20+ Creative Earth Day Art Projects to Celebrate Our Planet

Looking for fun ways to celebrate Earth Day with kids? These Earth Day art projects are a great way to combine creativity with eco-friendly lessons! Whether using recycled materials, exploring nature-based designs, or experimenting with different painting techniques, there’s something here for every age group.

If you love hands-on activities, highlight more inspiring Earth Day crafts, encouraging kids to appreciate and care for our planet.

Collage of Earth Day art projects for kids, including paintings, recycled crafts, pop art Earth designs, and creative reminders to recycle, all using colorful and eco-themed materials.

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Earth Day Art Activities

www.learningandexploringthroughplay.com

Salt Painting for Earth Day

Create textured artwork by combining salt with liquid watercolors, offering a fun and tactile art experience. Watching the colors spread across the salt makes the process as exciting as the final result. This hands-on activity encourages creativity while adding a fun sensory element to the painting.

Related: Torn Paper Earth Craft

www.craftsonsea.co.uk

Finger Painted Earth Day Activity

Celebrate Earth Day with this simple and fun finger-painting activity. Using a free printable template, kids can dip their fingers in paint to create their own colorful Earth—a perfect way for preschoolers to explore their creativity while learning about the planet. This activity also makes for a special keepsake and is a great way to introduce little ones to eco-friendly concepts.

barleyandbirch.com

Recycled Art Heart Pennant Pins

Upcycle old artwork into colorful heart pennant pins that kids can wear or give away as unique Valentine's gifts. Kids can create a cheerful, eco-friendly flair perfect for creatively sharing love by cutting and painting scraps of cardboard and art pieces.

Also try: Earth Day Name Craft

www.craftymorning.com

Shaving Cream Marbled Earth Day

Swirling blue and green paint into fluffy shaving cream creates a mesmerizing marbled effect, perfect for an Earth-inspired art piece. Pressing a paper plate into the mixture transfers the design, revealing a unique pattern with every try. Kids will love the hands-on fun, though gloves might help keep little fingers from turning colorful, too!

Also try: Earth Day Headband

www.youclevermonkey.com

Earth Day Art

This vibrant Earth Day art project blends three fun techniques to create a beautiful piece inspired by Jack Johnson's song "Two Hands." Kids will enjoy using pipettes to drop colorful paint, bringing the world to life with their hands while building fine motor skills. Combining creativity and environmental awareness makes it a perfect classroom activity for young children.

Related: Earth Day Worksheets

leftbraincraftbrain.com

Recycled Plastic Flowers Art and Science Project

A mix of art and chemistry turns recycled plastic into colorful flowers that last forever. Kids will love watching the plastic curl and transform in the oven, uniquely shaping each flower. Perfect for gifts, decorations, or just a fun science experiment, this project brings creativity and STEM together hands-on.

littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Earth Day Pop Art

Celebrate Earth Day with a vibrant pop art-inspired project! Kids can create their colorful version of the planet using watercolors and an Earth template while learning about this fun art movement. The bold colors and creative process make this an exciting activity for young artists.

Also try: Earth Day Connect The Dots

www.hellowonderful.co

Cardboard Rainbow Art

Brighten up any space with a colorful ombre rainbow made from recycled cardboard. Kids can have fun painting each layer in bold shades, then add fluffy paper clouds for extra charm. Whether used as cheerful wall decor or a unique note card, it's a great way to spread happiness!

littlepinelearners.com

Nature Suncatchers Made with Recycled Items

Turn plastic lids and pressed flowers into stunning sun catchers that brighten any window. Kids will love arranging delicate petals and leaves and sealing them with plastic wrap—no glue needed! It's a simple, mess-free way to reuse materials while creating a beautiful nature-inspired decoration.

Related: Earth Day Activity Pages

www.thebestideasforkids.com

Earth Day Watercolor Art

Kids can create a vibrant Earth painting using watercolors and a simple black crayon outline. The resist effect makes colors pop, and every design turns out unique. Pair it with a writing prompt to inspire conversations about protecting the planet.

Also try: Earth Day Hat

emmaowl.com

James Goldcrown Hearts: Easy Recycled Art Project

Repurpose cardboard into a beautiful, heart-shaped piece inspired by colorful designs. By shaping the tube into a heart and stamping it onto paper, kids can explore colors and patterns inspired by James Goldcrown's famous murals. This fun technique works beautifully for homemade wrapping paper, greeting cards, or just for the joy of painting!

Related: Earth Day Card Craft

nontoygifts.com

Handprint Earth Day Art Project

This project is a fun and creative way for kids to celebrate Earth Day by making a keepsake art piece with their handprints. Children create their version of Earth using simple materials like cardstock, contact paper, and paint, perfect for displaying year after year. This craft is a great Earth Day activity and makes a meaningful addition to any home or classroom decor.

Also try: Earth Paper Craft

www.messforless.net

Earth Day Activity

Create vibrant Earth prints with a simple paper plate and paint. Kids will love using blue and green to represent land and water while practicing fine motor skills. After the prints dry, the designs can be turned into space scenes or informational posters, making Earth Day activities fun and educational.

Related: Earth Day Paper Plate Craft

www.kitchencounterchronicle.com

Recycled Newspaper Earth Day Garland

Give old newspapers a new purpose with a festive Earth Day garland. Kids will enjoy painting the pages in vibrant blues and greens before cutting them into circles and hearts. String the shapes together with twine for a simple yet meaningful decoration you can reuse year after year.

kidscraftroom.com

Colourful CD Scratch Art

This creative scratch art activity transforms old CDs into stunning works of art. Kids can explore different painting techniques, experiment with colors, and use various tools to reveal intricate designs. The unique masterpiece becomes a display-worthy piece of art or a fun decor item like a mobile or coaster.

www.muminthemadhouse.com

Bleeding Tissue Paper Rain Art

This outdoor craft uniquely allows kids to explore colors and Earth Day! By placing tissue paper on wet paper, kids create vibrant artwork that mimics the beauty of rain—perfect for discussing nature while getting hands-on. The process offers a fun way to watch colors blend and leave lasting impressions, whether under actual rain or a watering can.

www.messylittlemonster.com

Earth Day Art – Dot Painting

This simple dot painting activity lets kids explore color and texture using cotton swabs and toothpicks. A free Earth template makes it easy to create a vibrant design while practicing fine motor skills. The mix of different-sized dots adds a fun, artistic touch, making each masterpiece unique!

www.whatdowedoallday.com

Recycled Art Project

Turn bathroom recyclables into colorful, one-of-a-kind prints! Kids can dip plastic containers, toilet paper rolls, and other materials in paint to create unique textures and patterns. Once kids complete the artwork, they can wash and recycle the materials, reinforcing eco-friendly habits in a fun way.

www.whereimaginationgrows.com

Process Art with Recycled Cardboard

Let kids explore their creativity with simple recycled cardboard and basic art supplies. With no right or wrong way to create, this open-ended activity encourages self-expression and experimentation. Perfect for multiple ages, preschoolers can draw, color, and design, while younger kids enjoy stamping and scribbling—making it a great way to keep little hands busy for hours.

playtolearnpreschool.us

Earth Day Process Art Project

Kids will love using droppers to paint their version of the Earth with vibrant blue and green colors on coffee filters. This hands-on activity helps them practice fine motor skills and sparks creativity as they explore different techniques to create their planet. After the art dries, they'll add a fun, personalized touch with the word "Earth" and their name!

www.hellowonderful.co

Bubble Art with Recycled Bottle

Transform bubble play into a vibrant art project using recycled plastic bottles and mesh fruit bags. Kids will love watching colorful bubbles burst onto paper, creating unique, abstract designs. Perfect for outdoor fun, this activity doubles as a hands-on lesson in recycling and creativity.

barleyandbirch.com

Scrap Stamp Shape Collages

With this creative collage activity, leftover scraps can transform into vibrant works of art. Kids can explore shapes, colors, and textures using recycled materials like plastic lids and bubble wrap to create fun patterns. This activity's open-ended nature allows for endless creative possibilities and provides an excellent opportunity for kids to experiment and express themselves.

www.fantasticfunandlearning.com

Recycled Art: Boats in the Sea

Transform everyday cardboard and paper scraps into a colorful ocean scene filled with boats and waves. Kids will love printing bubbly water patterns with a recycled bottle and piecing together different shapes to build unique vessels. This hands-on activity encourages creativity while reinforcing shape recognition and the importance of reusing materials.

www.schooltimesnippets.com

Northern Lights CD Art Project

Turn an old CD into a glowing display of the Northern Lights with just a few markers! The CD's reflective surface creates a shimmering effect, making the colors dance like the real aurora borealis. Kids will love the magic of tilting their artwork to see the lights come to life.

More Fun Kid’s Ideas

7 Easy Earth Day Crafts For Kids
35 Fun & Simple Earth Day Activities for Kids
25 Best Planet Crafts For Kids To Make

Sam

Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump and more. Read more.