Are you looking for creative ways to teach kids about Earth Day? Or, do you just need some fun Earth Day activities to keep the kids busy — and maybe even learning, too?
Well, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve gathered up 45 of the best kids activities for Earth Day to get your child learning about and taking better care of our planet and its environment.
Activities for Earth Day for Kids of ALL Ages
From printable Earth Day coloring pages to Earth Day crafts for preschool, you’ll find fun Earth Day activity ideas for all kids — from toddlers to preschoolers to elementary students, and maybe even you, too!
But first, before we dive into the Earth Day fun, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about this annual spring holiday…
So, What’s 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.
And, When’s Earth Day Celebrated?
Earth Day is celebrated on the same day each year: April 22. So, this year, Earth Day is April 22, 2022.
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 Earth Day Activities for Kids
Creative Kids Art Projects for Earth Day
1. Recycled Plastic Bottle Printmaking Art
The kids can learn about recycling while expanding their creativity, too, with this easy art project for Earth Day.
2. Planet Earth Spin Art Project for Earth Day
Try this neat planet Earth spin art project on Earth Day. And, teach the kids about the rotation of the Earth while you’re at it!
3. Collaborative Fingerprint World Earth Day Idea for Kids
Gather the family, your class of students, or mom friends and their kids. Then, make this cute “fingerprint world” art project on Earth Day.
Kids Earth Day Recycled Crafts
4. Funky Flower Vase Plastic Bottle Craft
Grab some plastic bottles from the recycling bin for this funky flower vase recycled craft.
5. “Trash Rainbow” Collage
Try this colorful rainbow recycled craft on Earth Day with the kids. They can use up the scrap paper stash while they get some color learning in, too.
6. Upcycled Suncatcher Earth Day Craft
Turn clear plastic deli and produce containers into beautiful suncatchers with this upcycled Earth Day kids craft.
7. Eco-Friendly Craft Building Blocks
Transform some (kid-safe) recycled boxes and containers into eco-friendly DIY toy building blocks using washi tape.
Even More Earth Day Kid Crafts
8. Flower Handprint Craft for Earth Day
It doesn’t get much cuter than kids handprint crafts. Like, this flower-themed Earth Day handprint craft!
9. Kids Bird Feeder Earth Day Craft
Help the kids feed their feathered friends with these bird feeder Earth Day kids crafts.
10. “World in My Hands” Handprint Craft
A free printable makes this meaningful Earth Day handprint craft easy for kids of all ages.
11. Necklace Craft for Earth Day
Mix up some salt dough for the kids. Then, craft your own planet Earth necklaces.
Easy Toddler Activities for Earth Day
12. Earth Day Sorting Activity for Learning Colors
Try this clever color sorting activity for Earth Day with your toddler for some color learning and fine motor practice, too.
13. Recycled Craft Chalkboard Toys for Toddlers
Save plastic bottles and containers from the recycling bin. Then, upcycle them into chalkboard-painted DIY toddler toys for Earth Day fun.
14. Eyedropper Art Project for Earth Day
This process-based Earth Day art activity is easy enough for toddlers. Plus, it provides great fine motor practice, too!
15. Recycle Bin Playdough Impressions Earth Day Activity
Let your child explore the (kid-safe) contents of the recycling bin with this no-prep toddler Earth Day activity.
Preschool Activities for Earth Day
16. “Letter E” Earth Day Craft for Preschool
Let the kids get their hands dirty with some real Earth (i.e., soil) with this “E is for Earth” preschool activity for Earth Day.
17. Recycling Earth Day Activity for Preschoolers
Teach your preschooler how to recycle for Earth Day. Then, extend the learning with this recycling-themed Earth Day sorting activity.
18. Photo Nature Book Earth Day Activity for Preschool
Have your preschooler take photos of their natural environment. Then, use them to make a simple Photo Nature Book for some Earth Day early literacy learning.
Fun Sensory Activities for Kids on Earth Day
19. Earth Day Discovery Bottles
Try this simple discovery bottle project for Earth Day for kids to enjoy some sensory-rich science learning.
20. Water Bead Sensory Bin Earth Day Idea for Kids
Gather your ocean animal toys and prep the water beads for a fun ocean-themed sensory bin for Earth Day.
21. Easy Earth Day Play Dough Tray
Gather blue and green loose parts (e.g., buttons, wooden beads, small building blocks) and natural objects (e.g., twigs, stones) for one of the easiest sensory Earth Day activities of all.
22. Dried Bean Sensory Bin for Earth Day
Make an easy sensory bin for Earth Day with dried 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 with this hands-on science activity for Earth Day.
24. Desert Biome Earth Day STEM Activity
This creative STEM activity for Earth Day is perfect for kids learning about the Earth’s biomes.
25. Simple Celery Pollution Science Experiment
Use food coloring and a celery to set up this easy science activity for kids on Earth Day.
Outdoor Activities for Earth Day with Kids
26. Neighborhood Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
How about an easy scavenger hunt activity for Earth Day to get the kids outside and exploring their environment?
27. Sidewalk Chalk Games for Earth Day
All you need is some sidewalk chalk for these fun and educational Earth Day games.
28. Nature Hunt Shadow Box Earth Day Activity
Go on an Earth Day hike to collect natural objects for a nature shadow box activity.
29. Eco-Friendly Sidewalk Paint Activity
Kelp the kids make 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
How about growing a mini grass meadow for some indoor imaginative small world play on Earth Day?
31. Kids Backyard Butterfly Garden
Help your kids use natural and recycled materials to design and plant a backyard butterfly garden for Earth Day.
32. DIY Seed Bombs & Launchers
Kids will love making 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
Help your kids plant a “pizza garden” full of their favorite pizza toppings, like tomatoes, basil, and bell peppers.
34. Composting with Kids
Teach the kids how to compost! Then, use the nutrient-rich soil for the gardening and plant projects above.
Earth Day Coloring Pages for Kids
35. Set of 5 Kids Coloring Pages for Earth Day
Grab some crayons and print out these free Earth Day coloring pages for a quick Earth Day activity.
36. Earth Day Coloring Page for Preschoolers
Here’s another free Earth Day coloring page that would be easy peasy for you and fun for the kids on Earth Day.
37. Intricate Coloring Sheet for Earth Day
This pretty Earth Day coloring page would be perfect for students in elementary or high school.
Kids Printable Activities & Worksheets for Earth Day
38. “Happy Earth, Sad Earth” Printable Craft
A free printable makes this cute Earth Day printable craft easy and fun for kids and moms.
39. Printable Earth Day Scavenger Hunt Activity
Doesn’t get much easier than this scavenger hunt printable activity for Earth Day. Just download, print, and head outside!
40. Pre-K Earth Day Activity Worksheets
Grab these free printable worksheets for Earth Day for lots of preschool learning fun.
41. Kindergarten Worksheets for Earth Day
Download these free Earth Day activity worksheets for Kindergarteners for a last-minute Earth Day learning activity.
Kid-Friendly Earth Day Cookies & Treats
42. Simple Swirly Earth Day Cookies
Show the kids how to turn store-bought chocolate cookies into the perfect cookies for Earth Day. It only takes a few “swirls” of frosting!
43. “Flower Power” Dandelion Fritters
Celebrate Earth Day with your kids by trying something new. How about hand-picked dandelions in this yummy fritter recipe?!
44. Earth Day Dirt Cup Treats Recipe
Let the kids make their own dirt cup treats for Earth Day complete with (cookie-crumb) dirt and (gummy) worms.
45. Easy Earth Day Toasts
Add some fun and learning to your the kids’ Earth Day breakfast. Try this simple kid-friendly recipe for planet Earth-inspired toasts.
Do you celebrate Earth Day with your kids? If so, share your favorite activities for Earth Day in the comments below.
So, Do You Like these Earth Day Activities? Save & Share Them!
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Some Earth Day Activity Supplies & Resources:
Bloomin’ Earth Day Wildflower Seed Bomb BagEarth Day Every Day (Cloverleaf Books ™ — Planet Protectors)SENSORY4U Water Beads Ocean Breeze (8oz Bag)Hygloss Kids Unscented Dazzlin’ Modeling Play Dough, 1lb, BlueEarth! My First 4.54 Billion Years (Our Universe, 1)National Geographic Earth Science KitRecycling Is Fun (My Little Planet)LeapFrog Magic Adventures GlobeThe Outdoor Toddler Activity Book: 100+ Fun Early Learning Activities for Outside PlayKids Garden Tool SetDIY Garden Kit for KidsUp in the Garden and Down in the DirtI Am Earth: An Earth Day Book for KidsFun Express Learn to Recycle Activity Boxes – 54 Pieces – Educational and Learning Activities for KidsExploring Nature Activity Book for Kids: 50 Creative Projects to Spark Curiosity in the OutdoorsHapinest Find and Seek Scavenger Hunt Outdoor Indoor Card Game for KidsWe Are All Connected: Caring for Each Other and The EarthKids DIY Wooden Birdhouse Paint Kit, 2-Pack4M Weather Science KitEarth Day Coloring Book for KidsKids Earth Day LOVE Recycling T-Shirt
maggy, red ted art says
A brilliant Earth Day round up! Love every idea featured. Thanks for compiling!
Thanks for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!
Maggy & Alissa
MaryAnne says
Thank you for linking up to Learning Laboratory – so many fantastic ideas here!!!
Mama Nature says
Thank you for the feature! I love this!
The Monko says
This is a fantastic roundup of all things earth day. Thanks so much for sharing on Kids Co-op
Juggling With Kids says
Thanks for including us! This is such a great round up of ideas! I love it!
Gina says
What a great list! There is something in here for all ages. Thanks for sharing! I've been wanting to begin a sensory garden…hopefully we'll be doing one soon!
Whimsical Kids Canvas says
So many great ideas! We especially like the Earth cake and the play dough planet.
MaryAnne says
Thank you for including our Exploring Geography series in this incredible round-up of ideas!
Carolyn Wilhelm says
What a great round up of ideas! This is such a visually appealing post. Thank you so much. Carolyn