Earth Day crafts for kids

Earth Day (April 22) is a great excuse to learn more about our planet and get creative. These simple crafts are fun for kids of all ages and are perfect for Earth Day celebrations and as decorations.

Make an Earth Day bag, and head outside to help clean up your neighborhood, beach, park or field.

What you’ll need:

• brown paper shopping bag with attached handles
• markers

What you’ll do:

1. Carefully turn the paper bag inside out, leaving the handles attached.
2. Refold the bag so it folds flat.
3. Decorate each side with crayons or markers.
4. Unfold the bag and carefully turn the opening down so the handles are near the top of the bag again.

Use old and/or broken crayons, and recycle them into something new. For Earth Day, use green and blue crayons. Make another colorful batch for everyday fun and play.

What you’ll need:

• green crayons
• blue crayons
• scissors or knife
• muffin tin
• vegetable oil spray
• toothpick

What you’ll do:

1. Heat the oven to 275 degrees F.
2. Peel the paper off the crayons.
3. Cut the crayons into small pieces.
4. Spray the muffin tin with vegetable oil.
5. Place crayon pieces in the muffin tin.
6. Bake in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
7. Remove carefully — it will be hot, liquid wax.
8. Stir each one gently to get the swirled look, if desired.
9. Let the wax cool completely while still in the muffin tin — approximately one to two hours.
10. Once cool, remove from the muffin tin.

Try these cute spring crafts for kids >>

Make a promise to do something for the planet this Earth Day. Create an Earth Day promise hand to hang in the house as a reminder to be eco-wise all year long.

What you’ll need:

• scrap paper
• pencil
• scissors
• markers
• glue stick

What you’ll do:

1. Trace your child’s hand on a piece of paper.
2. Color the hand to resemble the Earth.
3. Carefully cut around your child’s handprint.
4. Cut a 2 to 3-inch circle from another piece of paper.
5. Write your Earth Day promise on the circle.
6. Glue it to the palm of the handprint.

Encourage other people to plant a tree or show your support for Earth Day by wearing a handmade tree t-shirt.

What you’ll need:

• white t-shirt
• fabric paint
• fabric markers
• cardboard
• rocks

What you’ll do:

1. Cut a piece of cardboard big enough to fit inside your child’s t-shirt, allowing it to be slightly stretched in a flat position.
2. With fabric paint, paint your child’s hand and arm brown and place it on the front of the shirt.
3. Wash the brown paint off your child.
4. Dip your fingers in green paint, then onto the shirt to create leaves on the tree.
5. With fabric markers, write “Happy Earth Day 2013” above or below the tree.
6. Lay flat outside to dry with rocks on each corner of the shirt to hold it down.

Show your child a picture of the Earth, then let him re-create his version on a paper plate. This is a fun activity to do yearly to see how your child grows artistically.

What you’ll need:

• sturdy paper plates
• markers or paints
• pencil
• picture of the Earth

What you’ll do:

1. Turn the paper plate wrong side up.
2. Show your child a picture of the Earth.
3. Have your child draw and color his or her version on the paper plate.

Image credit: Amy Vowles

More about Earth Day

Celebrating Earth Day with kids
9 Earth Day traditions kids will love
Fun ways to teach your kids to go green