🌍 Recognizing Earth Day the What’s Stirring Way

Learning, Literacy, and a Little Bit of “Dirt” (the fun kind!)

Earth Day is more than a date on the calendar—it’s a reminder that the world we live in is something we all share, care for, and learn from together.

At What’s Stirring, we believe the best learning happens when it’s hands-on, meaningful, and shared. That includes not just cooking and connection—but building literacy through conversation, vocabulary, and real-world experiences that help kids express what they’re learning.

This year, we partnered with the Boys & Girls Club, bringing together 75 youth and 10 adults—including teenagers—in one energetic, shared space to celebrate Earth Day in a way they won’t forget.

And yes… it involved “mud.” 🍫🌱

🍫 Mudcake with a Mission

This mudcake may not be in our current cookbook—but for Earth Day, it was the perfect fit.

This wasn’t just a snack. It was a learning experience.

As students built their “Earth in a cup,” they weren’t just layering ingredients—they were building understanding:

• Crushed cookies represented soil

• Pudding reflected the layers of the Earth

• Gummy worms highlighted living organisms beneath the surface

Students were encouraged to use words like soil, environment, and layers as they asked questions and shared ideas. Many were already familiar with these concepts, having discussed Earth Day earlier in the week at school or through homeschooling.

Because when kids can say it, explain it, and connect it—they truly understand it.

🏀 From the Kitchen to the Gym

This experience went beyond a small group—it brought the entire club together.

With younger children and teens participating side by side, the energy was high, the laughter constant, and the learning visible in every corner of the gym.

Older youth stepped into leadership—supporting younger participants, asking thoughtful questions, and modeling engagement.

That’s the power of making learning interactive, inclusive, and community-driven.

📚 Literacy in Action

Earth Day gave us more than a chance to create—it gave us a chance to communicate.

Throughout the experience, students practiced:

• Speaking skills by sharing ideas and answering questions

• Listening skills by engaging with peers and facilitators

• Vocabulary development by using Earth-focused language in real conversation

• Critical thinking by connecting the activity to real-world impact

• Expression by explaining what Earth Day means to them

  
  

Students also expressed their understanding through writing. One shared:

“What I learned is if you don’t recycle, that can make a bad environment for both animals and humans.”

Even in a high-energy gym environment, literacy showed up through conversation, curiosity, and confidence.

🌱 What Kids Shared About Earth Day

Children described why caring for the Earth is important in simple but powerful ways.

Some shared:

• “It takes care of us.”

• “Help plants grow.”

• “Clean air is important.”

  
  

Others made deeper connections:

• “It affects animals.”

• “We need to fix their habitat.”

• “Keep pollution from happening.”

  
  

One student thoughtfully added:

• “It gets us resources that help us, like water and materials.”

  
  

Another emphasized long-term responsibility, sharing that we need:

“sustainable actions to make sure we take care of animal habitats.”

These responses reflect not just understanding—but awareness, empathy, and the ability to clearly express ideas.

💛 More Than an Activity

At the end of the experience, students were asked one simple question:

“What is one thing you can do this week to help the Earth?”

Some shared aloud, while others reflected quietly—practicing how to organize and express their thoughts.

This moment wasn’t just reflection—it was literacy, voice, and ownership in action.

The experience ended in celebration, with students dancing and enjoying music from a DJ—including songs like “We Are the World.” It was a joyful reminder that caring for the Earth is something we do together.

🌍 What’s Stirring Forward

This Earth Day experience showed that learning doesn’t have to be complicated—it just has to be intentional.

Through food, conversation, and shared experiences, What’s Stirring helps families and communities:

• Learn together

• Grow together

• Build literacy together

• Give back together

And it can start with one simple action:

• ♻️ Recycle one item each day

• 💧 Turn off water when not in use

• 🌱 Care for a plant or outdoor space

• 🗑️ Pick up trash in your community

Because small actions, done consistently, can make a big difference.

If you’re an organization, school, or community partner interested in bringing experiences like this to your space, we’d love to connect.

Let’s keep stirring. 🌱✨

Photos shared with parent/guardian permission for enrolled participants. Some images have been modified to protect the privacy of youth without confirmed media consent.