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26 Easy Earth Day Crafts for Kids of All Ages, Using Recycled Materials
With these enjoyable and eco-friendly DIY projects, you can honour the environment and celebrate going green.
This year, Earth Day is on Friday, April 22. And whether you’re a busy parent with craft-loving kids, a PTA mom coming up with Earth Day craft ideas for your child’s school, or just a parent with a hectic schedule and craft-loving kids, there are a tonne of DIY projects that celebrate nature and Earth while inspiring your children to understand the value of being environmentally responsible. Make a solid plan before deciding what to do. Consider the following inquiries for yourself:
- How many different kinds of crafts must you produce? Does this apply to your children alone or to their classes?
- Do you already have some of the materials on hand, allowing you to produce crafts with little to no shopping? After all, today is Earth Day, and the goal of the day is to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
- What stage of craft proficiency do your children have? Can they produce the item you want them to make?
- Where will you put these projects on display? I hope they don’t just end up in the garbage.
- What message do you wish to convey with these crafts?
Consider all that this planet has provided you and your family as you participate in all of your Earth Day activities and crafts. Additionally, throughout each creation, urge your children to recycle, reuse, and decrease waste – not just on Earth Day, but every day of the year. Here is a collection of 26 of our favourite Earth Day DIY ideas to get you started.
1. Cardboard Tube Sea Creature Mobile
Toilet paper tubes are Jodi Levine of Super Make It!’s preferred crafting material. She specialises in arts and crafts made from materials found in the pantry, recycle bin, and grocery store, like this charming sea creature mobile.
My favourite challenge is coming up with applications for things that would otherwise end up in the garbage. In addition to being cheap and numerous, she adds that altering them enables us to keep the ability we had as children to see potential in everything.
Visit Super Make It to get the cardboard tube sea creature instruction. and see Jodi’s Treasury of Toilet Tubes here.
Also Like:-14 Fun Earth Day Activities
2. DIY Desktop Organizer
And this craft wins the prize for coolest desk organiser. This useful work of art may be made for you from leftover cardboard tubes from products like toilet paper, paper towels, and gift wrap. The only item you will likely need to purchase is a wood tree trunk slice, but other than that, you can find everything else in your home to fit the Earth Day theme. Use what you already have: paint, as well as colourful and pattern-filled paper fragments.
Learn how to make a DIY desktop organiser at Crafting Cheerfully.
3. DIY Safari Binoculars
It’s crucial to teach children about animals on Earth Day and beyond. Inform your children about the safari, the creatures that reside there, and the significance of supporting programmes that maintain healthy animal populations. To make your teaching moment come to life during your next trip to the zoo, you may even bring this set of binoculars that you made out of animal print paper, used toilet paper or gift wrap tubes, and string.
Get the DIY instructions for safari binoculars at Crafting Cheerfully.
4. Cupcake Liner Daisy
It’s quite simple to make this gorgeous floral craft. The only materials required are white cupcake liners for the petals, green cardstock or construction paper for the leaves, and blue cardstock or construction paper for the stems. The globe is created using the printable Earth template from the link below. It just has to be coloured with crayons, markers, or coloured pencils by your little artisan.
Visit Buggy and Buddy to get the Cupcake Liner Daisy lesson.
5. Printable Trash Can Labels
Setting up your garbage station is one of the simplest activities you can complete for Earth Day, whether with children or without. Create a system of sorting to help the Earth. These fashionable printable trash can labels will educate your entire family about the value of sustainability.
Visit Lia Griffith to purchase the printable trash can labels.
6. Nest and Baby Bird Craft
Together with your beautiful preschooler, create these sweet birds. While making these adorable feathered creatures and their nesting environment, you may educate your child about them. This project can require some supplies purchases, but it will be well worth it for the cuteness.
Visit Buggy and Buddy to download the Nest and Baby Bird lesson.
7. Sorting Seasons Activity with Stones and Rocks
The idea of seasons is one that should be taught to children on Earth Day (and at any other time of the year, for that matter). To transform your rocks into items that remind you of each season, you’ll need four wooden slices (one each for winter, spring, summer and fall), paint, rocks and some pieces of paper. You can instruct your child to put the rocks together on the wood slices after you’ve decorated them.
Visit Buggy and Buddy to access the Sorting Seasons Activity with Stones and Rocks guide.
8. Milk Carton Vases
Crafts for Earth Day can also be helpful! These lovely vases are created from milk cartons. To make, you’ll need some lovely beads, raffia, and spray paint. Although the little beads in this craft make it unsuitable for toddlers, a youngster over the age of five may certainly make them under adult supervision. Remember to bring flowers!
Gina Tepper has a tutorial for making a milk carton vase.
9. DIY Water Bottle Vase and Coffee Filter Flowers
Have an empty plastic water bottle and coffee filters on hand? This repurposed vase and flowers DIY will delight kids of all ages. Dampen the filters slightly, and the kids can use markers to create a watercolor effect once dry. Reinforce the occasion with a “we heart Earth” (or any phrase!) sign drawn on poster board.
Get the DIY Vase and Flowers tutorial at Rae Elizabeth Design.
10. Sea Glass Suncatcher
This suncatcher may be made by anyone using only three supplies and PVA glue. Find some twine, some sea glass, and an empty lid. For the Earth Day theme, it would be even better if your sea glass was blue and green. It can be hung from a window to reflect lovely light.
Visit Mother of Grom for the Sea Glass Suncatcher tutorial.
11. Upcycled Fun Face Planters
Give those empty cans a new lease on life as planters rather than throwing them in the recycling. Start by removing the labels from your recyclables. Paint (spray paint works well), tape, and planting can then be done. You might try making cute faces like the photo’s DIYer did, or you can create interesting shapes and patterns.
Visit Project Kid to access the tutorial for Upcycled Fun Face Planters.
12. Cardboard Earth Collage
You only need cardboard, small pieces of blue and green paper, adhesive paper for your border, markers, tape, a bowl to trace with, and a craft knife to make your circle. You might also wish to outline the continents for your child to fill in with corresponding green and blue pieces of paper to create a beautiful Earth.
Visit 7 Days of Play to download the Earth Collage instruction.
13. Egg Carton School Bus
How much fun is that? The easiest method to teach kids about Earth Day is to make toys out of recycled materials. For this one, all you need is an old egg carton, some paint, some used bottle caps for the wheels, and some skewers and straws for the axles. Use small miniatures of individuals you currently own, or create your own using wine corks, pom-poms, or big wooden beads.
Get the instructions for the School Bus Craft at 7 Days of Play.
14. Felt Fishing Game
Teaching children about ocean life and sustainability is vital for Earth Day. This easy-to-make felt fishing game can start a discussion. Utilise the pattern that can be downloaded at the following link to make a variety of felt fish in various colours. Parents will need to sew, and youngsters can assist choose the colour combinations. Once finished, locate a blue bowl or container to fish from.
Learn how to play the Felt Fishing Game at 7 Days of Play.
15. Cardboard Toy Car
This car craft can be yours! You will need an empty cracker box, craft paint, paintbrushes, scrap cardboard, an empty egg carton, popsicle sticks, low-temp glue, and paint pens. If you have smaller kids, pre-cut the cardboard so all you have to do is paint. And the best part is, you’ll be reusing items you already have.
Get the Cardboard Toy Car tutorial at Lovely Indeed.
16. Wine Cork Foam Stamps
Have you been saving all of those wine corks? Well, you finally have a use for them. You can make super cute stamps with your kiddos. All you’ll need are foam stickers, glue, and paint to create these upcycled wine corks-turned-stamps.
Get the Wine Cork Foam Stamps tutorial at Craftic.
17. Cork Love Bugs
Also a creative use of your old wine corks, these love bugs are easy to make, requiring few materials. The same tutorial can be used to create bees with wings that are yellow and black.
Get the Cork Love Bugs tutorial at No Time for Flashcards.
18. Upcycled Candy Jar with Bird and Tree Design
Have you got a creative family? This easy DIY involves painting and drawing a lovely landscape on a jar that you can use to store chocolates or tiny trinkets. A clear, empty jar, some speciality paint, and artistic ability are required. You can also do this craft again for any holiday or theme of your choosing.
Get the Upcycled Candy Jar with Bird and Tree tutorial at Craftic.
19. Earth Day Print Card
A simple card to celebrate the cause is one of the sweetest and easiest crafts you can make with kids of all ages. Instead of painting directly on the page, you’ll learn how to make this sort of imprint using a fun technique.
Get the Earth Day Print Card tutorial at Mother of Grom.
20. Earth Day Painting
Another easy craft to make is an earth painting. Simply find a blank piece of white paper, cut it into a circle, and glue on top of a larger square of cardstock or construction paper in any color. If you have younger kids, consider showing them this photo so they can try to mirror the proportions with their own painting skills.
See this and other fun crafts at @creativekidsplay on Instagram.
21. Toilet Paper Roll Cacti
Instead of chucking the center of your toilet paper roll (you know, that cardboard tube), make them into adorable cacti. You’ll just need some craft paint and a bit of skilled scissor work.
Get the Toilet Paper Roll Cacti tutorial at Pink Stripey Socks.
22. Toilet Paper Roll Flowers
If cacti are not your thing, how about some flowers? Using the same method, you can make these adorable flowers with old cardboard from the center of your toilet paper rolls. Make different kinds of flowers, like daisies or tulips. Just make sure you have colorful craft paint on hand to match.
Get the Toilet Paper Roll Flowers tutorial at Pink Stripey Socks.
23. Watercolor Painted Paper Lanterns
You’ve probably seen paper lanterns sold at your local craft store or Target. As an easy weekday craft (because this is a quick one to make), get mini paper lanterns that easily expand to make ball shapes. Use watercolor paint you already have at home to decorate a globe for Earth Day. If you have ribbons or scrap paper to spare, hang them from the bottom and design a cute jellyfish. Older kids can also try a watercolor flower design. Younger kids can paint in whatever colors they like, and even add mini pom-poms.
Get the Watercolor Painted Paper Lanterns tutorial at Pink Stripey Socks.
24. Solar Oven Craft and Solar Energy Activity
So relevant to Earth Day, this craft is also a science experiment that will teach kids how to create energy without using electricity. Your energy source? The sun! Use things from around the house: cardboard, aluminum foil, plastic wrap or a plastic bag, and tape. You can even use it to make s’mores with your kids.
Get the Solar Oven and Solar Energy Science Experiment tutorial at Raising Global Kidizens.
25. Wilderness Explorer Costume Craft
If you’ve seen the Pixar movie Up, you’ll be familiar with Russell, the wilderness explorer. After you DIY this costume, your little explorer can learn about the importance of wilderness preservation, in the backyard or a local park. While mom will probably handle most of this craft (like getting the shorts and T-shirt together), kids can help make their sash with all of the patches and “pins.” Pro tip: Use stickers instead if you don’t want anyone to get pricked.
Get the Wilderness Explorer Costume tutorial at Once Upon a Cheerio.
26. Simple Bathyscope DIY
Likely, neither you nor your kid has any idea what a bathyscope is (we sure didn’t!). Also known as an aquascope, it’s basically an underwater viewer you use in a lake, river, ocean, or any other body of water. Using one helps get rid of any glare from the water’s surface so you can see what’s underneath. What better way to celebrate Earth Day than by making a tool to help you learn more about the Earth? Be sure to test it out with your kids after making this craft together.
Get the Simple Bathyscope tutorial at Raising Global Kidizens.