Celebrate Earth Day Through Music

Earth Day is a perfect opportunity to connect music education with environmental awareness. In general music classes, students can explore the beauty of the Earth, learn about sustainability, and express their care for the planet through music and creativity. Here are some engaging Earth Day music activities that blend music-making with eco-conscious learning: 

Let students explore sound by building their own instruments from items that would otherwise be discarded. This could include: 

• Shakers made from water bottles filled with rice or beans 
• Drums using oatmeal containers or tin cans with balloons as drum heads 
• Guitars made with tissue boxes and rubber bands 

Once complete, students can use their DIY instruments to compose or perform simple rhythms, songs, or even an original “Earth Day Jam.” 

Incorporate songs that celebrate nature or encourage care for the environment. Great examples include: 

• “This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie 
• “It’s a Small World” by the Sherman Brothers 
• “The Earth Is Our Mother” (traditional Native American chant) 

Encourage students to add movements or sign language, or accompany the songs with classroom instruments. 

Invite students to write their own lyrics about the Earth, recycling, animals, plants, or taking care of the planet. You can use a familiar melody like “Twinkle Twinkle” or “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” as a framework. 

This activity promotes creativity, collaboration, and environmental literacy. 

Ask students to imagine they’re in a rainforest, ocean, or meadow. What do they hear? Have them recreate these soundscapes using body percussion, instruments, and voice: 

• Bird calls with recorders or whistles 
• Rain sounds with finger snaps or egg shakers 
• Wind with breathy sounds or scarves in movement activities 

Record or perform the soundscapes as a class for a calming and immersive experience. 

Play music inspired by nature—such as Vivaldi’s “Spring” from The Four Seasons, Debussy’s “Clair de Lune”, or even more modern works with natural sound elements. After listening, guide students in reflecting: 

• What images did the music create? 
• How did the music make you feel about nature? 
• What might the composer be saying about the Earth? 

This builds musical literacy while deepening emotional and environmental awareness. 

Invite visual arts, science, or language arts into your music lesson: 

• Draw or paint what students hear in an Earth-inspired song 
• Research how animals use sound in the wild 
• Write poems or raps about environmental protection 

These interdisciplinary connections reinforce learning and show students how music fits into the larger world. 

Music can be a powerful way to connect with the Earth and each other. By celebrating Earth Day in music class, students not only make joyful noise—they also learn how to use their voices and creativity to care for the world around them. 

What better way to honor the planet than through song? 

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Blog Post Contributor: Erin Zaffini