Earth Day Activities For Kids – With Printable

This Earth day, bestow love and raise awareness for our home planet through meaningful Earth Day Activities For Kids!

Earth Day is celebrated every year on 22nd April, since 1970, to express our gratitude and affection for our wonderful planet.

Over the years of human evolution, however, there has been immense deterioration of the environment. This day reminds us of our duties towards our planer that we call home.

History of Earth Day

Earth day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson to raise awareness on environmental issues like deforestation and pollution. Since then, it has evolved to cover deeper issues like clean water, clean air, climate change and global warming.

Every year on April 22nd, people all over the world join hands and pledge to do their bit for their planet. Children have a unique role in protecting the Earth. After all, it is from them that we have borrowed this planet.

Hence, it is essential to inculcate a sense of ownership and responsibility towards Earth in our children, while also educating them with a scientific, hands-on approach. Only then, we can secure the future of our children and this planet.

Get your children involved in these creative Earth Day activities for kids that are equally fun for toddlers and preschoolers. These simple, hands-on environmental activities are perfect for home as well as school.

Earth Day Activities For Kids

1. Start a Garden

One of the best Earth Day activity ideas for preschoolers and kindergarteners is to start their very own garden. It could be anything from a small garden patch to an indoor garden, depending upon the space you have.

Besides doing good for the planet, having your own garden will help your children develop love for nature, learn about plants & food and boost their motor skills in unimaginable ways.

Surely you’d think that it is a lot of work, but with careful planning and the right guide, starting a garden is easier than you think. Here is an easy, practical gardening guide to help you get started.

2. Earth Day Dot to Dot

Raise awareness about this special day through a fun printable Earth day activity for preschoolers & kindergarten kids.

Earth Day Dot-to-Dot

3. Bird Feeder 

Recycle an empty toilet paper roll to make a DIY bird feeder and hang it in your balcony or garden to attract birds. Making a bird feeder is a rewarding nature activity that has the power to literally invite nature into your home.

This meaningful Earth day craft will get your little ornithologists excited and offer them plenty of opportunity to observe birds (and squirrels!), from the comfort of your home.

What you will need:

• Empty toilet paper roll
• Dough (atta)/ Peanut Butter
• Mixed Grains – Mix Millet, Wheat, Barley
• Twine

Step 1: Make two holes, opposite to each other, at one end of the empty toilet roll.

Step 2: String twine through the holes and keep aside. This will be used to hang the bird feeder once ready.

Step 3: Roll out the dough, using a rolling pin.

Step 4: Lightly wet the tube/paper roll with water.

Step 5: Stick your dough onto the roll and take off any excess dough.

Step 6: Lastly, roll it in the grain mix. After enough grains are on the feeder, choose a branch and hang it.

Quick Tip: Pair these activities with Silly Earth Day Jokes for Kids!

4. Earth Day Sorting

This easy printable activity for kids will teach them to sort objects into things that can be recycled. Fun to do, this simple activity will help kids, grade 1 and above, think and make better choice.

Earth Day Sorting

5. Make A Windmill Project

Teach children about renewable and green sources of energy with this easy DIY Windmill Project for kids. It is super easy to make and repurposes common household supplies to make a working windmill model.

It is a perfect STEM activity for kids who are learning about renewable energy resources and love making DIY projects.

6. Earth Day Unscramble

Play a fun game of Earth day unscramble and build critical thinking skills along the way. Such Earth Day activities for kids of all ages are a favourite with everyone and a great way to grab attention to the cause!

For older kids, make it into a fun minute to win it challenge.

Earth Day Unscramble

7. Coconut Planters

This planting season ditch buying a new pot and recycle a coconut shell to plant seeds. It’s really easy-peasy. All you need is to buy a tender coconut, relish the refreshing water (pour it in a glass rather than using a plastic straw) and then scrape the mouth so its big enough to fit in your kid’s fingers.

Once you have done that, pour in some soil and plant that seed right in.

Related: Club these activities with Earth Day Videos For Kids

8. Earth Saviours

Teach kids to be planet saviours with this Earth day activity for elementary and middle graders. Simply download the free printable and let kids think what actions are good and bad for the planet.

Earth Day Saviours

9. Start a Seed Jar

Teach your kids how seeds grow with this simple plant science activity for kids. It is a hands-on experiment to show kids up-close the germination process.

What you will need:

• Dry Beans
• Cotton/ Paper Towels
• Glass Jar
• Water

How to do it:

Step 1: Gently wet the paper towels/cotton to make them just wet enough. You don’t want them over-flowing with water.

Step 2: Add the wet cotton/paper towels in the glass jar to create a layer or two.

Step 3: Insert bean seeds along the sides of the jar, sandwiching them between cotton and the glass wall.

Step 4: Keep the jar near a window but away from the direct sunlight.

Within a day or two, your kids will be able to see the seed sprouting. Make sure to keep watering the cotton wool to maintain the moisture and soon enough you will be able to see roots growing and early leaves emerging.

10. Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

Encourage children to think about the 3 R’s – reduce, reuse and recycle in their daily environment and come up with ideas to implement them.

Download the free printable and let kids come up with their unique ideas to implement 3 R’s.

3 R’s

11. Potted Dry Garden

A wonderful way to celebrate Earth Day is to start a mini potted dry garden. All you need for this Earth Day activity is a few small pots (recycled containers work just fine) and succulents.

Succulents and cacti are relatively easy to maintain and require little water. They thrive well indoors, provided you put them out in the sun for a few hours every day. Thus, making them perfect for their young owners.

12. Earth Day Word Search

Get kids hunting for words with this Earth day inspired word maze! Super fun to play, such activities are always a favourite with kids across age groups.

Earth Day Word Search

13. DIY Bird House

If you are looking for interesting, creative nature crafts for kids, this DIY birdhouse craft totally fits the bill. This craft relies on recycled materials to make a lovely birdhouse to hang in your garden.

Your kids would love to explore their creative sides while painting this recycled craft and have fun observing birds coming into the birdhouse.

14. Earth Day Acrostic Poem

Nothing better than writing their own acrostic poems for Earth day! A wonderful earth day activity for classroom, it will encourage kids to think creatively and come up with their best ideas to save the planet.

Earth Day Poem

15. Repurpose Broken Crayons

Instead of buying those double shade fancy pencils, recycle old broken crayons. What is even more exciting is that your kids get to customize the shape and color combinations.

All you need to do is take the cover off the old crayons, add the desired color combinations in silicon mold and put them in the oven for 10-15mins at 200 degree Fahrenheit. Allow them to cool and pop them out.

16. Earth Day Thinking Prompts

Get kids exercising their brain this Earth Day with thinking prompts. Simple enough for kids of all ages, these prompts will encourage kids to think and recognise their responsibility towards the planet.

Such activities are great for school and group learning.

Earth Day Thinking Prompts

17. Earth Day Garland

We absolutely adore this Earth day craft for kids. It is a super cute and wonderful way to teach kids about world peace and harmony.

Perfect for little hands, this garland is a visual treat and a pretty addition to your Earth Day celebrations.

18. Earth Day Vocabulary

Sneak in words related to Earth day and recycling with this fun vocabulary activity! A fun literacy activity for Earth Day, it will get kids to learn and spell new words.

Earth Day Vocabulary

19. Seed Bombs

Seed bombs are a perfect Earth Day craft for preschoolers to spread flowers in your neighbourhood and your lawn. Take a couple of seed bombs with you next time you go on a hike to leave your mark behind.

An excellent way to disperse seeds, seed bombs are easy to make and lots of fun. Your kids will love making them and dispersing them around. They also make for great, nature friendly gifts.

20. Earth Day Bingo

Make your celebrations exciting with a fun game of Earth Day Bingo! Sure to get everyone excited and competitive.

Earth Day Bingo

21. Earth Day CD Craft

Repurpose old CDs lying around the house to make this stunning nature craft with your kids. This Earth Day CD craft makes for a lovely gift for friends and family, serving as a gentle reminder to take care of our planet.

22. Think & Write

This Earth Day activity for middle school is a clever way to get kids involved. It will encourage kids to read about the Earth day, its relevance and what steps can be taken to save the planet.

Earth Day Think & Write

23. DIY T-shirt Bag

Plastic is a major problem and one of the top concerns for the environment. Tonnes of single use plastic end up in landfills every year. Nearly 500 million plastic bags are used every year and most of them are used only once before they end up in a landfill or our oceans.

This Earth Day, take a pledge and bid adieu to plastic bags by making your recycled t-shirt bag. Immensely easy, these no -sew DIY t-shirt bags are convenient, environment friendly and functional.

24. Earth Day I Spy

Here is a fun activity for elementary kids that will have them counting and colouring Earth day icons! Fun to do, this activity will boost fine motor skills along with numeracy.

Earth Day I Spy

25. DIY Compost

Deliver a hands-on STEM lesson to your kids by making compost from kitchen waste. It is a great way to teach kids the science of decomposition. Of course, this organic compost can then be used in your garden to nourish your plants.

26. Protect The Earth

Get kids to pick ideas on saving the planet and make their pictorial representation. This creative Earth Day activity is a fun way to get kids thinking and boosting their fine motor skills.

Protect The Earth

27. Bug Hotel 

Show some love to critters this Earth Day by making a dwelling place for them. Bug hotels invite a host of creepy crawlies and are brilliant ways to boost biodiversity of your neighbourhood.

This environment friendly activity will help your children appreciate and learn about food web and ecological balance.

Incorporate sensory play for kids into your Earth Day celebrations with Earth Day slime. Children love playing with slime and this earth day inspired slime offers a perfect opportunity to discuss how to care for our planet.

28. Earth Day Scavenger Hunt

Get kids to appreciate the wonders of the planet with this outdoor Earth day activity where kids rush to find all the items on the list to finish the scavenger hunt the fastest.

Earth Day Scavenger Hunt

29. Earth Day Quiz

Test how much kids know about the planet with this Earth Day quiz for grade 5 and above. A fun way to test their knowledge, this easy Earth day quiz is perfect for classroom as well as home.

Earth Day Quiz

For younger kids, download this Earth day quiz with hints that will help them fill in the right answers and is easy for young learners.

Earth Day Quiz For Elementary

30. DIY Clay Leaf Bowls

These clay leaf bowls serve as great gifts and Earth day keepsakes. Using air-dry clay saves the trouble of baking these leaf bowls in a kiln. A great Earth day project for kindergarteners, these leaf bowls are a must try.

31. Leaf Collage

This is a breathtakingly beautiful nature craft that your children will have fun making. All you need is some crayons, wax paper, fallen leaves and a generous dose of creativity.

32. Tin Can Drums

Bring on some music to your Earth day celebrations by recycling old tin cans lying around the house into drums. We bet your little drummer is going to love them. Besides, these drums are great way to delve into the science of sound for kids.

33. Earth Day Paper Plate Weaving 

This is fun geography Earth Day craft for kids. This craft works at enhancing hand-eye coordination as well as motor skills and is perfect for kids who are looking for a moderately challenging craft.

34. Bake Earth Day Cookies

Baking is a wonderful activity for kids and offers a range of benefits. So give baking a try and bake these delicious earth day cookies with your kids!

We bet your kids will be more than eager to try their hands at baking. Just the perfect treat for Earth day!

35. DIY Notepads

Reuse and repurpose bills, mailers and most importantly from blank pages of your child’s old notebooks to make a notepad. This useful environment friendly craft will help you minimise paper wastage at your home and teach your children a real lesson on recycling.

Pair these activities with Earth day books for kids. Our specially curated Earth Day book list covers everything from the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse & Recycle to Conservation.

These felicitous books are brilliant reads not only for Earth Day but also for raising conscious, responsible citizens of tomorrow.

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