Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Two Earth Days?
We celebrate Earth Day. It's a little like a birthday party for the Earth. But did you know there are two Earth Days?
One Earth Day is held on the first day of spring each year. This day was founded by John McConnell. McConnell first launched the idea of a global holiday called Earth Day at a UNESCO Conference on the Environment in 1969. (UNESCO stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.)
The United Nations observes this Earth Day by ringing the U.N. Peace Bell. This tradition began on March 21, 1971. The United Nations Earth Day ceremony has continued each year since then on the first day of spring (the equinox).
March 20, 2014, marked the 44th annual tradition of ringing the Peace Bell at the United Nations to celebrate Earth Day. Over the years, celebrations have taken place in various cities worldwide at the same time as the celebration at the U.N. The equinox Earth Day at the U.N. is organized by the Earth Society Foundation, which was begun by John McConnell and Margaret Mead.
Another Earth Day is celebrated on April 22. This Earth Day began in 1970. It was started by a senator from Wisconsin named Gaylord Nelson.
