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Are you looking for a creative and fun way to teach kids about Earth Day? Or, do you just need some fun toddler or preschool Earth Day activities to keep the kids busy — and maybe even learn a bit about reducing, reusing, and recycling, too?
Well, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve gathered up45 of the best kids activities for Earth Dayto get your child learning about and taking better care of our planet and its environment.
Earth Day Activities for Preschool, Kindergarten & Big Kids, Too!
From free educational Earth Day printables to easy at-home Earth Day crafts to educational Earth Day preschool activities for Earth Day, we’ve gathered up tons of fun Earth Day activity ideas for kids of all ages — from toddlers to preschoolers to elementary students, and maybe evenyou, too!
But, before we dive into the Earth Day fun, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about this annual Spring holiday…
What is Earth Day Anyway?
Earth Day is a day dedicated to inspiring advocacy and activism around the preservation and protection of our planet and environment.According to the holiday’s global organizer, EARTHDAY.ORG:
[The] theme for Earth Day 2022 will be ‘Invest in Our Planet’ … focused on accelerating solutions to combat our greatest threat, climate change, and to activate everyone — governments, citizens, and businesses — to do their part. Everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable.
When is Earth Day Celebrated?
Earth Day is celebrated on the same day each year: April 22nd.
So this year, Earth Day is observed on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Now, Some Fun Facts About Earth Day
Here are a few interesting facts on Earth Day. Use them to spark discussion and extended learning during your kids’ Earth Day activities. (Also, you can find more Earth Day facts for kids at Parents.com and Parade.com.)
- When was the first Earth Day? April 22, 1970
- Earth Day was inspired by the energy of student anti-war activists of the 1960s, so they held the first Earth Day on a college campus to get the greatest student participation.
- Over the years, Earth Day has led to the creation of government agencies and laws, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Air Act, and Endangered Species Act.
- Earth Day went global in 1990 and is now also known as “International Mother Earth Day”.
- Today, over 1 billion people from 193 countries celebrate Earth Day each year!
Now, let’s move on to the Earth Day activity ideas and get the fun started…
45 Super-Fun At-Home Earth Day Activities for Kids
Creative Kids Art Projects for Earth Day
1. Recycled Plastic Bottle Printmaking Art
Kids can learn about recycling whileexpanding their creativity, too, withthis easy art project for Earth Day.
2. Planet Earth Spin Art Project
Or, trythis neat planet Earth-themed spin art project on Earth Day. And teach kids about the rotation of the Earth while you’re at it!
3. Fingerprint World Earth Day Craft
Finally, gather the family, your class of students, or your mom friends and their kids to makethis cute “fingerprint world” collaborative art projecton Earth Day.
Kids Earth Day Recycled Crafts
4. Funky Plastic Bottle Craft Flower Vase
Grab some plastic bottles fromthe recycling binfor thisfunky flower vase recycled craft.
5. “Trash Rainbow” Collage Craft
Then, trythis colorful rainbow recycled craft on Earth Daywith the kids. They can use up the scrap paper stash while they get somecolor learning in, too.
6. Upcycled Suncatcher Earth Day Craft
Turnclear plastic deli or produce containersinto beautiful suncatchers withthis upcycled Earth Day kids craft.
7. Eco-Friendly Craft Building Blocks
Or, use plain old washi tape to transform recycled boxes and containers intoeco-friendly DIY toy building blocks!
Crafty Earth Day Activities for Kindergarten at Home
8. Flower Hand Print Craft for Earth Day
Now, it doesn’t get much cuter thankids handprint crafts. So, consider tryingthis flower-themed Earth Day handprint craft with little ones.
9. Kids Bird Feeder Earth Day Craft
Then, help the kids feed their feathered friends withthese simple bird feeder Earth Day kids crafts.
10. “World in My Hands” Earth Day Handprint Craft
A free printable makesthis meaningful Earth Day handprint crafteasy for little hands.
11. Kids Earth Day Necklace Craft
Finally, mix up somesalt doughfor the kids. Then, craft your ownplanet Earth necklaces.
Easy Toddler Activities for Earth Day
12. Color Sorting Activity for Earth Day
Try thisclever color sorting activity for Earth Daywith your toddler for somecolor learningandfine motor skills practice, too.
13. Recycled Craft Chalkboard Toys for Toddlers
Or, save plastic bottles and containers fromthe recycling bin. Then, upcycle theminto chalkboard-painted DIY toddler toysfor Earth Day fun.
14. Eyedropper Art Project for Earth Day
This process-based Earth Day art activityis easy enough for toddlers. Plus, squeezing the droppers provides greatfine motor practicefor little hands, too!
15. Recycle Bin Playdough Impressions Earth Day Activity
Finally, let your child explore the (kid-safe) contents of the recycling bin during their playdough play for a no-prep toddler Earth Day activity.
At-Home Preschool Activities for Earth Day
16. “Letter E” Earth Day Craft for Preschool
Now, let the kids get their hands dirty with some real Earth withthis “E is for Earth” preschool activity for Earth Day.
17. Recycling Earth Day Activity for Preschoolers
Or, teach little learners how to recycle for Earth Day. Then, extend the learning withthis recycling-themed Earth Day sorting activity.
18. Photo Nature Book Earth Day Activity for Preschool
Have your preschooler take photosof their natural environment. Then, use them to makea simple photo nature bookfor some Earth Day early literacy learning.
Fun Sensory Activities for Kids on Earth Day
19. DIY Earth Day Discovery Bottles
Trythis simple discovery bottle project for Earth Dayfor kids to enjoy some sensory-richscience learning.
20. Water Bead Sensory Bin Earth Day Idea for Kids
Then, gatheryour ocean animal toysand prep thewater beadsfora fun ocean-themed sensory bin for Earth Day.
21. Easy Play Dough Activity for Earth Day
Or, gather blue and greenloose parts(e.g.,buttons,wooden beads,small building blocks) and natural objects (e.g., twigs, stones) forone of the easiest sensory Earth Day activities of all.
22. Dried Bean Sensory Bin for Earth Day
Finally, makean easy sensory bin for Earth Daywithdried garbanzo beans(i.e., dried chickpeas) that look like tiny planets!
Fun Kids Science Activities for Earth Day
23. Acid Rain Earth Day Science Experiment
Help your kids learn about acid rain and pollution withthis hands-on science activity for Earth Day.
24. Desert Biome Earth Day STEM Activity
This creative STEM activity for Earth Dayis perfect for kids learning about the Earth’s biomes.
25. Simple Celery Pollution Science Experiment
Finally, use somefood coloringand celery to set upthis easy science activity for kids on Earth Day.
Fun Outdoor Activities for Earth Day
26. Neighborhood Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
Now, how aboutan easy scavenger hunt activity for Earth Dayto get the kids outside and exploring their environment!
27. Sidewalk Chalk Earth Day Activities for Kindergarten at Home
And, all you need is somesidewalk chalkfor thesefun and educational Earth Day games.
28. Nature Hunt Shadow Box Earth Day Activity
Or, go on an Earth Day hike with your kids to collect natural objects fora nature shadow box activity.
29. Eco-Friendly Sidewalk Paint Activity for Earth Day
Finally, help kidsmake some eco-friendly sidewalk chalk paint. Then, send them outside to make their creative mark on all that drab concrete!
Kids Gardening & Plant Science Activities for Earth Day
30. Indoor Grassy Meadow Science Activity
Now, how aboutgrowing a mini grass meadowindoors for some imaginative small world play on Earth Day!
31. Kids Backyard Butterfly Garden
Or, help your kids use natural and recycled materials to design and planta backyard butterfly garden for Earth Day.
32. DIY Seed Bombs & Launchers
And, kids will lovemaking wildflower seed bombs for Earth Day. But, they will surely love launching them to “plant” them even more!
33. Kids Pizza Garden Project for Earth Day
Then, help your kids plant a “pizza garden”full of their favorite pizza toppings, liketomatoes,basil, andbell peppers.
34. Composting Earth Day Activity for Kids
Finally, teach the kids how to compost!Then, use the nutrient-rich soilthat results for the gardening and plant projects above.
Earth Day Coloring Pages for Kids
35. Set of 5 Kids Coloring Pages for Earth Day
Now, grabsome crayonsandprint outthesefree Earth Day coloring pagesfor a quick Earth Day activity.
36. Earth Day Coloring Page for Preschoolers
And, here’s anotherfree Earth Day coloring pagethat would be easy peasy for you and fun for the kids on Earth Day.
37. Intricate Coloring Sheet for Earth Day
Finally, this pretty Earth Day coloring pagewould be perfect for students in elementary or high school.
Kids Printable Earth Day Activities for Kindergarten At Home
38. “Happy Earth, Sad Earth” Printable Craft
A free printable makesthis cute Earth Day printable crafteasy and fun for kidsand moms.
39. Printable Earth Day Scavenger Hunt Activity
And, it doesn’t get much easier thanthis scavenger hunt printable activity for Earth Day. Just download,print, and head outside!
40. Pre-K Earth Day Activity Worksheets
Or, grabthese free printable worksheets for Earth Dayfor lots of preschool learning fun, from Earth Day math to alphabet learning to scissors skills and more!
41. Worksheet Earth Day Activities for Kindergarten At Home
Finally, downloadthese free Earth Day activity worksheets for Kindergartenersfor a last-minute Earth Day learning activity.
Earth Day Cookies & Treats Kids Can Make
42. Simple Swirly Earth Day Cookies
Now, show the kids how to turnstore-bought chocolate cookiesintothe perfect cookies for Earth Day. It only takes a few “swirls” offrosting!
43. “Flower Power” Dandelion Fritters Recipe
Or, celebrate Earth Day with your kids by trying something new, likehand-picked dandelions in this yummy fritter recipe.
44. Earth Day Dirt Cup Treats Recipe
And, let the kids maketheir own dirt cup treats for Earth Daycomplete with (cookie-crumb) dirt and(gummy) worms.
45. Easy Earth Day Toasts for Kids
Or, add some fun and learning to your the kids’ Earth Day breakfast. Try thissimple kid-friendly recipe for planet Earth-inspired toasts.
Some Earth Day Books & Toys — for Preschool, Kindergarten & Up!
Now, I’ve gathered up some of our favorite goodies to teach the kids about Earth Day, recycling, and the environment — from children’s books about the planet Earth to recycling craft kits to kids gardening tools and more!
But, first, make sure to grab my book, The Outdoor Toddler Activity Book, which is full of fun and educational outdoor activities for toddlers (and preschool, kindergarten, and big kids, too). So many fun ideas to get your little ones exploring outside on Earth Day — or any day!
Hello, World! Planet Earth
Orboot Earth Globe for Kids
Fun Express Learn to Recycle Activity Boxes
MoTrent Children Gardening Tools Set
We Are All Connected: Caring for Each Other & The Earth
4M Toysmith Weather Science Kit
Recycle and Remake: Creative Projects for Eco Kids
LEGO DUPLO Town Garbage Truck and Recycling Building Toy
4M STEAM Powered Kids Green Creativity Recycled Paper Beads Kit
Reduce & Reuse Recycling Center Playset
My Friend Earth
Learning Resources Puzzle Globe
Cute Earth Day T-Shirt
Of The Earth Plant Me Hearts
Earth Day: Ready-to-Read Level 1
Santa Barbara Design Studio Gardening Essentials Gift Set
Light-Up Terrarium Kit for Kids
Exploring Nature Activity Book for Kids: 50 Creative Projects to Spark Curiosity in the Outdoors
A Kid’s Guide to Saving the Planet: It’s Not Hopeless and We’re Not Helpless
Salzmann 3M Children’s High Visibility Vest
Find more children’s books, games, and toys for teaching kids about Earth Day in B-Inspired Mama’s Fun Amazon Shop: Earth Day Fun for Kids
Save this “45 Fun At-Home Kids Activities for Earth Day” resource to come back to each Earth Day. And, share with friends! Simply use the buttons at the top or bottom of this post. Or, click here: Share on Facebook | Tweet It| Pin It | Email to a Friend
More Earth Day Activities for Kids from B-Inspired Mama:
- 6 Simple Ways to Help the Environment — As a Family!
- 9 Easy Preschool Activities for Earth Day
- 15 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day with Kids — From the Mouths of Moms
- Kids Earth Day Recycled Paper Card
