13 Recycling Activities for Kids | Fun Projects for all Ages
Published:
April 4, 2025
Contributor:
Sarah Shelton
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Looking for creative ways to teach kids about recycling? Our fun recycling activities for kids include crafts, games, challenge projects, coloring pages, and more—perfect for curious minds of all ages!
Recycling Activities for Kids on Earth Day
Our kids will get the very best out of Earth Day by learning what they can do personally and daily to help the environment. A few people can help in BIG ways, and many people can help in little ways like by recycling.
Taking care of our Earth is truly something that we all can do just a little at a time, working together to make a difference. One thing we can teach our kids that shows them they can do things that matter for the planet is by recycling.
We have put together lots of information on recycling and recycling activities for kids that can get children of all ages excited about Earth Day and recycling.
When is Earth Day?
Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22. More than a billion people around the world celebrate with Earth Day activities for kids, and doing Earth Day crafts together.
Our homeschool group always gets together for a field trip at a local park to pick up trash and bag it up and take it away. It’s such a fun way to gather together, and show our love for the Earth that God gave us.
What is Recycling?
Recycling is a series of actionable steps we can take to do our part as members of our community and as a part of the world’s entire population.
Recycling is a way we can turn what usually is considered trash or waste into something new or a new product.
What can we Recycle?
You can recycle Items like plastic, glass, metals, paper, electronics, and textiles. These can all be put through a recycling process to create new items.
What can be Made with these Products if they are Recycled?
So many new items can be made from our trash! Here are some reduce reuse recycle examples for kids:
- soda cans
- plastic milk cartons
- newspapers
- cardboard boxes
- egg cartons
Why is Recycling Important?
Landfills are not cheap and get filled up really fast. Recycling materials means less trash and saves space in dumps and landfills.
Recycling means that we are taking fewer of the Earth’s resources and getting more out of the resources we’ve already used.
Then there is pollution. Recycling materials produces less pollution in our atmosphere, which helps keep our environment clean.
Recycling Activities for Kids
There are so many different activities that you can do with your kids to teach them about recycling and Earth Day. We have put together some fun recycled crafts as well as DIY toys, coloring pages and STEM Challenges for you to enjoy:
Recycling and Earth Day Coloring Pages
Coloring pages are fantastic recycling activities for kids as they can introduce the concept of recycling and Earth Day in a very visual and simple way:
Trash To Treasure – Recycling Coloring Page
“Turn old things new, its fun to do. Recycle, create and craft with glue.” is a simple little saying kids can learn to remind them how fun it can be to recycle.
This adorable coloring page of an earth smiling at a flower while a honey bee flies back to its hive is a perfect addition to any Earth Day lessons you have planned for either homeschool or a traditional classroom. Currently available in our store.
Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
Need to get the kids moving and outside? Then an Earth Day scavenger hunt will do the trick This hunt includes animals, plants and other items kids search for and then color.
Challenge Older Kids with Recycling Projects
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These recycling activities for kids are a great way to challenge your older elementary, middle school and even high school students to see how they an use one or all four of those elements to create useful tools out of things they find in the recycling bin:
Trash to Tunes Musical Instrument Recycling Activity
Are you looking for a fun activity where your young children can use their problem-solving skills and a little creativity to create musical instruments out of recycled materials such as toilet paper rolls, cardboard tubes, rubber bands, rice and more? Then be sure to get this STEM challenge activity for your homeschool lessons today! Currently available in our store.
Can-Do Chimes – A Wind Chime Recycle Activity
This fun recycling activity uses everyday items such as: fishing line, bottle caps, metal washers, aluminum cans and old tin cans of various sizes. It will challenge students to think creatively and have a great time while doing so!
Feathered Feast – Build a Bird Feeder Recycle Activity
By building bird feeders from recyclable items like: plastic bottles like milk jugs, juice jugs and different items, your kids will learn how to make a positive impact in their very own backyard. This is also a fun way to get some birdwatching in! Currently available in our store.
Easy Recycling Crafts
Crafts are wonderful recycling activities for kids to try. Your preschooler through early elementary kids will have a lot of fun collecting items to create these fun ideas:
Yogurt container planters
Making bugs out of old egg cartons is an super simple activity to try with our little ones.
Age Range: 2–6 years
Materials Needed:
- Empty yogurt containers
- Potting soil
- Seeds (flowers, herbs, or veggies)
- Paint, stickers, or markers for decoration
- Small nail or screwdriver for drainage holes
Instructions:
- Wash the yogurt containers thoroughly with hot, soapy water.
- Poke a few small holes in the bottom for drainage using a screwdriver or small nail.
- Decorate the outside of the container with paint, stickers or permanent markers.
- Fill with potting soil and seeds.
- Water and place in a sunny spot and start watching the sprouts appear!
egg carton ladybug and caterpillars
Making bugs out of old egg cartons is another one of our creative recycling activities for kids. This one is sure to make them smile
Age Range: 2–6 years
Materials Needed:
- Empty egg cartons
- Scissors
- Paint or markers
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes
- Glue
Instructions:
- Cut the egg carton lengthwise into a strip leaving 3–6 cups.
- Paint or color the cups with markers to resemble a caterpillar.
- Poke two small holes in the first cup and insert pipe cleaners for the antennae.
- Glue googly eyes on the front.
- Add legs using pipe cleaners
Create Fun DIY Toys Using Recycled Materials
Creating your own DIY toys is a fantastic way to use recyclable materials to create something new for your kids to play with!
Milk Jug Scoop Ball Game
Do you have kids who love to toss a ball? This is a fun and free way to reuse and old milk or juice jugs you may have around.
Age Range: 4–10 years
Materials Needed:
- Empty milk or juice jug (one per player)
- Scissors or utility knife (adult supervision required)
- Tape (optional, for smooth edges)
- Small ball (ping pong ball, tennis ball, or crumpled paper ball)
- Markers, stickers, or paint for decoration
Instructions:
- Wash and dry the milk jug, then cut off the bottom half, leaving the handle intact. This creates a scoop shape.
- Cover any rough edges with tape to prevent your kids from cuts or scratches.
- Encourage your kids to decorate their scoop with paint, stickers, or markers.
- Use the scoop to toss and catch a small ball. Play alone or with a partner by tossing the ball back and forth.
???? Bonus Idea: I once worked with a Sunday school teacher who would have her kids practice their Bible verses with this game. One child would say the first word of the verse as they tossed the ball to the next child. That child would say the next word in the verse as they used the scoop to toss the ball back. They continued back and forth until they knew the verse or it was time for the next activity. What a great idea to use to review any lesson!
Plastic bottle bowling game
Does your family like to to go bowling? This is an easy way to repurpose any old water bottles to have a fun bowling night at home.
Age Range: 2–8 years
Materials Needed:
- Empty plastic bottles (6–10)
- Paint or stickers to decorate the “pins”
- Small ball
Instructions:
- Wash and remove labels from the plastic bottles with hot soapy water. You can use alcohol wipes to get off any sticky residue.
- Have your kids decorate them with paint, stickers, or permanent markers.
- Fill the bottles a quarter of the way with water or sand so they are able to stand up.
- Set them up like bowling pins and use a small ball to knock them over.
Cereal Box Puzzle
Cereal boxes can provided tons of free puzzles for your kids. We have 3 puzzle recycling activities for kids to create and enjoy:
Age Range: 3–7 years
Materials Needed:
- Empty Cereal Boxes
- Scissors
- Markers
Option 1 – Kids Design It Instructions:
- Cut off the front panel of the cereal box.
- Flip it over and have your kids draw puzzle piece shapes on the back.
- Cut along the lines of the puzzle pieces to cut them out.
- Mix up the pieces and let kids put them back together to create their puzzle.
- Store the pieces in a resealable bag or recycled plastic containers to use for later.
Option 2 – A puzzle can be created by cutting the front of any cereal box. Parents and teachers can cut it out depending on the age of the children.
Option 2 – Create a racing game by cutting multiple cereal box covers in the same size squares. Give each student one puzzle neatly stacked and have them race each other to see who can complete the puzzle first. Check out this cute video to watch a puzzle race!
Create a Recycling Song
Recycling activities for kids aren’t limited to coloring pages, crafts and challenges. If you have kids that love to sing then challenge your older students and help the little ones create a new song about recycling. Youtube has videos you can watch for inspiration.
Don’t want to write one? Here’s one that can work with the tune Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star:
????
Turn old things new, it’s fun to do,
Recycle, create, and craft with glue.
Paper, plastic, boxes too,
Give them life, it’s up to you.
Turn old things new, it’s fun to do,
Recycle, create, and craft with glue.
????
Recycling Videos
Speaking of videos, we’ve found a couple that can be added to round out any lesson on recycling:
- Recycling for Kids | Kids Academy
- SciShow Kids on How Recycling Works | SciShow Kids
Final Thoughts
These recycling activities for kids are just the beginning of all the creative ways you can explore this topic with your kids. Ready….Set…Recycle!
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Sarah Shelton
Sarah is a wife, daughter of the King and Mama to 4 children (two homeschool graduates) She is a an eclectic, Charlotte Mason style homeschooler that has been homeschooling for over 20 years. She is still trying to find the balance between work and keeping a home and gardens. She can only do it by the Grace of God, coffee and green juice!
