60 Earth Day Activities for Kindergartners and Young Children

Have Earth Day plans for your young kindergartner or preschooler? Now you do; we have your ultimate list of engaging and educational activities your kids will enjoy. We’ll explore a variety of hands-on and fun-filled activities specifically tailored for young kids that are perfect for celebrating Earth Day. 

From interactive crafts to outdoor adventures, these Earth Day activities for kindergartners and preschoolers will inspire curiosity, creativity, and environmental stewardship in the youngest members of our community.  

Is April Earth Month? 

Yes, it is! The National Environmental Education Foundation, the EPA, and more recently declared April, Earth Month. This month is a time to recognize that our Earth deserves more than just a day of respect. It’s a time to focus on protecting the environment and making a stronger commitment to taking care of our planet.  

Engaging the younger generation in Earth Month celebrations is vital to the future protection of our planet. Get kids excited about helping the environment with our list of 60 Earth Day activities for young children. And don’t worry, you won’t break the bank with our ideas; most of these can be done in your own backyard! 

Earth Day activities for kindergarteners 

Engaging kindergartners in Earth Day activities is crucial as it lays the foundation for environmental awareness at a young age. These activities provide hands-on experiences that help children develop a deep connection with nature. By participating in Earth Day activities specifically designed for kindergartners, children learn valuable lessons about how to care for the planet. Here are some of our best ideas: 

• Create bird feeders using recycled materials like toilet paper rolls, peanut butter, and bird seed. 
• Going on a nature scavenger hunt. 
• Cleaning up litter in a local park. 
• Create a DIY wind chime using recycled materials like metal cans or bottle caps. 
• Spend time in nature by taking a family walk in a park.  
• Read Earth Day-themed books. 
• Find a favorite stick and take it with you on a nature hike. 
• Decorate a reusable tote bag.  
• Make Earth Day cookies! (With an adult’s help of course) 

• Decorate a recycling bin with uncycled materials. 
• Go to the zoo and learn about animals and wildlife conservation. 
• Make homemade birdhouses using recycled milk cartons. 
• Color an Earth Day color by numbers! Download yours, here! 

• Plant a small vegetable garden. 
• Collect and start a rock collection. 
• Have a “zero waste” picnic. 
• Make your own upcycled planter out of a tin can! Be sure to protect your hands from those sharp edges! 

• Create a sensory bin with soil, rocks, and small toy animals. 
• Make a dirt cup. 
• Make eco-friendly art supplies like natural dyes from fruits and vegetables. 
• Make a coffee filter planet Earth! 

• Climb up a hill and roll down it. 
• Grow your own plants in eggshells! Egg shells are known to be filled with minerals that stimulate plant growth.  
• Water your plants! 
• Plant a tree. 
• Make an outdoor stick mobile.

• Learn about renewable energy with a free downloadable read and worksheet for young students. 
• Make an Earth Day pledge! 
• Make an Earth Day ornament to hang on your windows. 
• Learn about recycling. 

Earth Day activities for preschool-aged children

Having young preschoolers participate in Earth Day activities is crucial for nurturing a sense of environmental responsibility and appreciation for nature at a young age. Participating in Earth Day preschool activities helps your young one learn and care for the planet through hands-on experiences.  

These activities also allow kids to have fun and makes environmental responsibility feel less like a chore! Here are some of our best ideas: 

• Fly a kite. 
• Plant flower seeds in pots and watch them grow. 
• Go to a pond and watch for animals. 
• Paint rocks with Earth Day messages. 
• Make a handprint tree craft. 
• Play outdoor games like tag or hide-and-seek to appreciate nature. 
• Collecting leaves, flowers, and rocks. 
• Visit a nature center. 
• Build a bird’s nest using twigs, leaves, and grass found in nature. 

• Have a healthy Earth Day themed snack. 
• Go on a nature adventure hunt. 
• Build and play with an upcycled drum set of old buckets and containers. 
• Make nature-inspired sensory bottles filled with items like sand, water, and leaves. 
• Make homemade playdough. 

• Have a nature-themed dress-up day. 
• Have a nighttime campfire with smores!  
• Have a backyard campout. 
• Set up a nature-inspired obstacle course in your backyard. 
• Have a family movie night and watch an Earth Day-themed movie. 
• Play an Earth Day matching game. 
• Dig a hole and look for bugs. 
• Make DIY natural bird baths using shallow dishes and stones. 
• Take pictures of plants, animals, and landscapes. 
• Color an Earth Day coloring page. 
• Make DIY seed bombs 

• Create a DIY pollinator hotel. 
• Create a nature-themed memory game. 
• Collect sticks and watch them float down a river. 
• Draw Earth Day pictures outside with sidewalk chalk. 
• Create a recycled cardboard maze or obstacle course for toy cars or animals to navigate. 

Earth Month challenge 

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again, Earth Day deserves more than just a day of celebration! So if you’re looking for a full month of Earth Day activities that make an impact, check out our Earth Day challenge.

Through hands-on experiences like scavenger hunts, nature walks, and creative crafts, children develop a deep connection with the natural world while learning valuable lessons about conservation and sustainability. As we celebrate Earth Month, let’s seize the opportunity to involve our youngest community members in activities that inspire curiosity, creativity, and a commitment to protecting our planet.