Earth Day is an annual event for all ages recognizing global responsibility and environmental protection…wait, this is sounding a little boring, right?
No! Earth Day absolutely does not have to be boring for you or your kids. In fact, it can be great and FUN opportunity to educate children on how to better take care of our planet. By incorporating exciting, creative activities such as crafts, you have a surefire way to engage kids young and old and teach them the importance of maintaining and bettering the Earth for the future.
Wondering how to get your kids engaged? Check out our ideas for kids crafts for earth day below.
 
AGES 1-2
Coffee Filter Planet Earth

 
Materials

• Coffee filters
• Paint trays
• Eye dropper
• Blue and green watercolor paints

 
How to:

1. Set up your area by laying out one coffee filter on a tray (this will help avoid messes).
2. Mix water with watercolor paints until it's a thin consistency; pull colors into two separate eye droppers and set aside.
3. Allow child to drop one or two drops at a time around the coffee filter until they reach their desired design.
4. Let dry for at least one hour (to avoid tearing the coffee filter), then hang in the window

 
Ages 3-5
Magazine Scrap Planet Earth Collage

 
Materials

• Green and blue magazine scraps
• Paper plate
• Glue stick
• Picture of Earth
• Hole punch
• String

 
How to:

1. Lay out precut magazine scraps or allow children to cut/tear pieces on their own.
2. Using glue stick to adhere, allow children to stick scraps to the paper plate in the same blue/green pattern of the Earth picture.
3. Allow to dry, then punch hole near top.
4. Tie string through the hole and hang on display!

 
Ages 5-8
Earth Day Watering Can

 
Materials

• Washed and dried milk jugs with lids
• Scissors
• Paint and paintbrushes
• Water

 
How to:

1. Poke holes in lid to simulate a watering can with tip of scissors (carefully!).
2. Have children paint the milk jugs blue and green to represent the planet Earth.
3. Fill jugs with water and screw lid on tightly.
4. If weather permits, take children outside to water plants around the area, explaining how water benefits

Want to get a little fancier? Check out this alternative water can idea from Lakeshore Learning
 
Ages 9-11
Make A Tornado In A Jar

 
Materials:

• 3 cups of tap water
• 1 teaspoon of dish soap
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• Glitter or other small objects {optional}

 
How To:

• Fill up your mason jar with water, leaving about an inch at the top
• Pour in dish soap and vinegar, then tighten the lid (make sure to double check so your tornado doesn't escape!)
• Hold one hand on top and one on the bottom; swirl for 5 seconds, then set it on the table to watch your tornado

 
Want to add some extra wow? Try adding glitter or mini Legos to the jar. To understand the science behind it, click here.
 
Craft credit given to: 
Coffee Filter Planet Earth: http://www.clarkandlucilearn.com/2015/04/24/planet-earth-coffee-filter-crafts/Earth Day
Magazine Collage: http://iheartcraftythings.com/earth-day-collage.html
Decorated Watering Jug For Earth Day: http://www.kixcereal.com/kix-cereal-6-earth-day-crafts-from-recycled-materials/
Tornado In A Jar: http://www.playdoughtoplato.com/kids-science-tornado-jar/