Earth day is observed on April 22 every year and involves joint efforts of adults and children alike towards making a better future for us. Earth day activities for kids include power and water conservation, discussion on recycling, and ways to help them reduce carbon footprints. On this day, we all take some time out from our busy schedules to make our planet a better place. You can encourage your children to care for Earth by enlightening them about our planet and engaging them in recycled crafts and arts, games, and other unique activities for the planet. Read on for different activities for children on Earth Day that can be carried out as fun sessions both in the classroom and at home.
30 Earth Day Activities For Kids
Earth Day Crafts For Kids
1. A bird feeder
Bird feeders can be made in several ways using recycled materials. You can use pinecones to make DIY bird feeders with your children. You will need:
Pinecones of any shape or size String Two or three cups of birdseed One cup of peanut butter
How to make: Your bird feeders are ready to be hung on a tree or bush. You can enjoy watching the birds as they relish the bird seeds the next morning.
2. A bug hotel
Make a comfy home for creepy crawlies and pollinators to lounge. You will need:
A large two-liter plastic bottle A pair of scissors
How to make:
3. Recycled cardboard marble maze
Recycling and stem work in this activity challenges children to make a DIY maze. You will need:
Cardboard box Paint Straws Wooden bits like beads or mini blocks Hot glue gun Pair of scissors Pencil Small marble
How to do: The project boosts creative thinking and tinkering as they can come up with ideas to make the maze easier or more challenging.
4. Earth Day necklace
Use a simple salt dough recipe to make a cute necklace and celebrate Earth Day with your children. You will need:
One cup flour Half a cup iodized salt Half cup water Paint Twine Beads
How to make: Enjoy wearing your matching necklaces.
5. Recycled planter
It is a simple way to start a garden and get inspired to plant more trees. You will need:
Old can, jar, or even a carton Soil Sapling Pair of scissors
How to make:
6. Crowns
Use old paper grocery bags to make the Earth Day grass crowns and make your little one feel like a garden princess. You will need:
Paper bags Grass and flowers (if possible) Green crayons Scissors A glue stick Flower stickers.
How to make: It is a great activity for children who are learning art and craft. Don’t worry if the fringe is not precise.
7. Coffee filter craft
Use large size coffee filter papers to make this simple and fun craft. You will need:
Coffee filters Green and blue markers White paint Black card stock paper
How to make:
8. Wildflower seed bombs
Follow this easy-peasy recipe to make these seed bombs from scrap material. You will need:
Scraps of construction paper Wildflower seeds Water
How to make: As these seed bombs get rain and sun, the paper will compost, allowing the seeds to germinate. Give back these power-packed bombs to nature this Earth Day.
Earth Day Art Ideas For Kids
9. Newspaper leaf prints
Make sheets of recycled wrapping paper with pretty leaf prints. You will need:
Newspaper Assorted leaves Acrylic paints An empty plastic bottle.
How to make: Peel off the leaves to reveal your pretty leaf wrapping paper.
10. A giant upcycled art wall
Children enjoy making a collaborative giant art wall as they can add anything and everything they can find. You can collect things from toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, milk cartons, egg cartons, craft sticks, and packaging materials. You also need:
A giant piece of cardboard Tempera paints Glue guns
How to make: If you are a teacher, make it an ongoing classroom project for your students as they can keep adding items. Once the masterpiece is ready, hang it on the wall with clear non-marking tape.
11. Earth Day stamps
Use the old corks from your kitchen drawer to make these cute stampers that your children can enjoy using for the entire year. You will need:
Wine corks A Carving knife A pen Acrylic paints
How to make: Your children can use these stamps to decorate cards and notepads. You can also use vegetables, like potatoes, to make ecologically friendly stamps.
12. Painted nature pictures
Your child’s handmade nature picture can get you many compliments once it is up on your wall. Collect all the things that you can include in your artwork on a nature walk. Pick up twigs, leaves, feathers, and flowers. You will need:
Powdered tempera paints Sand Craft glue Mixing bowls Construction paper
How to make: Once you are happy with your arrangement, stick each object with glue.
13. Simple trash rainbow
The simple trash rainbow is a great way to help your toddlers learn about Earth Day. You will need:
A large piece of paper Scissors Glue Seven small containers Color pencils Small squares of paper in rainbow colors
How to make: Hang your colorful trash rainbow up once it is dry.
14. Eggshell mosaics
Save your eggshells to create delightful spring-inspired mosaics. You will need:
Eggshells Food coloring or tempera paint Water Glue Pencils Hairspray
How to make:
15. Earth Day button tree
The button tree made could be an artistic addition on your wall and can inspire your guests too. You will need:
Corrugated cardboard Old buttons Scraps of cloth Buttons
How to make:
16. Recycled robots
Help your children to make these funky robots from bits and bobs lying around your house. You will need:
Cereal boxes Glue Paint, A piece of sturdy cardboard
How to make: Your little ones may require parental supervision as they might not be able to use the hot glue gun. Apart from that, you can leave this creation to their imaginations.
Earth Day Games For Kids
17. Nature scavenger hunt
A scavenger hunt is a group activity that children of all ages enjoy. Plan an outdoor nature hunt this Earth Day so your little ones can play in your school grounds or a nearby park. How to play:
18. Sort the garbage-recycling game
Teach your children some recycling etiquettes with this sorting game. You will need two containers, old magazines, recycled card stock, scissors, and double-sided tape. How to play: The fun activity helps them learn to separate everyday objects into the right bins in real life too.
19. Wheelbarrow races
Let your children enjoy outdoor fun with the wheelbarrow races. How to play: Don’t have wheelbarrows? You can fashion a human wheelbarrow. In another variation, you can conduct a relay race by having the participants take turns transferring something like a set of gardening tools from one end to the other. Do supervise if your children are too young.
20. Nature’s hopscotch
Hopscotch is a well-loved outdoor game that usually requires chalk and concrete pavement to draw the playing board. On Earth Day, play this version of the game and let your children get inspired by nature. How to play: Once the pattern is made, they can use a pebble to toss and play as usual.
21. Earth Day tic-tac-toe
You need at least ten players to play the Earth Day tic-tac-toe game. How to play: You could also join the game and make it entertaining. Play a few rounds and give the winning team a nature-themed prize.
22. Play in the dark
Children of all ages like mystery and playing in a dark room can add suspense to the game. The all-time favorite group games of Marco Polo or hide and seek played in a dark room can help explain the concept of power conservation. You could also tell them a spooky (not too spooky) story with the lights off to show them they can save power while having a fun time. Make sure there are no sharp objects around before you switch off the lights.
23. Crazy bowling
Create your bowling alley with items from your recycling bin. How to play:
24. Cup and ball game
Make your cup and ball game with paper cups, ping-pong balls, and string. How to make: Your cup and ball game is ready. To play, toss the ball in the air and see how many times you can catch it in the cup. You can even make more than one so that your children can have a cup and ball race.
Earth Day Activities For Kids
25. Make A DIY T-Shirt Bag
These DIY t-shirt bags clearly announce that you say NO to plastic bags. You will need:
An old knit shirt A pair of scissors Marking chalk
How to make: Flip the bag over, and you have your recycled tote!
26. Make organic compost
Don’t throw your kitchen waste into the garbage every day. Instead, collect the stale bread and vegetable peels in a bin that can be taken to the cowshed or make your compost. The compost can be used to condition and fertilize the soil in your plant beds. Remember to add some worms and aerate your compost bin regularly to expose the material to oxygen and help aerobic bacteria grow.
27. Donate old things to charity
The activity will bring joy not only to the receiver but also to the giver. Knowing someone else can use stuff that is just lying around your house can be satisfying. Your children can also conduct an old clothes collection drive in the neighborhood or school to get everyone involved.
28. Plant a tree
The Earth Day Network’s goal is to plant one tree for every person alive, thus planting 7.8 billion trees. Planting trees on Earth Day means you are making a concrete contribution towards the end goal. Bring your students together to join hands in this important activity and encourage them to plant more trees.
29. Make a Pledge
If you want your Earth Day teach-ins to have long-lasting effects, get your students to write down their plans and commitments for saving Earth. It is more likely they will execute their plans if they have them written down and put up on a board in their rooms. So combine this activity with an art project, so they can decorate their lists.
30. Start a Neighborhood clean-up drive
Ask your children to grab some garbage bags and wear a pair of gloves to go on a neighborhood clean-up. Pick up the trash thrown out in all the wrong places. You’ll be surprised by the treasures you may find that can be recycled to create beautiful pieces of art. Recycling and cleaning-up together can make a change.
Plant saplings Go for a nature walk Encourage recycling and reusing Shopping for sustainable objects Reuse food scraps Make the best out of waste
