Eco-Friendly DIY Projects for Earth Day

As Earth Day approaches, it’s the perfect time to channel your creativity into eco-friendly projects that honor Mother Earth. Whether you’re a teacher looking for Earth Day activities for your classroom, a parent hoping to inspire your kids with Earth Day crafts, or someone hoping to pay homage to the planet we call home, these projects will inspire and delight.

Choose one Earth Day craft or do a few in the days leading up to April 22nd, 2024, and celebrate in the best of ways.

Earth Day Crafts

Upcycled Planters: Transform old cans, jars, or bottles into stylish planters by painting them with eco-friendly paints. If this Earth Day craft is for a classroom, have parents send in empty laundry detergent bottles, large juice containers, or 2-liter soda bottles so that they can be cut and transformed. Once you have enough, plant herbs or flowers to create greenery that brightens up any space.
Recycled Paper Art: Turn old newspapers, books, magazines, or cardboard into stunning artwork. Cut out shapes or create collages that highlight the beauty of nature and raise awareness about recycling. This is one of the Earth Day activities that can be modified to fit artists of all ages. Look through Pinterest to get some really cool ideas and be ready to spend more time than you expected as you find inspiration in upcycling your old materials.
Upcycle Furniture: If you’re looking for an Earth Day craft you’ll want to keep, spend some time looking through garage sales, flea markets, or you’re basement for a piece of furniture you can breathe new life into. Find inspiration on Instagram from those who upcycle furniture for a living. Some items just need a fresh paint job or a new set of knobs, while others need a lot more attention.

a kid doing crafts

Earth Day Crafts Preschool Style

Repurpose Reusable Shopping Bags: Everyone seems to have one too many reusable shopping bags lying around, which is why repurposing them is a great idea. Turn unused bags into crafting aprons for small kids. Not only is this a useful way to repurpose them for a preschool classroom, but it could be a good Earth Day craft if you let the kids decorate them.
Earth Paintings in a Bag: For easy Earth Day crafts preschool kids can handle, try painting in a bag. Give each child a round paper plate. Have them drop a few globs of green and blue paint on the plate, and then place the plate inside a large ziplock bag. Once the bag has been sealed, have the kids smoosh the paint around to create a rendition of planet Earth. Remove the paper plate from the bag to let it dry and watch the children marvel at their creation.

Earth Day Drawings

Nature Sketching: Take your sketchbook outside and let nature be your muse. Draw landscapes, trees, flowers, or wildlife you encounter, and reflect on the beauty and importance of preserving our natural world. If you’re a school teacher, take the idea of Earth Day drawings a step further by creating a contest for students, asking them to add poetry to their drawings, or hanging the drawings for everyone to see with a message about protecting things that inspire us.
Endangered Species Portraits: Help students raise awareness about endangered species by having them create portraits of animals at risk. Ask them to research different species, choose their favorite, and bring it to life on paper using pencils, markers, or paints. The portraits will make a cool community display that is not only informative but visually appealing as well.
Environmental Cartoons: Use your artistic skills to create cartoons or comics that communicate important environmental messages in a fun and engaging way. Share your Earth Day drawings on social media to inspire others to take action.

people cleaning the beach

Earth Day Activities

Nature Scavenger Hunt: If you’re celebrating with little kids, head outdoors for a scavenger hunt focused on finding natural treasures like leaves, rocks, or animal tracks. Use a checklist to mark off items as you find them and learn about the ecosystem around you.
Community Clean-Up: This is one of the Earth Day activities that can easily be done any time of year. Organize clean-up events to remove litter from parks, beaches, streets, or other areas around your community that need attention. Be sure to provide gloves, trash bags, and refreshments for volunteers, and make it a fun and rewarding experience by celebrating your achievement afterward.
Planting Party: Gather friends or family members for a planting party where you can sow seeds, transplant seedlings, or create a community garden. Not only does planting trees and flowers beautify your surroundings, but it also helps combat climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide.

Check out this Beginner's Guide to Zero-Waste Living.

a kid drawing the planet

Earth Day Art

Land Art Installations: Get creative with natural materials like rocks, branches, and flowers to create temporary art installations in outdoor spaces. Experiment with different shapes and patterns to celebrate the beauty of the Earth.
Environmental Sculptures: Use recycled materials to build sculptures that reflect environmental themes such as sustainability, conservation, or renewable energy. Showcase your Earth Day art at school, local parks, or community events to inspire others.
Climate Change Murals: Collaborate with artists and community members to create murals that highlight the impact of climate change and the importance of taking action. You can do this using old tiles to create a mosaic on park benches, finding a spot around town that needs beautifying, or asking store owners if you can paint the side of their buildings. Choose prominent locations for your murals to spark conversations and raise awareness.
Fingerprint Projects: Have every student in your class, member of your community, or person in your family add their fingerprint to create an image of the world as a promise to protect it. Display your Earth Day art where everyone can see it so they’ll be reminded to do their part in caring for the planet.

Whether crafting, drawing, exploring, or creating, countless ways exist to honor and protect our planet this Earth Day. Let your imagination soar and join the global movement to make every day Earth Day!

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