Every year, on April 22nd, over 1 billion people worldwide take action to make the planet healthier. We've gathered a list of 20 Earth Day crafts that you can do with your kids to teach them about science, the environment, the ecosystem, and the steps that we can all take to make the Earth a healthier place to live.
1. Egg Carton Tree
This egg carton tree painting by Glued To My Crafts turns a used egg carton into a work of art. To make an egg carton tree, you’ll need an empty, clean egg carton, a large white canvas, green craft paint, brown craft paint, paint brushes, craft scissors, and a hot glue gun.
How To Make An Egg Carton Tree:
Cut out each section of the egg carton.
Paint the egg carton sections green.
Set the sections aside to dry.
Paint a tree trunk on the canvas with brown craft paint.
Glue the green egg carton pieces on the tree trunk to make leaves for the tree.the tree's leaves.
Paint fruits, birds, flowers, and other details onto the tree.
These recycled tin can wind chimes by Mom It Forward are a fun way to repurpose old tin cans. To make recycled tin can wind chimes, you’ll need 3 or 4 tin cans that can fit inside each other, a hammer, a nail, paint brushes, acrylic paint, and yarn.
How to Make Recycled Tin Can Wind Chimes:
Rinse out the cans and peel off the labels. You may need to scrub the cans and use hot water.
Punch a hole on in the top of each can with a hammer and a nail. Make sure the hole is at the center as centered as possible. Use a nail that to create a hole will create a hole wide enough for a piece of yarn.
Decorate the cans with acrylic paint.
Wait 30 minutes for the paint to dry, then thread a durable piece of yarn through the smallest can. If it is difficult to thread the yarn through the hole, pull it through the hole with tweezers so you can get a more secure grasp.
Before you thread the second can, measure out the space you want between the cans and tie a large knot in the yarn.
Repeat the five steps in for all the rest of the cans, and then hang your tin can wind chime from your porch or a tree!
These plastic water bottle flowers by Crafts By Amanda are a beautiful way to reuse single-use plastic water bottles. To make plastic water bottle flowers, you’ll need a plastic water bottle with a lid, white craft glue, scissors, sand or soil, pebbles or rocks, and a drinking straw or twig.
How to Make Plastic Water Bottle Flowers:
Remove the label and lid from the water bottle, but don’t throw them away. If your water bottle does not have a label, have a bit of scrap paper nearby to use instead.
Cut the water bottle in half and put the bottle half aside. Cut slits, about an inch or so wide, oin the upper part top half of the bottle. You should end up with 8 petals. Bend the petals outward.
Put the lid on the upper part of the bottle. top. Squeeze some white glue ointo the lid, then paste the straw or twig on it. and insert the straw or twig into the glue. Next, crumple the label of the bottle.crumble up the bottle label. Surround the straw with the label to give the straw a stability.
Put some sand or soil on into the bottom half of the water bottle, about 1.5 – 2 inches deepin depth. Pack it down a bit and insert the bottom end of the straw oninto it. Add pebbles or stones on top of the sand to help stabilize the straw.
CIf you like, cut strips of fabric to decorate the flower petals and the flowerpot. You can also round the petals by trimming the ends with scissors. This final step is optional.
This craft by Crafty Morning reuses an egg carton to create an adorable dragonfly. To make an egg carton dragonfly, you’ll need paint, an egg carton, white card stock paper, tissue paper, glue, pipe cleaners, and scissors.
How To Make An Egg Carton Dragonfly:
Cut up an egg carton to so that you have 6 connected cups. Paint the cups.
Cut out dragonfly wings with white card stock paper.
Cut out squares of tissue paper and glue them all over the wings.
Poke a knife or pen in into the front of the egg carton cups. Add a small pipe cleaner for the antennas.
Once the paint is dry, glue the wings on top of the second "cup" of the egg carton. Put heavy objects on the wings to keep them from curling up as they dry.
This salt dough handprint and photo keepsake by Teach Me Mommy is a fun craft that will last for years. Kids will love using their hands to mix up the salt dough and make an impression out of their hands. To make a handprint and photo keepsake, you’ll need a heart cookie cutter, a toothpick, all-purpose flour, salt, water, blue food coloring, and green food coloring.
How to Make a Handprint and Photo Keepsake:
To make the salt dough, mix 1 1/2 cup of flour and 1 1/2 cup of salt with about 3/4 cup of water. Mix it in the water slowly until you reach the desired consistency of playdough.
Divide the dough into two bowls. In one bowl, mix in a few drops of blue food coloring. In the other bowl, mix in a few drops of green food coloring.
Mix the blue and green dough to create a marbled look.
Put the dough in a silicone cake pan.
Press the clay down smoothly, not so it is no thicker than 1 centimeter.
Press your handprint on into the dough and make holes for the string.
Use a heart cookie cutter to press out a heart in the middle of the palm.
Use a toothpick to write words and the date oin the dough.
Bake the dough for about 3 hours at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Let it cool overnight.
Add a photo and string to your keepsake.
This marbled shaving cream Earth by iHeartCraftyThings is a messy craft that young kids will love. To make a marbled shaving cream Earth, you’ll need black and white cardstock paper, an aluminum pan, shaving cream, blue, green, and white paint, a squeegee, a toothbrush, a rubber spatula, a stirring stick, a paper plate or small paper bowl, scissors, glue, a cover for your workspace, and wipes.
How to Make A Marbled Shaving Cream Earth:
Trace a large bowl on onto your paper. Cut it out to create your Earth.
Lay your cover on the your table. Fill the bottom of your aluminum pan with shaving cream.
Squirt lines of blue and green paint onto the shaving cream in different directions. Use your stirring stick to create make lines up, down, and diagonal lines into the paint to create a marbled effect.
Lay your white circle down onto the shaving cream mixture. Press it down slightly and rub the circle carefully to help ensure the paint and shaving cream mixture adheres to the entire circle.
Slowly peel your marbled art Earth off and out of your pan and place it onto your covered work surface.
Use your squeegee to remove the excess shaving cream mixture from the your circle, leaving a marbled texture on your Earth. Let your marbled Earth sit to dry completely.
While your marbled Earth dries, get your outer space background ready. Pour a small amount of white paint onto a paper plate or small paper bowl. Dip your toothbrush into the white paint and then carefully flick speckles of white paint onto your black cardstock paper.
When both of your painted pieces are dry, add glue to the back of your marbled Earth and glue it onto your outer space background.
This Earth Day balloon print by I Heart Arts 'n Crafts is a simple craft that's great for toddlers and preschoolers. To make an Earth Day balloon print, you’ll need balloons, card stock paper, green paint, and blue paint.
How To Make An Earth Day Balloon Print:
Blow up your balloon and tie it.
Squirt some green paint and blue paint onto a the paper plate.
Stamp the balloon onto the card stock paper.
This simple craft by Fun Handprint Art Blog uses handprints and fingerprints to show that the Earth is in our hands. To make Earth Day handprint heart art, you'll need white cardstock, blue paint, green paint, red construction paper, skin-colored construction paper, scissors, a glue stick, and a pencil.
How to Make Earth Day Handprint Heart Art:
Draw a circle on the white paper.
Use two thumbprints to create green and blue hearts inside the circle, mimicking the land and ocean of the Earth.
Use a smaller finger to create smaller dots around the large circle to cover the pencil marks. Cut out the circle.
Trace both of your hands on skin-colored construction paper. Cut them out.
Glue the hands to the back of the plate with the fingers pointing out the sides.
Curl the fingers towards the plate and glue the tip of the middle finger, and put it down onto the plate.
Cut out a red heart and glue it to the center of the plate between the hands.
This simple stained glass Earth craft by Mom on Timeout is a great way to introduce to preschoolers to the importance of Earth Day. To make a stained glass Earth, you’ll need green tissue paper, blue tissue paper, wax paper, and glue.
How to Make a Stained Glass Earth:
Tear the tissue paper to into small pieces, — (the smaller, the better!).
Tear off a piece of wax paper that is double your project's width. Spread a thin layer of glue on the half part one-half of the wax paper.
Place the tissue paper on the glue to create your Earth.
Spread glue on the other half of the wax paper and fold it over the tissue paper. Smooth out the wax paper and leave it to dry.
Using a bowl or plate, cut out a circle from a piece of paper that will be used as Earth's border. Then, cut out the inside using a slightly smaller circle, leaving a thin circle.
Apply a thin line of glue to the circle and glue it onto your stained glass Earth.
Neatly trim the edges.
Punch a hole in the stained glass Earth to hang it up, or tape it to a window or door.
This milk carton birdhouse by Happiness Is Homemade turns an old milk carton into a home for feathered friends. This craft teaches kids about recycling, the effects that our actions have on nature, and the importance of caring for animals.
To make a milk carton birdhouse, you'll need: a clean, dry recycled milk or juice carton, white paint, a sheet of chipboard or recycled cardboard, school glue, a foam paintbrush, tissue paper squares in assorted colors, twine, a wooden spoon, an X-Acto Knife (if needed), and Mod Podge or spray sealer.
How to Make aA Milk Carton Birdhouse:
Lightly coat the recycled milk and juice cartons in white spray paint so the package lettering does not bleed and show through the tissue paper.
Coat the sides of the carton with a school glue and apply the tissue paper squares.
Gently brush the tissue squares with the sponge brush to ensure that all the edges are glued down and secured. Allow the birdhouse to dry.
To create the roof, fold a piece of recycled cardboard in half. Cover the cardboard with glue and tissue paper squares. Set the roof aside and let it dry.
Remove the plastic pouring spout with an X-Acto knife. You can also cut off excess cardboard from the roof ridge.
Cut an opening for the door.
Cut two small slits in an “X” shape about an inch below the door. Insert the handle of a wooden spoon to create your perch.
Before you push the spoon to the back of the carton, add a generous dab of glue to securely attach the end of the spoon to the interior back of the carton.
Cut 2 small slits about 2 inches apart on your roof piece. Thread the ends of your twine through the slits. Tie a knot securely on the underside so the twine won’t show.
Use a the school glue to attach the roof to your carton.
Give the milk carton birdhouse a couple of coats of outdoor Mod Podge or spray varnish, and hang it up outside.
11. Earth Day Slime
Kids can make their own mini Earth with this slime by Really, Are You Serious? The blue and green slime is perfect for Earth Day. To create Earth Day slime, you'll need Elmer’s Blue Washable Color Glue, liquid starch, glitter, and water.
How tTo Make Earth Day Slime:
Pour one bottle of blue glue into a bowl. Add warm water to the glue and stir. You can add glitter and 3 drops of essential oil to your slime.
While stirring, slowly pour in liquid starch until you have achieved the desired consistency.
Pull, stretch, and play with the slime to mix it well. Then, repeat the process with a bottle of green glue.
Once you've made the two slimes, separate them into lines and line them up side-by-side to make the blue and green stripes.
With this craft by Still Playing School, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners can create Earth Day paintings without making a mess. To create a no-mess Earth Day painting, you'll need white paper plates, large plastic zip bags, and washable green and blue paint.
How to Make a No-Mess Earth Day Painting:
Put a bit of green and blue paint on a plate. Place the plates inside the bags and seal them.
Kids will love smooshing the paint around to create their Earth.
This Earth Day handprint painting by Non-Toy Gifts makes a nice piece of decor for your home. To create an Earth Day handprint painting, you'll need white cardstock paper, contact paper, green and blue craft paint, a black marker, a pencil, and scissors.
How to Make an Earth Day Handprint Painting:
Decide how big your Earth art will be, and cut out the white cardstock paper.
Cut out enough contact paper to fit your cardstock paper and use a big round container (we used a big plastic bowl) to draw a circle in the middle of the contact paper. Cut out the circle and stick the contact paper to the cardstock paper.
Use your round container to draw a circle in the middle of the white cardstock paper. When sticking the contact paper onto the white paper, try to align the two circles.
Create the Earth with green and blue handprints.
Peel off the contact paper. Do it right away, rather than wait until the paint has dried. Otherwise, there is a chance that paint from your Earth will peel off with the contact paper.
Once the paint is dried, use a black marker to outline the Earth’s shape.
This craft by Look! We’re Learning! transforms toilet paper rolls and coffee filters into adorable butterflies. These toilet paper roll butterflies can be used to introduce young kids to recycling. To make toilet paper roll butterflies, you’ll need toilet paper rolls, construction paper, white basket-type coffee filters, pipe cleaners, markers, scissors, crayons, a glue stick, and clear tape.
How to Make Toilet Paper Roll Butterflies:
Cut a single sheet of construction paper in half horizontally. Wrap the half sheet of construction paper around the toilet roll and secure it with clear tape.
Fold the coffee filter in half and use a glue stick to seal it closed. Color the entire filter half.
Cut four small petal shapes out of a contrasting color of construction paper.
Glue two petal shapes on either side of the filter, then use a crayon to color a dot in the center of each petal. These are the butterfly’s wings.
Use the glue stick to attach the wings to the toilet paper roll.
Cut off a small piece of a colored pipe cleaner and fold it into a “V” shape. Tape it to the back of the toilet roll. These are the butterfly’s antennae.
Use a marker to add eyes and a smile.
This craft stick flower pot by Typically Simple is a simple craft that can teach young children about nature. To make a craft stick flower pot, you’ll need colored craft sticks, rubber bands, clean tin cans, ribbons, soil, and flowers.
How to Make a Craft Stick Flower Pot:
Place a rubber band snugly around the tin can.
Place a craft stick under the rubber band. Continue doing this all the way around the can until it is filled.
To cover the rubber band, wrap a piece of ribbon around the can and cut it a few inches longer than the circumference of the can. Pull the ribbon tight around the can and tie in a bow or knot, trim off any extra ribbon.
Fill the can with soil and plant a flower.
This craft by Happiness Is Homemade recycles newspaper into plantable seed paper. To make recycled plantable seed paper, you’ll need shredded newspaper, a mixing tray, an old picture frame with a mesh window screen stapled to it, a sheet of white felt, and flower seeds.
How to Make Recycled Plantable Seed Paper:
Fill your blender with shredded paper and add enough water to cover it all.
Blend the paper shreddings and water into a fine pulp.
Add a few blender loads of pulp to a large tub of clean water.
Dip your screen into the pulp/water mix, and allow a thin and even layer of pulp to coat the screen.
Allow the water to drain through the screen for a few minutes.
Sprinkle seeds on top of the pulp mixture while it is still wet.
Use a sponge to carefully press out the remaining water, wringing out the water after each pressing. Be careful when lifting up the sponge so that you don’t lift up your paper too.
Use a white sheet of felt to press the remaining water out. Leave the felt in place, and flip your frame over onto a flat surface.
Gently tap the back of the screen. The paper should easily fall off onto the felt backing
Let your recycled paper dry in the sunshine. It will take about 24 hours for it to fully dry out.
This paper plate aquarium porthole by Craft Project Ideas is a simple craft that can be used to teach young children about the ocean and marine life. To make a paper plate aquarium porthole, you'll need paintbrushes, pipe cleaners, beads, acrylic paint, googly eyes, foam sheets, craft glue, scissors, acetate, or a clear plastic sheet, and 2 sturdy paper plates.
How to Make aA Paper Plate Aquarium Porthole:
Use heavy-duty scissors to cut a large hole in the middle of a paper plate.
Turn the cut plate over and paint it silver. Paint the middle of another plate light blue, which will represent water.
Make a few sea creatures for the porthole.
Twist some pipe cleaners into interesting shapes to look like pieces of colorful coral.
Glue brown and tan beads along the bottom edge of the blue plate to create sand for the ocean floor.
To complete your underwater scene, glue the sea creatures and coral to the blue plate. Don’t glue any of your shapes on the rim on your plate.
Trim a piece of plastic acetate so that it is a little larger than the hole in the silver plate. Turn the silver plate over and glue the acetate to the plate.
To finish the porthole, glue silver beads around the opening to look like nuts and bolts. Hang the porthole on a wall.
18. Coral Reef Print
This coral reef print by Art Project Memphis can help kids learn about the importance of coral reefs and their role in the ecosystem. To make a coral reef print, you'll need washable paints in neon colors, a wide paintbrush, a wooden stylus, scratch foam paper or a piece of styrofoam, and construction paper.
How to Make a Coral Reef Print:
Etch your design into a piece of foam paper using a wooden stylus.
Cover your etched plate with paint. Stamp your design on the paper. Feel free to repeat using the same etched plate repeatedly with new colors!
19. Recycled Bee
This recycled bee craft by iHeartCraftyThings can spark a conversation about the role that bees play in our ecosystem. To make a recycled bee craft, you'll need a cardboard toilet paper roll, black and yellow paint, black pipe cleaners, googly eyes newspaper, a small pointy screwdriver (or something to poke holes in your cardboard tube), a stapler, scissors, and glue.
How to Make aA Recycled Bee:
Paint the outside of your cardboard toilet paper roll yellow. After it is dry, paint a few black stripes around your toilet paper roll. Set it aside to dry.
To make your bee body, fold two sides on the end of the toilet paper roll down, then press the other two sides together. Staple the end shut. On the opposite end, follow the same process but add a piece of black pipe cleaner inside the toilet roll before stapling it shut. This is your bee’s stinger.
Use a small pointy screwdriver or something similar to poke three holes on each side of your bee for the legs. Then poke two holes on in the top of the bee’s body near the front of the face. These are for the bee’s antennae.
Cut two black pipe cleaners into quarters so you have 8 pieces. Poke six of them through the holes on the sides of the toilet paper roll, leaving a small section out of the roll. Bend them down to form the bee’s legs. Then poke two more pipe cleaners down inside the holes on the top for the antennae.
Cut bee wings out of your newspaper. Then finish your recycled bee craft by gluing the newspaper bee wings and the googly eyes on your toilet paper roll.
This water cycle in a bag craft by Playdough To Plato helps kids visualize the water cycle stages. To make a water cycle in a bag craft, you'll need a sandwich bag, a black Sharpie, and blue food coloring.
How to Make a Water Cycle in a Bag:
Draw water, the sun, and a cloud on a sandwich bag with a black Sharpie.
Mix 1/4 cup of water and 4 drops of blue food coloring.
Pour the water into the Ziploc bag and close it tightly.
Tape the bag to the window.
In a few daysOver the course of a few days, observe the bag and watch as the water evaporates, condenses, and falls back to the bottom of the bag as “rain.”
Try these crafts with your kids this Earth Day.
Try these Earth Day crafts with your kids and encourage them to learn more about the environment, ecology, and the impact our actions can give on the Earth, whether it is big or small., — both big and small — can have on the Earth.