Hands-On Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 each year. Check out these hands-on activities you can use in your homeschool. These projects will help your kids explore natural processes and innovative thinking on Earth Day.

Water Cycle Bags

Your kids ages 9-12 will love this visual explanation of the water cycle. Using just a sandwich bag filled with blue-dyed water, your kids will be able to understand this scientific process by seeing it with their own eyes!

Teach your kids how to ask questions and make changes in a second water cycle bag. They can experiment and find different results as they make changes. This is because the water cycle is influenced by many things, such as energy from the sun, temperature, and the force of gravity.

Edible Candle

The Edible Candle Earth Day project provides a fun way to learn about the power of plant energy. Your kids can even eat their science project!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• soft cheese
• pecans
• butter knife
• spoon
• tealight candle
• lighter

Find complete instructions and pictures at KiwiCo.

Leaky Water Bottle

As the weather warms up, your younger kids ages 4-8 will appreciate this wet activity. They’ll learn about air pressure as they create a tricky water bottle that only leaks when uncapped.

To follow along, check out the instructions at KiwiCo, and gather your materials. This is a really simple activity. You’ll only need an empty plastic water bottle, a needle, and food coloring is optional. But the instructional post will give you a scientific explanation to read with the kids as well as questions to discuss.

Salt Container Bird Feeder

This DIY Earth Day project not only allows you to use recycled materials, but your kids will have a blast watching the birds discover this bird feeder!

All you need is a recycled salt container along with bird seed, some wire, and a stick. You could also start a unit study on birds to go along with this project. It makes the perfect spring science topic.

Plantable Paper

Even your tweens will love getting their hands messy and creating this recycled paper. The materials are all recyclables and your finished product will grow plants! It’s seriously amazing. And it’s a great project for the whole family, because your toddlers will definitely want to get their hands into this stuff!

Here’s all you need:

• scrap paper
• newspaper
• hot water
• blender
• felt sheets (2)
• paper bags – large
• flower seeds
• scissors

Your kids will learn about paper pulp and how it’s made. Then, the dried paper can be planted and the seeds will sprout. Makes a cute gift too.

Sprout Sculpture

Your kids will grow seeds in a DIY greenhouse in this Sprout Sculpture project for Earth Day.

This plant science activity will be fun even for your younger kids. They’ll learn about growing seeds, how greenhouses work, and bring the outdoors in.

The materials list includes:

• sponge
• plate
• seeds (chia, or wheat berries)
• scissors
• glue or a glue gun
• cup
• spoon
• water
• spray bottle
• large clear container

Mason Jar Terrarium

Finally, for more plant-growing adventures, consider letting your children create a Mason jar Terrarium. Even the toddlers can enjoy this project.

You can embark on a nature hike to collect your materials. Here’s what you’ll need:

• mason jar
• stones (or rocks)
• moss
• soil
• plants – moss, succulents, or step-ons

These simple DIY projects will help your kids learn about Earth Day in a hands-on way that’s also fun!

Check Out These Additional Resources

• Earth Day Service Project Ideas and Free Printable Packs
• FREE Printable Activity Pack for Earth Day 
• Earth Day Printable for Preschoolers
• Earth Day Writing Prompts – Free Printable
• Printable Earth Day Memory Game