Here are easy, low-mess Earth Day crafts that work beautifully for preschoolers and are still fun and meaningful for adults. Everything uses simple supplies—mostly recyclables!

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🌎 Easy Earth Day Crafts for Preschoolers

1. Tissue Paper Earth

Supplies: Blue & green tissue paper, glue stick, paper plate
How: Tear tissue paper into small pieces and stick them onto the plate to look like oceans and continents.
Why preschoolers love it: Tearing + sticking = sensory fun!

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2. Coffee Filter Earth

Supplies: Coffee filter, markers, spray bottle
How: Color filter in blue/green, spray lightly with water to watch colors blend.
Skill focus: Fine motor + color mixing.

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3. Recycled Bottle Cap Flowers

Supplies: Bottle caps, cardboard circle, glue
How: Arrange caps like petals around a center circle to make a flower.
Eco message: Reuse plastic instead of tossing it!

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4. Handprint Earth Heart

Supplies: Blue/green paint, paper
How: Make two painted handprints forming a heart shape, then glue onto a circle Earth.
Great for: Classroom displays.

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5. Egg Carton Seed Starters

Supplies: Egg cartons, soil, seeds
How: Fill each cup with soil and plant seeds.
Extra: Let kids decorate the carton with Earth Day doodles.

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🌍 Easy Earth Day Crafts for Adults

1. Upcycled Glass Jar Lanterns

Supplies: Old jars, twine, tealight
How: Wrap twine or jute around the top, paint leaves or Earth shapes on the jar.
Result: Beautiful eco-friendly décor.

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2. Scrap-Paper Mosaic Earth

Supplies: Old magazines, scissors, glue
How: Cut blue/green scraps into tiny pieces and create a mosaic Earth.
Tip: Adults can add details like textured clouds.

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3. Cardboard Wall Art (Minimalist Earth)

Supplies: Cardboard, white paint
How: Cut a clean Earth silhouette from cardboard, paint simple outlines, and frame.
Look: Modern & sustainable.

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4. Recycled Plastic Bottle Planters

Supplies: Bottles, acrylic paint, soil, plants
How: Cut, paint cute faces or Earth designs, and plant herbs or succulents.
Bonus: Add drainage holes to keep plants healthy.

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5. Pressed Leaf Bookmarks

Supplies: Leaves, cardboard strips, tape or laminate
How: Sandwich dried leaves between clear tape, trim edges, and punch a tassel hole.
Elegant gift idea!

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🌱 Want a printable PDF of these crafts?

I can create a one-page Earth Day Craft Guide or step-by-step instruction sheets—just tell me your preference!

1. Leaf Print Art

Our Earth Day crafts start with leaves. Apply green, blue, and yellow (non-toxic) coatings on leaves of different sizes and shapes. Next, apply them on a piece of cloth or paper. As a result, you may now create various patterns on fabric or paper.

2. Rock Painting

Rock painting is a fun, simple, and eco-friendly craft perfect for preschoolers and adults. Here are ideas, tips, and easy designs to try—whether you want something quick or a little more detailed.

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🎨 Easy Rock Painting Ideas

🌎 1. Earth Day Rocks

Paint rocks in blue and green to look like mini Earths.

• Kids: Use dabbing with sponge pieces for continents.
• Adults: Add white cloud swirls or tiny hearts over the Earth.

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🌱 2. Nature-Themed Rocks

Perfect for hiding outdoors or decorating gardens.

• Leaves
• Flowers
• Trees
• Butterflies
• Bees
• Rainbows
  Preschoolers can keep designs simple with bold shapes; adults can add details and outlines.

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😊 3. Kindness Rocks

Paint positive words or symbols:

• “Grow”
• “Be Kind”
• “Love Earth”
• “Plant Trees”
  Add a little heart or leaf for extra charm.

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🐾 4. Animal Rocks

Great for kids!

• Ladybug rocks
• Bee rocks
• Turtle rocks
• Fish rocks
  Adults can create more detailed animals or patterns.

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💠 5. Pattern & Mandala Rocks (Easy for beginners)

Use dots made with cotton swabs, toothpicks, or pencil erasers.
Create:

• Dot mandalas
• Simple geometric shapes
• Spiral patterns

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🖌️ How to Paint Rocks (Simple Guide)

1️⃣ Find the right rocks

Smooth, flat rocks are easiest to paint.

2️⃣ Clean and dry them

Wipe off dirt so paint sticks well.

3️⃣ Base coat (optional)

A layer of white acrylic paint makes colors pop.

4️⃣ Paint your design

Acrylic paint works best.
Kids: Use bold shapes.
Adults: Add outlines and details with fine brushes or markers.

5️⃣ Seal your design

Use a clear acrylic sealer spray (matte or glossy). This helps your art last longer outdoors.

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🌟 Want step-by-step templates?

I can create printable rock painting idea sheets, Earth-themed rock templates, or kid-friendly drawing guides—just tell me!

3. Earth day collage ideas

Add sticks, fluttering butterflies, flowers, and other natural elements to the leftover cardboard to create a nature collage that lets your creativity run free. At the same time, your child might like other two-dimensional nature items.

4. Recycled Cardboard Sun

Here’s an easy, bright, and eco-friendly “Recycled Cardboard Sun” craft—perfect for preschoolers and fun for adults too!

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☀️ Recycled Cardboard Sun Craft

A cheerful Earth Day–friendly project made entirely from scraps you already have.

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🧡 Supplies

• Cardboard (old boxes, cereal boxes, shipping packaging)
• Yellow & orange paint (or markers/crayons for kids)
• Scissors
• Glue
• Optional:
  • Googly eyes
  • String/twine (to hang it)
  • Glitter or tissue paper scraps

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✂️ How to Make It

1️⃣ Cut Out the Sun Circle

Cut a large circle from a piece of cardboard.
Preschool tip: Pre-cut circles so kids can skip the scissors.

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2️⃣ Make the Sun Rays

Cut long triangles or rectangles from leftover cardboard scraps.

• Kids: Keep them chunky and simple
• Adults: Try scalloped or wavy rays for a stylized look

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3️⃣ Paint Everything

Paint the circle yellow.
Paint the rays yellow, orange, or both.
If using a cereal box, paint the blank side.

Let dry.

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4️⃣ Assemble the Sun

Glue the rays behind the circle, all the way around.

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5️⃣ Add Personality

You can keep it simple or decorate more:

👶 Kids:

• Add googly eyes and a smile
• Use crumpled yellow tissue paper for texture
• Finger-paint sun rays

🎨 Adults:

• Outline rays with marker for a clean graphic look
• Add shading or patterns (dashes, dots, swirls)
• Turn it into a wall hanging with twine

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🌞 Optional: Glitter-Free Shine

For an eco-friendly shimmer, glue tiny scrapped paper pieces or torn metallic wrapper bits (e.g., foil candy wrappers).

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🌟 Want a printable template?

I can create a cut-and-trace pattern for the circle + rays or a step-by-step instruction sheet if you’d like!

5. Cupcake Liner Flowers

Get a handful of vibrantly colored cupcake liners and use the aggregation of layers of each liner to build roses and tulips. Then, adhere them to the stem made of recycled paper leash to produce a single, beautiful paper flower.

6. Earth Day Handprint Craft

Here’s a sweet, meaningful, and super easy Earth Day Handprint Craft that works beautifully for preschoolers, classrooms, and even adults helping kids create keepsakes.

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🌍 Earth Day Handprint Craft

A heartwarming craft that celebrates caring for the Earth — and makes a lovely keepsake.

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✋🌎 Option 1: “Love the Earth” Handprint Craft

Supplies

• White cardstock or construction paper
• Blue & green paint
• Black marker (optional)
• Paintbrush
• Baby wipes or water bowl

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Steps

1️⃣ Paint the Earth Circle

Paint or draw a blue circle for the oceans.
Add green shapes for continents.
(You can also print a simple Earth outline.)

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2️⃣ Make Painted Handprints

Paint both hands with any color you like (or use green/blue).
Press hands onto the paper near or over the Earth so they look like they’re holding or hugging the planet.

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3️⃣ Add a Message

Write one of these:

• “Love Our Earth”
• “I Can Help the Earth”
• “Happy Earth Day!”
• “My Hands Can Change the World”

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4️⃣ Optional Decorations

• Add hearts around the Earth
• Draw leaves or a sun
• Use fingerprints to make little stars or flowers
• Add the child’s name & year for a keepsake

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💚 Option 2: Handprint Heart Earth

Steps:

1. Paint left hand blue, right hand green.
2. Overlap the two handprints slightly to form a heart shape.
3. Add the message:
   “The Earth is in Our Hands”
4. Cut around the shape and mount it on colorful recycled cardboard.

Great for bulletin boards!

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💙 Option 3: “Helping Hands” Earth Day Poster

Make a big Earth in the center and let multiple kids add handprints all around it.
Perfect for classrooms or family craft time.

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🌟 Want a printable template?

I can make:

• A handprint Earth outline
• A printable Earth circle
• A step-by-step PDF

Just tell me what you need!

7. Stained Glass Planet Earth

Adhere the stained glass-colored paper pieces to the black construction paper piece that serves as the Earth’s background to create a vibrant representation of the planet in a window.