observances/environment-day.

Friday 5th June 2026

Understanding World Environment Day in EYFS & KS1

Let's explore our amazing planet and learn how to be its best friend! 🌳🌎💧 World Environment Day is all about making a difference, big or small, to keep our Earth healthy and happy for everyone!

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a vital and engaging theme for exploring the environment, recycling, animals (especially endangered ones), plants, water conservation, habitats, sustainability, caring for our world, and understanding the world (the natural world). It's about inspiring children to become little environmental champions, fostering empathy for nature, and teaching simple actions they can take to protect our precious planet. This day offers fantastic planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities & invitations that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about conservation, environmental responsibility, and caring for Earth wonderfully impactful!

Why Is Learning About the Environment Valuable for Young Children?

Integrating World Environment Day and themes of environmental care, conservation, and sustainability into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) is incredibly important for fostering an early appreciation for nature, developing responsible habits, and laying the groundwork for future environmental stewardship.

• Fosters Connection to Nature: Encourages children to explore, observe, and develop a love for the natural world.

• Introduces Conservation Concepts: Explains, in an age-appropriate way, the importance of protecting animals, plants, and their diverse habitats.

• Promotes Sustainable Practices: Teaches practical actions like recycling, saving water, and reducing waste.

• Develops Responsibility: Cultivates a sense of care and stewardship for our planet and its resources.

• Enhances Scientific Understanding: Sparks curiosity about ecosystems, life cycles, and the interconnectedness of living things.

• Encourages Positive Action: Shows children that even small efforts can contribute to bigger environmental protection goals.

Engaging Environment & Nature Activities for World Environment Day (EYFS & KS1)

Let's celebrate World Environment Day by exploring, appreciating and caring for the world around us. These planning ideas, provision enhancements and learning opportunities encourage children to develop curiosity about nature, understand how living things depend on one another, and discover simple ways they can help care for our planet.

Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our dedicated ‘The Environment’, ‘Recycling’, ‘Endangered Animals’, ‘Plants’, ‘Water’ and ‘Wildlife’ resources.

Here’s some inspiration for celebrating World Environment Day in your setting. The following ideas may be adapted for various EYFS and KS1 settings. In EYFS, these ideas are best viewed as invitations to explore and enhancements to provision rather than activities every child is expected to complete. Practitioners may choose to follow children's interests and questions about nature, animals and the environment, using these resources flexibly. In KS1, some ideas may also be used within more structured teaching sequences where appropriate. Printable resources to support the following ideas may be found further down this page.

(Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity or enhancement and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken. Encourage respect for nature, curiosity about the world and positive environmental action.)

🌍 Understanding Our Planet

World Environment Day offers opportunities for children to develop an appreciation of Earth as the home we share with people, animals and plants.

Children might:

• Explore images of Earth from space.

• Discuss what makes our planet special.

• Talk about the places where people and animals live.

• Learn how humans depend on nature.

• Reflect on simple ways we can help care for our environment.

Our Earth-themed, environment and world resources can help support these conversations.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Create an "Our Wonderful World" investigation table.

• Add globes, maps and photographs to provision.

• Explore natural materials from different environments.

• Create collaborative Earth artwork.

• Use loose parts to represent land, oceans and habitats.

• Encourage children to talk about places they have visited.

🌿 Connecting with Nature

Helping children notice and appreciate nature is one of the most powerful ways to foster environmental awareness.

Children might:

• Observe birds, insects and other wildlife.

• Explore plants, flowers and trees.

• Compare natural objects.

• Notice seasonal changes.

• Learn about life cycles.

• Record discoveries through drawing, photography or mark making.

Our wildlife, bird, plant and life cycle resources can help enrich these investigations.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Create a nature observation station.

• Provide magnifiers and collecting trays.

• Go on a seasonal nature walk.

• Create leaf, flower or bark collections.

• Introduce birdwatching opportunities.

• Encourage nature journalling and sketching.

♻️ Recycling, Reusing & Reducing Waste

World Environment Day provides opportunities to discuss how we can reduce waste and use resources responsibly.

Children might:

• Learn what recycling means.

• Sort recyclable materials.

• Discuss what happens to rubbish.

• Explore ways to reuse everyday objects.

• Consider alternatives to single-use plastics.

Our recycling resources can help support these discussions and investigations.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Create a recycling centre role-play area.

• Sort real recyclable materials.

• Use junk modelling for creative projects.

• Create a class recycling station.

• Explore packaging and materials.

• Design posters encouraging recycling.

🌊 Water Conservation & Caring for Natural Resources

Water is an essential part of life and provides a meaningful context for environmental learning.

Children might:

• Discuss where water comes from.

• Explore how people, animals and plants use water.

• Investigate ways to save water.

• Learn about rivers, oceans and rainfall.

• Observe water in different forms.

Our water-themed resources can help support these explorations.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Create a water investigation area.

• Compare absorbent and waterproof materials.

• Measure and transport water outdoors.

• Explore rainwater collection.

• Create water-themed artwork.

• Conduct simple water conservation challenges.

🦋 Protecting Animals & Their Habitats

Many children are naturally interested in animals, making this an excellent starting point for environmental discussions.

Children might:

• Learn about endangered animals.

• Explore different habitats around the world.

• Discuss how people can help wildlife.

• Learn why habitats matter.

• Compare local wildlife with animals from other environments.

Our endangered animal, habitat and wildlife resources can help support these investigations.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Create small world habitat scenes.

• Build bug hotels and wildlife shelters.

• Plant pollinator-friendly flowers.

• Research favourite animals.

• Create habitat matching activities.

• Invite children to design wildlife-friendly spaces.

🌳 Outdoor Exploration & Environmental Stewardship

Meaningful environmental learning often happens outdoors through direct experience and active participation.

Children might:

• Help care for outdoor spaces.

• Plant seeds and nurture growing plants.

• Explore natural materials.

• Participate in simple environmental projects.

• Discuss ways to care for their local area.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Organise a litter-picking activity.

• Create a planting or gardening area.

• Build nature-inspired dens and structures.

• Develop a wildlife-friendly outdoor space.

• Explore outdoor STEM investigations.

• Encourage collaborative environmental projects.

🎨 Creative Responses to Nature

Nature provides endless inspiration for creativity, imagination and self-expression.

Children might:

• Create artwork inspired by plants and animals.

• Use natural materials in transient art.

• Explore environmental themes through storytelling.

• Create sculptures using recycled materials.

• Design posters encouraging environmental care.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Create nature weaving stations.

• Explore printing with leaves and natural objects.

• Build recycled-material sculptures.

• Make collaborative environmental murals.

• Use natural loose parts for creative design.

• Create story maps inspired by outdoor discoveries.

🔍 Explore More

To support your World Environment Day learning, you may wish to explore our resources linked to:

The Environment • Recycling • Endangered Animals • Plants • Water • Wildlife

You may also enjoy exploring related themes such as:

Beach School • Forest School • Gardening • Habitats’ • Ocean • Polar • Wetlands • Woodland (Temperate)

These ideas and provision enhancements offer meaningful ways to celebrate World Environment Day in EYFS and KS1 settings. By encouraging curiosity, appreciation and care for the natural world, practitioners can help children develop environmental awareness, respect for living things and a lifelong commitment to protecting our planet. 🌍🌱🦋

To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘World Environment Day’

Free ‘Environment’ related EYFS & KS1 activities, including ‘Recycling’, ‘Animals’, ‘Plants’ & ‘Endangered Animals’:

‘Recycling’ EYFS & KS1 activities:

(Find more resources on this theme on our dedicated ‘Recycling’ topic page.)

‘Endangered Animals’ EYFS & KS1 activity packs:

(Find more resources on this theme on our dedicated ‘Endangered Animals’ topic page.)

Learning about the ‘Earth’ EYFS & KS1 activities:

‘Wonderful Water’ EYFS & KS1 printable resources:

(Find more activities on this theme on our dedicated ‘Water’ topic page.)

Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes

Explore a wide variety of themes which help our children learn about and appreciate animal and plant life.

More Early Years Event Pages for June

Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children

Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!

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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'World Environment Day'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which established this international observance. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information, themes, and ways to get involved, please visit the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) website: www.unep.org/world-environment-day.