Daniela Weiner

11 Easy & Simple Earth Day Crafts for Kids, Preschoolers, and Kindergarten

Earth Day is a wonderful opportunity to teach kids about the importance of taking care of our planet.

Crafting with recycled or natural materials is a fun and hands-on way to celebrate this special day.

Here are 11 easy and simple Earth Day craft ideas for kids, preschoolers, and kindergarteners, complete with step-by-step instructions and a list of materials needed.

11 Easy & Simple Earth Day Crafts for Kids, Preschoolers, and Kindergarten

1. Paper Plate Earth

Materials Needed:

  • Paper plate
  • Blue and green paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Cotton balls
  • Glue

Paper Plate EarthInstructions:

  1. Paint the entire paper plate with blue paint to represent the ocean.
  2. Once dry, paint green landmasses over the blue to create continents.
  3. Glue cotton balls to the plate as fluffy clouds.
  4. Hang it on the wall or attach a string to make a mobile.

2. Recycled Bottle Planters

Materials Needed:

  • Empty plastic bottles
  • Scissors
  • Acrylic paints and paintbrushes
  • Potting soil
  • Small plants or seeds

Recycled Bottle PlantersInstructions:

  1. Cut the plastic bottle in half. Use the bottom half as a planter.
  2. Paint the bottle to resemble animals or fun patterns. Let it dry.
  3. Fill with potting soil and plant small flowers or herbs.
  4. Place on a windowsill and watch your plants grow!

3. Handprint Earth Craft

Materials Needed:

  • White construction paper
  • Blue and green paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Red marker or paint

Handprint Earth Craft Instructions:

  1. Paint your child’s hand with blue and green paint to mimic the Earth’s surface.
  2. Press the painted hand onto the construction paper.
  3. Once dry, draw or paint a red heart in the center of the handprint.
  4. Add a message like “Love Our Planet” at the bottom.

4. Nature Collage

Materials Needed:

  • Recycled cardboard or thick paper
  • Glue
  • Leaves, flowers, twigs, and other natural items

Nature CollageInstructions:

  1. Take a nature walk and collect various natural items.
  2. Arrange them on the cardboard to create a beautiful collage.
  3. Glue everything in place and let it dry.
  4. Display the collage as a natural piece of art.

5. Egg Carton Flowers

Materials Needed:

  • Egg cartons
  • Scissors
  • Paint and paintbrushes
  • Green popsicle sticks
  • Glue

Egg Carton FlowersInstructions:

  1. Cut the cups of an egg carton to create flower shapes.
  2. Paint them in bright colors and let them dry.
  3. Glue a green popsicle stick to the back of each flower as the stem.
  4. Arrange in a vase or stick them into the soil in a garden.

6. Coffee Filter Earth

Materials Needed:

  • Coffee filters
  • Blue and green markers
  • Spray bottle with water
  • String

Coffee Filter EarthInstructions:

  1. Color a coffee filter with blue and green markers.
  2. Lightly spray the filter with water to blend the colors.
  3. Allow the filter to dry completely.
  4. Hang as a suncatcher using a string or display in a window.

7. Earth Day Headbands

Materials Needed:

  • Construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Markers or crayons

Earth Day HeadbandsInstructions:

  1. Cut a strip of construction paper to fit around the child’s head.
  2. Draw and cut out Earths, trees, and animals from colored paper.
  3. Decorate the headband with these elements and glue them on.
  4. Secure the headband around the child’s head for a fun wearable craft.

8. Bottle Cap Bugs

Materials Needed:

  • Bottle caps
  • Paint and paintbrushes
  • Googly eyes (optional)
  • Small sticks or skewers
  • Glue

Bottle Cap BugsInstructions:

  1. Paint bottle caps to look like bugs such as ladybugs, bees, and butterflies.
  2. Add googly eyes if available.
  3. Glue the decorated bottle caps to small sticks.
  4. Use them as garden decorations or in potted plants.

9. Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars

Materials Needed:

  • Two toilet paper rolls
  • String
  • Paint or markers
  • Glue
  • Stickers (optional)

Toilet Paper Roll BinocularsInstructions:

  1. Paint or decorate the toilet paper rolls with markers and stickers.
  2. Glue the two rolls together side by side.
  3. Attach a string to create a neck strap.
  4. Use the binoculars for an outdoor nature exploration activity.

10. Leaf Rubbing Art

Materials Needed:

  • Leaves of different shapes and sizes
  • White paper
  • Crayons

Leaf Rubbing ArtInstructions:

  1. Place a leaf under a white piece of paper.
  2. Rub a crayon gently over the paper to reveal the leaf’s pattern.
  3. Experiment with different colors and leaf types.
  4. Create a beautiful display of leaf rubbings.

11. Earth Day Pledge Tree

Materials Needed:

  • Large poster board
  • Construction paper in green and brown
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Markers

Earth Day Pledge TreeInstructions:

  1. Draw a tree trunk on the poster board and cut out leaf shapes from green construction paper.
  2. Have kids write their Earth Day promises on the leaves (e.g., “I will recycle” or “I will save water”).
  3. Glue the leaves onto the tree to create a full, leafy canopy.
  4. Display the pledge tree in the classroom or at home as a reminder to take care of our planet.

These easy and simple Earth Day crafts not only provide a fun activity for kids but also teach them valuable lessons about sustainability, recycling, and appreciating nature.

Happy crafting and Happy Earth Day! 🌍🌱


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