From Trash to Treasure: Earth Day Crafts

Celebrate Earth Day with these creative crafts and activities for kids! Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to teach your kids or students about sustainability? What better way to promote environmental awareness than by repurposing everyday trash into earth day art?

In this post, we’ll show you six eco-friendly earth day crafts and activities perfect for students aged K-6. These craft ideas are fun and easy to make. They also promote sustainability by encouraging us to reuse and repurpose recycled materials.

So let’s get started and turn trash into treasure with these exciting Earth Day crafts for kids!

Newspaper Seedling Pots

DIY newspaper seedling pots are an entertaining and sustainable way to start a garden. They’re incredibly easy and affordable to make while helping you reduce waste by repurposing old newspapers.

To make these seedling pots, you’ll need the following materials:

• Old newspapers
• Scissors
• A small jar or glass to use as a mold
• Soil
• Seeds

Follow these simple steps to create your easy earth day seedling pots:

1. Cut a sheet of newspaper in half lengthwise.
2. Fold the newspaper in half lengthwise. Then, wrap it around the jar or glass, leaving a couple of inches of the newspaper at the bottom.
3. Fold the excess newspaper at the bottom of the jar or glass up and tuck it in.
4. Remove the jar or glass, and you should have a pot with a flat bottom and a tapered top.
5. Fill the pot with soil and add your seeds.

When it’s time to plant the seedlings, you can plant the entire pot, newspaper and all, into the ground. The newspaper will eventually break down and decompose, adding nutrients to the soil. This is a great way to introduce kids to gardening. All in the name of planet earth!

Egg Carton Caterpillars

This art project is adorable and easy to make. They also promote sustainability by repurposing an item that would otherwise end up in a landfill. This fun earth craft also provides a great opportunity to teach kids about the fascinating life cycle of a butterfly!

To make these caterpillars, you’ll need the following materials:

• An egg carton
• Scissors
• Paint or markers
• Pipe cleaners
• Googly eyes (optional)

Follow these simple steps to create your egg carton caterpillars:

1. Cut the egg carton into individual sections of two or three cups each.
2. Paint or color each section with your desired colors.
3. Once the paint has dried, poke a hole in each side of the cups with scissors or a hole punch.
4. Thread a pipe cleaner through the holes to create the caterpillar’s legs.
5. If desired, add some cute googly eyes to the front of the caterpillar. You can also get more creative with craft items like pipe cleaners, glitter, or items you find around your home!

Plastic Bottle Planters

Looking for a way to reuse your old plastic bottles and create simple earth day crafts at the same time? These plastic bottle planters are a great way to repurpose your old bottles to create a fun and unique plant planter. They also make fantastic home decorations.

To make this earth day project, you’ll need the following materials:

• Empty plastic bottles
• Scissors or a box cutter
• Paint or markers (optional)
• Soil
• Plants or seeds

Follow these simple steps to create your plastic bottle planters:

1. Cut the plastic bottle in half with scissors or a box cutter.
2. Optional: Paint or decorate the outside of the bottle.
3. Fill the bottom half of the bottle with soil.
4. Add your plant or seeds to the soil.
5. Water the plant and place it in a sunny spot.

Tin Can Wind Chimes

Looking for a fun and unique way to reuse your old tin cans? These tin can wind chimes are a serene way to turn trash into treasure. They also make a beautiful decoration for your porch or backyard.

To make these wind chimes, you’ll need the following materials:

• Empty tin cans (make sure you remove their sharp edges!)
• Paint or markers
• String or twine
• Beads or other decorations
• A stick or dowel
• Scissors

Follow these simple steps to create your tin can wind chimes:

1. Remove the top and bottom of the tin cans with scissors or a can opener.
2. Paint or decorate the outside of the cans with your desired design.
3. Once the paint has dried, thread string or twine through the top of each can.
4. Tie the cans to the stick or dowel, spacing them evenly apart.
5. Add colorful beads or other decorations to the string between the cans to create a beautiful sound when the wind blows.

Paper Roll Bird Feeders

Are you looking for a simple way to attract birds to your backyard? These paper roll bird feeders are the perfect craft for you! They are easy and affordable to make and promote sustainability while encouraging birds to visit your backyard.

To make these bird feeders, you’ll need the following materials:

• Empty paper rolls (toilet paper or paper towel rolls)
• Peanut butter
• Birdseed
• String or twine

Here are a few suggestions for seeds that are typically attractive to a wide variety of birds:

• Black oil sunflower seeds
• Nyjer (thistle) seeds
• Safflower seeds
• Millet seeds

Follow these simple steps to create your paper roll bird feeders:

1. Cover the outside of the paper roll with peanut butter.
2. Roll the peanut butter-covered paper roll in birdseed until it is fully coated.
3. Thread a string or twine through the center of the paper roll.
4. Tie the string or twine in a loop, leaving enough length to hang the feeder.

CD Spinner Craft

CD spinners are a great craft that transforms unwanted CDs and DVDs into colorful and exciting toys for kids.

To make these spinners, you’ll need the following materials:

• Old CDs or DVDs
• Paint or markers
• String or fishing line
• Beads or other decorations
• Glue

Follow these simple steps to create your CD spinners:

1. Paint or decorate the shiny side of the CD with your desired design.
2. Once the paint has dried, glue a bead or decoration to the center of the CD.
3. Tie a string or fishing line to the bead, making sure it’s secure.
4. Hang the spinner in a sunny spot and watch it twirl in the breeze.

Reduce, Reuse, Craft!

You’ve just learned six fun and eco-friendly ways to turn everyday trash items into treasure with these easy Earth Day crafts!

So this April 22nd, remember, sustainability is all about making choices that benefit the environment and our communities. Reusing items we already have can reduce our environmental impact and conserve valuable resources. So the next time you’re about to throw something away, think about how to turn it into something new and useful.

After your earth day activity, check out Learn Bright’s extensive teaching resources. Learn Bright offers a wealth of educational content, including free printables and videos!