Easy Earth Craft for Preschool and Toddlers
Check out this simple Earth-themed art project on April 22nd for Earth Day! Little kids are naturally curious about the world around them, and there is no better way to feed that curiosity than with a hands-on Earth craft. It is creative, it is educational, and it keeps those tiny hands busy for more than four minutes.
Let me show you exactly how to make an Earth craft that your preschooler will actually finish and even be proud of. It’s the perfect way to celebrate this year’s Earth day at home or in the classroom. We put together everything you need including a free printable Earth template.
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Fun Earth Day Art Project
This craft is a great way to get kids of all ages excited about Earth Day or just planet earth in general! While they don’t even realize they’re working on fine motor skills, they just enjoy the creativity and sensory components of the craft. This easy craft is also a great opportunity to talk about how to take care of our planet.
What You’ll Need
- White cardstock
- Blue and green food coloring
- Squeeze bottles
- Squeegee
- Shaving cream
- Plastic knife or popsicle stick
- Black and blue construction paper
- Plastic tray
First, on the white card stock, print out this PDF of the Earth. You need to do this on thick paper, so the shaving cream doesn’t ruin it.
Next, mix food coloring with some water in the squeeze bottles to get your desired shade of each. Alternatively, you can just drop the food coloring straight onto the shaving cream to skip the squeeze bottle.
Step by Step Instructions
1. Once you print out the Earth picture, spray shaving cream onto the tray and smooth it out to cover the tray. You can have your child help with this part because they love playing with shaving cream.
2. Next, your child can cover the shaving cream in drops of green and blue food coloring. Then, swirl the colors around with a plastic knife or popsicle stick (or even their fingers).
3. Then, place your picture of Earth, picture side down, onto the shaving cream. Have your child press it down into the shaving cream to absorb a lot of color.
4. Next, use the squeegee across the paper to remove the shaving cream. This is what makes the tie dye affect.
5. While you let the Earth picture dry, trace your child’s hands on blue (or green) construction paper. Then, cut out the hands.
6. After you cut out the Earth, glue the hands and the Earth onto a piece of black construction paper. You can also add a cute caption like “Little Hands Helping Planet Earth”, “Our Planet”, “God’s Earth”, or “Gentle Hands” depending on the occasion for the craft. Then, you can display your finished product!
Helpful Tips for This Great Earth Day Craft
- The main thing to know when doing this craft is that the younger the child is, the more help you’ll have to give them. And it always ends with them playing in the shaving cream, which is an easy way to get some sensory play in. Older kids will only need a little help, but can still have fun with the shaving cream, too!
- Have everything ready and within arms reach once your child starts the project.
- Let them lead the design. If your preschooler wants more or less dye, let it happen. The goal is engagement and creativity for this fun activity.
- Talk while you craft. Ask questions like “What color is the water?” or “Where do we live on Earth?” It sneaks in learning without them realizing it.
Have a Happy Earth Day!
As with any art activity with preschoolers, this Earth art is less about perfection and more about process. They are learning hand-eye coordination, color recognition, and basic Earth science without even knowing it. Plus, you get 20 minutes of focused togetherness that does not involve a screen.
So add this craft to your Earth Day activities or any time you’re learning about the Earth!
Check Out More Easy Earth Day Crafts
Last year, we compiled a whole list of fun Earth Day crafts that work well for little hands. From actually making planet Earth to painting flowers to making things for a garden, these are a creative way to get your child involved in Earth Day!
Try this cute project as a fun way to grow plants while doing working on fine motor skills with younger children. It’s one of our favorite ways to celebrate Earth month in preschool and children have so much fun with it.
