23 Earth Day Crafts for Kids to Help Celebrate the Planet
These DIYs are not only super fun, but they'll also help teach kids the importance of taking care of our planet.
Now more than 50 years old, the first Earth Day was held in Wisconsin on April 22, 1970. It started as a means to educating Americans about environmentalism. Since then, it's come to be celebrated around the world, by more than one billion people in nearly 200 countries. And of course that includes plenty of children, tweens, and teens, who engage in all kinds of eco-themed activities, one of which is certainly making Earth Day inspired crafts. While spring is already pretty special for the little ones, thanks to the return of outdoor playtime (there are always easy indoor crafts, if it's raining), Earth Day only makes it more so, with pursuits that are specifically geared toward appreciating nature, or helping out our planet.
To get some craft inspiration, take a peek at the DIY activities we've featured here. From helping in the garden, making bird feeders, to playing word games, we've found the best crafts, and games to help kids (and their parents) honor Mother Earth. We've included plenty of art projects and tutorials that use recycled materials, as well as homemade goodies like planters and bird feeders that'll have your family growing green in no time. Whether you've got toddlers or teens, the following Earth Day crafts are a wonderful way to teach them about this world we live on and why we should all lend it a hand.
Garden Markers
Teach kids about gardening and growing food with DIY garden markers that are made using vintage gardening tools.
To make: To make, have adults drill a small hole in the wood handles and tie kid-penned wooden tags through the holes with twine. Insert the pointy tips into the soil so the markers stand upright. Coat wood with clear varnish to protect the handwriting from the elements.
Grass Crown
Not only can toddlers wear this cute grass crown on Earth Day, it's simple enough that they can make it, too.
Get the tutorial at Delia Creates.
Papier-Mâché Fish
You can teach the littles about the ocean as you help them craft Nemo (or any other fish they wish) from papier-mâché. It's surprisingly easy to do with flour and water, plus recycled materials like newspaper and cereal boxes.
Get the tutorial at Studio DIY.
Salt Dough Necklaces
Making ornaments and other goodies out of salt dough is a rite of passage for most kids, but it's even better when the result is something they can wear on Earth Day—and every day after.
Get the tutorial at Kitchen Counter Chronicles.
Recycled Crayons
Here's a festive way for you and the kiddos to use up those old broken bits of blue and green crayon. They make great little gifts, too.
Get the tutorial at Emma Owl.
Earth Day Cookies with Gift Tag
Speaking of Earth Day presents, these blue whoopie pie-style cookies make for sweet treats kids can bake and hand out to friends. And the tutorial includes an adorbs printable gift tag.
Get the tutorial at A Night Owl.
Recycled Cardboard Sun
You're going to have to take the lead crafting this cheery project made from repurposed cardboard boxes, but what better way for the young ones to learn the importance of recycling (and the sun)? This tutorial comes complete with a handy template.
Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built.
Mosaic Earth
Show the kiddos how beautiful the world is with this craft they'll be proud to hang in the house. If you're fresh out of construction paper, you can use squares cut from magazines instead.
Get the tutorial at Crafts by Amanda.
Flowering Branches
Use this pretty project ideal for teens to open up a discussion about the importance of pollinators, trees, or the even the seasons of our natural world.
Get the tutorial at Design Improvised.
Earth Day Cookie on a Stick
Not only will the kids love helping you whip up this batch of Earth cookies, but they'll also be plenty ready to lend a hand eating them.
Get the tutorial at The Decorated Cookie.
Milk Carton Birdhouse
One of Earth Day's most crucial lessons is the importance of caring for all living things, and this classic craft helps teach it.
Get the tutorial at Happiness is Homemade.
Tin Can Planters
This April 22, break out the googly eyes and recycle those empty tin cans for this project that's great for all ages. And just think how wonderful these silly planters will look on your kitchen windowsill. It's the craft that keeps on giving!
Get the tutorial at Tried and True Creative.
Holding Earth Art Project
There are a lot of metaphors going on in this art project perfect for little fingers, but one of our favorites is that we all hold the Earth, and its future, in our hands.
Get the tutorial at Fun Handprint Art.
Seed Bombs
What could be better on Earth Day than planting seeds to grow flowers that will help pollinators thrive? Planting them with seed bombs you make yourself, of course.
Get the tutorial at Kitchen Counter Chronicles.
RELATED: How to Make a Butterfly Garden and Attract the Winged Creatures to Your Yard
DIY Bird Feeder
Here's a craft that's for the birds—literally! You can create these feeders from new paint cans, or get even more eco-conscious and upcycle those big tomato cans. (Just make sure the edge isn't sharp.)
Get the tutorial at Mom Endeavors.
Bubble Paint Hydrangea Flowers
Earth-friendly right down to the non-toxic dish soap used to create the bubble paint, this art activity makes it easy for kids to create beautiful hydrangea flowers.
Get the tutorial at A Piece of Rainbow.
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Get your preschooler outside and learning about nature this April 22 with a nifty themed scavenger hunt. The printable photo checklist makes it a snap for parents to get the game going.
Get the printable at Homemade Heather.
RELATED: Nature Quotes That Will Inspire You to Keep Getting Outside
Quilled Paper Earth
Great for kids in grade two and up, this quilled paper Earth craft lets them show how much they love their planet. It even includes instructions for making the lovely starry background.
Get the tutorial at Projects With Kids.
DIY Mason Jar Planter
Upcycling small Mason jars into planters is an excellent Earth Day family activity, especially when the littles get to decorate the jars with small stones they've collected from outside.
Get the tutorial at Sustain My Craft Habit.
Paper Plate Craft
Let's be honest, this wouldn't be a kid craft roundup without one paper plate project, and this darling googly-eyed Earth is it.
Get the tutorial at The Resourceful Mama.
Jill Gleeson is a travel journalist and memoirist based in the Appalachian Mountains of western Pennsylvania who has written for websites and publications including Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Country Living, Washingtonian, Gothamist, Canadian Traveller, and EDGE Media Network. Jill is the travel editor for Enchanted Living. Learn more about her journey at gleesonreboots.com.
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