Celebrate Earth Day with These Fun and Eco-Friendly Family Activities
on Apr 12, 2024, Updated Jan 24, 2025
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This list of family Earth Day activities will inspire your family to come together and do something positive for our Planet Earth! This year, instead of just talking about it, why not get hands-on with some fun and eco-friendly activities that the whole family can enjoy? Here are some simple yet impactful ideas to celebrate Earth Day together!
Earth Day is a time to come together as a family and celebrate our planet while learning how to protect it for future generations. It’s a day to teach kids about the importance of environmental awareness and the small steps we can take to make a big difference.
Table of Contents
Getting Started: Explaining Earth Day to Kids
Let’s start by explaining Earth Day in a way that kids can understand. Earth Day is like a birthday for the Earth—it’s a day to celebrate our planet and show it some extra love. We celebrate Earth Day to remind ourselves to take care of the Earth by being kind to it and not wasting its precious resources. It’s a great time to ask your kids what they think Earth Day means and why it’s important to them. It’s a great way to get the conversation going!
History of Earth Day
Earth Day, observed annually on April 22nd, is a day dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues and promoting actions to protect our planet. The history of Earth Day dates back to the 1960s, a time when the world was waking up to growing concerns about pollution, environmental degradation, and the need for conservation.
In the wake of environmental disasters like the Santa Barbara Oil Spill and Rachel Carson’s important book “Silent Spring,” the idea of Earth Day was thought up by Senator Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin. His idea of a “national teach-in on the environment” resulted in the very first Earth Day on April 22, 1970.
In 2024, we are still trying to find ways to take care of our mother earth. Reducing our carbon footprint and helping to reduce the effects of climate change are even more important now. Earth Day is the perfect opportunity for fun activities with your family!
Eco-Friendly Activities to do on Earth Day
Plant a Family Garden
There’s nothing quite like the joy of growing your own food, and a family garden is a perfect way to celebrate Earth Day! Choose some easy-to-grow veggies or herbs like tomatoes, lettuce, or basil. Let your kids get their hands dirty as they help plant and tend to the garden. It’s a hands-on way to teach them about where food comes from, the importance of soil, and how composting helps the Earth.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItMake Seed Bombs
Making seed bombs with your kids is a fun and hands-on way to celebrate Earth Day! Gather some clay, compost, and wildflower seeds, and mix them together to form small balls. Your kids will love getting their hands dirty as they roll the mixture into seed bombs.
Once they dry, these little bombs can be tossed into bare patches of soil, turning dull areas into blooming wildflower gardens. It’s a simple yet impactful activity that teaches kids about the importance of biodiversity and taking action to beautify our environment.
DIY Recycling Crafts
Get creative with recyclable materials by turning them into fun art projects! Gather up items like cardboard tubes, plastic bottles, and old newspapers to create masterpieces.
How about making cardboard tube binoculars for bird watching or plastic bottle bird feeders to attract feathered friends to your yard? It’s a fun way to repurpose items that would otherwise end up in the trash.
Energy-Saving Practices
Teach your kids the importance of saving energy by making it a game! Encourage them to turn off lights when leaving a room and unplug electronics when they’re not in use. Show them how much energy can be saved by doing these simple things. You can even make a chart to track your energy-saving progress as a family!
Explore Nature on Earth Day
Family Hike or Nature Walk
Take advantage of the beauty of nature by going on a family hike or nature walk. Explore local parks, trails, or nature reserves together. Bring along a field guide to identify plants and wildlife you encounter. It’s a great way to appreciate the natural world around us and get some fresh air and exercise as a family.
Lake or Beach Clean-Up Day
If you’re near a beach or lake, organize a beach clean-up day with your family. Bring along gloves and trash bags and spend some time collecting litter along the shoreline. Use this opportunity to teach your kids about the importance of keeping our oceans and waterways clean. They’ll feel proud knowing they’re helping to protect marine life.
Bird Watching and Nature Journaling
Set up a bird feeder in your backyard and watch as colorful birds visit for a snack. Keep a nature journal to record the different bird species you see, along with any other observations about nature. It’s a peaceful and educational activity that helps kids connect with the world outside their windows. Making a diy bird feeder or bug hotel together is just one of many great earth day projects you can do with family members of all ages.
Earth Day Crafts and Projects
Make Your Own Reusable Bags
Say goodbye to single-use plastic bags by making your own reusable tote bags! Gather old t-shirts or fabric scraps and get creative with designs and colors. Let your kids decorate their bags with eco-friendly slogans or fun patterns. These bags are not only stylish but also help reduce plastic waste when you use them for shopping.
Upcycling Household Items
Turn everyday household items into something new and useful through upcycling! Transform old jars into candle holders or vases by adding a coat of paint or some decorative touches. Get crafty with worn-out clothes by turning them into cleaning rags or cloth napkins. It’s a fun way to give old items a new life while reducing waste.
Earth Day Pledge Board
Create a family pledge board filled with eco-friendly commitments! Sit down together and discuss actions you can take to help the Earth, such as reducing water usage, recycling more, or using less plastic. Write these pledges on a board and display it prominently in your home as a reminder to stay committed to making a difference.
Community Involvement on Earth Day
Volunteer as a Family
Get involved in your community by volunteering together for environmental causes. Join local clean-up events in parks or along rivers, or participate in tree-planting activities. It’s a hands-on way to make a positive impact while teaching your kids the value of giving back to their community.
Attend Earth Day Events
Check out any Earth Day events happening in your area, such as festivals, markets, or workshops. Many communities host special activities to celebrate Earth Day, from educational exhibits to eco-friendly product demonstrations. Attend these events as a family to learn new ways to live more sustainably and connect with others who share your passion for the planet.
Best Earth Day Learning Activities
Earth Day Learning Activities for your Family
What better way to celebrate Earth Day than by doing activities that are non only fun, but also teach you something about the Earth?
A great way to upcycle bottle caps that would otherwide end up in the trash. These are so cute โ I think theyโd look perfect in the kidsโ garden.
If you have preschool ago kiddos, they'll love earning and exploring through play. Sun catchers are always a great hit at my house!
This free graphic organizer is perfect for homeschool families and teachers!
There are two free printables for download here: a making words activity and a word search (with answer key). ย I think they will be perfect for morning work or for fast finishers!
Celebrate Earth Day and teach your kids about using the recycling bin with this free printable sorting activity!
A fun way to review the numbers on a clock as well as things you can recycle.
What better way toย learn about theย layers of the earthย than by making a playdough planet?! With just a little bit of prep, kids will be able to explore theย layers of the earthย hands-on.ย
Turn empty fruit cup containers into these cute seed planters that look like turtles!
How To Make a Recycled Can Bird Feeder (Plus, 20 Recycled DIY Projects)
Add a pop of color to your backyard when you make these bird feeders out of upcycyled tin cans!
Easy Earth Dayย Treat Cups โ quick and inexpensive fun for the kids for Earth day! These cute cups are perfect for party favors, classroom treats and double as a super easy Earth Dayย craft!
Resources
Here are more homeschooling resources and ways to incorporate learning activities with older children as well.
Energy Star Information
Books
And finally, how about some books about taking care of the earth? Here’s a fabulous collection of 25 books for kids of all ages.
The Camping Trip that Changed America
The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest
Heroes of the Environment: True Stories of People Who Are Helping to Protect Our Planet
It’s Earth Day! (Little Critter)
Fancy Nancy: Every Day Is Earth Day (I Can Read Level 1)
The Berenstain Bears Don’t Pollute (Anymore)
Earth Day (Rookie Read-About Holidays)
The Polar Bears’ Home: A Story About Global Warming (Little Green Books)
The Adventures of an Aluminum Can: A Story About Recycling (Little Green Books)
Earth Day Escapade (Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew)
Earth Day–Hooray! (MathStart 3)
The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth (Magic School Bus)
Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth
Earth Book for Kids: Activities to Help Heal the Environment
I Can Save the Earth!: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (Little Green Books)
10 Things I Can Do to Help My World
The Three R’s: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle (What Do You Know About? Books)
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Earth Day as a family while also making a positive impact on the planet. Whether you’re planting a garden, exploring nature, getting crafty with recyclables, or volunteering in your community, every little action counts. Encourage your kids to continue these eco-friendly practices beyond Earth Day, making them a part of your family’s everyday life. By working together, we can create a healthier and more sustainable planet for generations to come. Happy Earth Day!
Do you do anything to teach your children to be good stewards of the earth? I’d love to hear!
Those printables are a great idea. We’ve been looking for something fun to do around the office for Earth Day. Thanks so much for sharing, Michelle
What a great round-up of Earth Day activities! I’m delighted to discover my COMPOST STEW among the books you’ve suggested, Michelle, and thank you so much for including it.
We love that book! I learned from it. <3
What a great day to celebrate and so many fantastic ideas! Thanks for sharing these, I am planning on a few of these for my children ๐