Earth Day is the perfect time to inspire kids to care for our planet while having fun. These Earth Day movies for kids combine entertainment with powerful environmental lessons about recycling, conservation, and kindness to nature. For more learning ideas, explore our Earth Day worksheets and activities to keep kids engaged beyond the screen.
10+ Earth Day Movies For Kids
These Earth Day movies for kids mix fun stories with simple lessons about caring for our planet:
1. The Lorax
The Lorax is based on Dr. Seuss’s picture book of the same name for young readers. In 2012, the story was adapted for the big screen, with trees playing a significant role in the ecosystem. The narrative commences with the encounter of a twelve-year-old child with the Lorax, the protector of the forest, who battles to prevent deforestation on his planet. Danny DeVito plays the grouchy, cruel, yet endearing figure. You’ll pick up some knowledge on deforestation from The Lorax, who speaks for the trees.
2. WALL-E
In the epic 2008 film, Earth is a rubbish wasteland inhabited by a lone intelligent robot named Wall-E, seven centuries after humanity’s demise. After making the planet uninhabitable, humans left and are now exiled aboard massive spacecraft that linger in the vacuum of space. A robot named Eve is deployed to determine whether Earth is once again a habitable planet when a spacecraft named Eve one day touches down on the planet. Eve astounds Wall-E, and he falls in love with her. WALL-E decides to travel to space with her when it is time for her to return. He will persuade people to return to their terrestrial home and take proper care of it thanks to his amazing exploits. Dark imagery of Earth as a barren wasteland serves as a warning of what will actually occur if we don’t make changes to our current behavior.
3. Bambi
The plot of this 1942 animated classic centers on a fawn whose mother was murdered by hunters. Bambi grows into a stunning deer and learns how to survive without his mother with the support of his forest buddies. He encounters Faline, a different deer, while meandering through the woodland and falls in love with her. Everything proceeds as planned until a large forest fire breaks out the following day, consuming nearby trees and any animals that were unable to flee. When hunting dogs attack a cat, Bambi tries to protect her. They take up residence on a stunning island after managing to flee from the fire and the hounds. There, they discovered serenity and went on to have happy lives. This beloved children’s animated film offers a poignant and endearing tale while also providing a tiny window into the harsh realities of both humankind and the natural world. Even the hardest-hearted hunters may consider putting down their weapons after witnessing the heartbreaking scene of Bambi’s mother being shot.
4. March of the Penguins
This 2005 French documentary, which features Morgan Freeman as the narrator, follows the amazing yearly migration of Emperor penguins to their ancestral breeding grounds deep below Antarctica. Finding the ideal partner is the first step in the penguin’s journey, as they are monogamous. Lover’s adventure through one of the world’s most hostile places will begin at the end of summer. This dangerously dangerous documentary chronicles their grueling trek. This documentary’s stunning camera work, breathtaking scenery, and accurate portrayal of Antarctic life are what made it so renowned and unforgettable.
5. Arctic Tale
A 2007 documentary film called Arctic Tale explores polar bears and walruses and shows the harsh environment they inhabit. Seela the walrus and Nanu the polar bear are the two main protagonists in the stunning cinematography. In contrast to traditional documentaries, Arctic Tale takes a fresh tack by personalizing the animals rather than portraying them as ferocious, savage creatures. The depiction of the polar tundra is vibrant and brimming with familial warmth, and Queen Latifah’s voiceover heightens the sense of “We Are Family.” In addition to depicting the animals’ daily lives and interactions with one another, Arctic Tale also discusses how those species are losing their habitat as a result of global warming. The youngest members of the family would benefit much from seeing this touching, poignant, and extremely educational documentary about climate change.
6. Hoot
The exploits of three young kids who attempt to save an endangered breed of owls are portrayed in this 2006 film, which is based on the Carl Hiaasen book “Hoot.” The group attempts to thwart a rapacious business owner who wants to develop a pancake restaurant on an endangered owl’s property. The younger family members are inspired to love and be passionate about nature by the adventures of the three middle school pupils.
7. Happy Feet
The protagonist of this 2006 Disney animated comedy is a young Emperor penguin named Mumble, who lacks Heartsong and is unable to sing like the other members of his species. Nevertheless, Mumble possesses a special ability that no other penguin has ever seen: tap dancing. The film’s core lesson is that it’s acceptable to be who you are and value your individuality, but it also discusses how human activity has reduced the amount of food available to penguins. If you like this film, you should definitely watch the sequel, which picks up with a new threat: melting icebergs that are threatening Emperor penguins’ homes.
8. Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo tells the tale of the blue tang Dory and the widower clownfish Marlin, who go to Sydney over the ocean in search of Marlin’s lost kid Nemo.
While en route to save Nemo from a dentist’s establishment in Sydney Harbor, the companions come across lethal aquatic creatures like sharks, anglerfish, and jellyfish. Nemo, himself, and the other marine life devise a plan to go home and resume their free lives in the interim.
The lesson of Finding Nemo is to respect marine life and its natural environments. Along with watching a good movie with your kids, you can also teach them how to be ethical shoppers.
To enable our little Nemo to live in harmony with his family and friends, emphasize the value of the sea!
9. Avatar
The world’s highest-grossing movie, Avatar, also marks the beginning of a lengthy franchise with a significant environmental message. In James Cameron’s masterwork of computer graphics, humanity has run out of resources on Earth and is looking for energy on other planets. A romantic tale between a former Marine and a local on the planet Pandora during their search for unobtanium is also included. The narrative also demonstrates how mining unobtanium in an attempt to protect his home planet would inevitably lead to the devastation of another. James Cameron’s classic movie will astound you with its breathtaking visual effects!
10. Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
A fun and engaging family film, The Ice Age 2: The Meltdown does raise some significant environmental issues, most notably those related to global warming.
As widespread flooding from global warming threatens their once-icy region, Manny, Sid, and Diego set out to locate a haven. Another mammoth that travels with the passengers and mistakenly believes he is an opossum joins them on their perilous voyage.
Although discussing climate change with kids can be challenging, watching this film will undoubtedly increase their understanding of the issue, make them more conscious of their activities, and inspire them to make a difference down the road.
Final Words
Take into consideration the Earth Day movies listed above if you want to provide your kids with more of an entertaining and instructive movie-watching experience! These films are readily available on the Internet; therefore, on April 22, Earth Day, let’s get ready a project or a TV and spend the evenings watching movies with the kids.
After movie time, keep the fun and learning going with our Earth Day trivia — a perfect way to test what your students or kids know about our planet!
