Fun Earth Day Activities For Kids (2023)
Earth Day is a time to celebrate Earth and the environment. From planting trees to making homemade paper, Earth Day offers many opportunities for kids to learn about Earth’s natural resources.
Teachers and parents can use Earth Day as an opportunity for children in their life to explore science or other topics that interest them. The goal of Earth Day should be to educate and engage kids in taking care of Earth. Here are some fun ways that your kids can get involved in celebrating our beautiful planet!
1. Go on a scavenger hunt.
Before going outside, have the kids list natural elements commonly found in nature around you, like twigs, grass, flowers, weeds, pebbles, etc. Make two copies of the list and divide the players into two teams.
Hand each team a list along with a basket for their found objects. The first team to return with everything on the list wins the Earth Day scavenger hunt.
2. Grow plants in jars.
One way to help Earth is by using plastic that would otherwise be thrown away and using that as a container where you can grow plants. This planting activity is a great way to introduce plants to your kids and give them a deeper understanding and appreciation of how they grow! Use easy-to-grow plants like peas and sunflowers, so the kids don’t get disappointed!
What you need:
- Jar
- Paper towels
- Water
- Seeds (peas or sunflower germinate quickly)
Steps:
- Fold some paper towels and then place them inside jars (kids can push the paper towels inside the jar)
- Gently add some water to wet the paper towels. Do not flood the jar!
- Place seeds in the jar, near the edges of the jar, so you and your kids can watch the seed grow!
3. Make birdseed treats.
Making bird seed treats is a fun and easy way to have birds visit your garden often! This activity will teach children about the different types of birds that are local to your area.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup white or wheat flour
- 3 cups birdseed mix
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup raw peanuts
- ½ cup water (brought to a boil)
- ¼ ounce unflavored gelatin
- 3 Tbsp. light corn syrup
Materials needed
- Mixing bowl
- Glass measuring cup
- Parchment
- Wooden spoon
- Sticks
- Twine
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl
- Boil the 1/2 cup of water and pour into a measuring cup
- Add gelatin to the boiling water and stir to dissolve it.
- Stir in corn syrup
- Pour liquids over your dry ingredients and mix thoroughly
- Spoon mixture onto parchment paper, and form into disks
- Poke hole in the middle of the treat for hanging
- Let cakes dry overnight
- Remove birdseed treats from parchment
- Use sticks and twine to hang cakes
4. Clean up your neighborhood.
Get your kids inspired to help keep their neighborhood clean by leading Earth Day cleanup efforts! It’s crucial to teach children how littering is harmful to the environment during their formative years.
You can use this time to educate them on litter’s effects on the environment and animals who live there. Leading a cleanup is a great way to get some exercise while helping to clean up your community.
5. Make homemade paper.
This activity is fun to teach children about Earth’s natural resources. Making homemade paper requires very few materials, and it can be a fun group activity.
Materials needed
- Old newspaper or other recycled paper
- Hot water
- Posterboard or a plastic surface
- A blender or food processor
- Household sponge
Instructions
- Tear paper into tiny pieces
- Put paper and water into a blender and blend the paper until it becomes a pulp (about the consistency of split pea soup)
- Pour the pulp onto the poster board or plastic surface, and spread it out evenly.
- Use your hands to press the pulp down
- Remove excess water with a household sponge
- Let dry for at least 12-24 hours. Once it’s dry, you can use your new paper to make Earth Day cards or posters!
Which kid doesn’t love having a sweet treat? Earth Day cookies are a great way to engage children in celebrating our planet while satisfying their sweet tooth!
Ingredients
- 1 bag of sugar cookie mix and the called for ingredients on the packaging
- 6 drops blue food dye
- 6 drops green food dye
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375º.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment.
- Prepare your sugar cookie mix according to the package directions.
- Place about 1/4 of dough in one bowl.
- Dye green using green food coloring until you’ve reached the desired color. Next, dye the remaining dough blue until you’ve achieved the desired color.
- Pull out pieces from each color dough and shape them into 1” balls.
- Place cookie dough onto prepared baking sheets.
- Bake 8 to 9 minutes, or until edges are set (try to prevent browning).
7. Visit a local park.
Pack a picnic lunch and spend Earth Day at your nearest park! Going to your local park is a great way to spend time outdoors and learn about the environment all at the same time.
You can go birdwatching, and if there’s a pond nearby, you can observe the fish and frogs. This activity is a perfect way to help kids appreciate Earth and all the creatures on it.
8. Take a nature walk.
This Earth Day, take a nature walk with your family! Nature walking is a fun activity, and you’ll also get some exercise and fresh air. Bring a camera photograph different animals and plants you see!
As you walk around, take time to look at all the different plant and animal species you see! Kids can watch birds and look at natural habitats!
9. Plant a tree.
One great way to enjoy Earth Day is planting a tree. With so much deforestation, it’s best to get children out early to experience the necessity of trees and why they should be protected. In addition, kids should get hands-on experience learning about carbon dioxide and oxygen and how trees improve the land’s capacity to adapt to climate change!
10. Start a compost bin.
Composting is a great way to reduce the amount of waste you produce, and it’s good for the environment too! So, Earth Day is a great time to start your compost bin.
11. Take a bike ride
Ditch the car this earth day and enjoy the outdoors on your bike. Biking helps to reduce your carbon footprint and help the Earth.
So, you can take this opportunity to share the importance of cutting down on gas emissions! And not only does biking save energy, but bike riding is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the fresh air.
12. Papier-Mache
Kids can make papier-Mache at home or do it with their friends in school, and it’s environmentally friendly! Use any leftover paper, newspaper, or magazines coated with a flour and water paste mixture to make masks!
13. Make dirt pudding with gummy worms.
Another way for children to be more involved in the kitchen and learn more about our ecosystem is to make dirt pudding with gummy worms! In addition, you can use this as an opportunity to discuss why earthworms are vital to the health of soil and plants.
When earthworms burrow, they allow the roots of plants to grow deeper. They also break down organic matter and produce fertilizer for soil! Here’s a simple recipe you can follow along with the little ones.
Ingredients
- 1 package of instant chocolate pudding mix
- Milk
- Oreos
- gummy worms, as many as desired
Instructions
- Follow the instructions on your instant chocolate pudding mix to prepare the pudding.
- Crush 10-15 Oreos in a plastic bag.
- Add the pudding to a cup and sprinkle the crushed Oreos on top for that “dirt” look.
- Finally, add some gummy worms on top!
14. Make a pollinator-friendly garden!
Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are vital to the environment. They help pollinate plants, which is necessary to reproduce and bear fruits.
If there were no pollinators, many plants would not be able to produce, and this would affect the food chain. Support these amazing creatures by planting a pollinator-friendly garden!
There are many ways for your garden pollinator-friendly. However, here are a few essential tips for the Earth that play a crucial role in our ecosystem.
Bees like:
- Sunflowers
- Lavender
- Borage
- Clover
- Asters
- Ammi
- Asclepias
- Bergamot
- Borage
- Buckwheat
Butterflies like:
- Milkweed
- Daisy family plants
- Butterfly Bush
- Phlox
- Coneflower
- Lantana
- Bluestar
- Pot Marigolds
- Black-Eyed Susan
- Blazing Star Flowers
Hummingbirds like:
- Petunia
- Bleeding hearts
- Zinnia
- Bee Balm
- Trumpet Creeper
- Lupine
- Cardinal Flower
- Salvia
- Butterfly Bush
- Columbine
Earth Day is a great time to get outside and appreciate all that our planet offers. And now that you know some fun activities your kids can do, it’s time to get started!
It’s a time to think about what we can do to help make the world a better place. Planting trees, starting a compost bin, taking a bike ride, and making a pollinator-friendly garden are great ways to celebrate Earth Day! So, what will you do to celebrate Earth Day this year?
Be sure to share this article with your friends and family so that they can join in on the fun too. Let us know in the comments which activity is your favorite, and don’t forget to tell us how you’re going to help make Earth a better place this Earth Day!
