Earth Day is a great time to help little ones learn how to take care of the world around them. Preschoolers are naturally curious and love hands-on activities, making this the perfect opportunity to introduce simple eco-friendly habits through play, art, and exploration.
Here are some fun and meaningful Earth Day activities you can do with your preschooler!
1. Recycled Bird Feeder Activity
Turn trash into treasure with this sweet outdoor activity! Create a simple bird feeder using materials you already have at home—like toilet paper rolls, peanut butter, and bird seed.
What You’ll Need:
- Empty toilet paper roll or paper towel tube
- Peanut butter (or an alternative like sunflower seed butter)
- Bird seed
- String (optional)
How to Do It:
Have your child spread peanut butter over the outside of the cardboard tube, then roll it in bird seed. Slip it onto a tree branch or hang it with string. Then, watch the birds enjoy their snack!
2. Worm Discovery Jar
This activity is a favorite for little scientists. Preschoolers can observe how worms help the Earth by breaking down organic material and enriching soil.
What You’ll Need:
- A clear jar
- Soil, sand, and organic scraps (like veggie peels)
- A few worms
- Black construction paper
- Or, check out this: Worm Farm
How to Do It:
Layer the soil, sand, and scraps in the jar. Gently add a few worms, then wrap the jar in black paper (they prefer the dark!). After a few days, unwrap it and observe the tunnels they’ve made. Great for talking about composting and how worms help the Earth!
3. Seed Planting
Let your preschooler plant something and watch it grow! This classic activity is simple and meaningful, teaching kids how plants support the Earth.
What You’ll Need:
- Seeds (beans, sunflowers, or herbs are great choices)
- Soil
- Small pots or recycled containers
- Water
- Or, check out this: Modern Sprout Curious Critters Garden Activity Kit
How to Do It:
Let your child fill a small pot with soil, add the seed, and water it. Place it near a window and check on it daily. Talk about how plants clean the air and help living things thrive.
4. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Take your Earth Day celebration outside with a nature walk and a printable scavenger hunt. Encourage kids to explore and observe the world around them—flowers, bugs, leaves, birds, and more.
You can use a clipboard, a magnifying glass, and a small bag to collect non-living nature items like rocks or fallen leaves. Let your child draw or color what they find!
Check out this: Nature Scavenger Hunt printable
5. Earth Day Sorting Printable
Teach kids about recycling with this hands-on sorting activity using the Earth Day Sorting printable.
What You’ll Need:
- Earth Day Sorting pages (trash and recycling bins, cut-out items)
- Scissors
- Glue
- White paper
How to Do It:
Cut out the trash and recycling items. Cut an opening in the tops of the bins. Glue the sorting page onto a sheet of white paper along the sides and bottom to create pockets. Talk about each item—should it be recycled or thrown away? Let your child place the items into the correct bin.
6. Reusable Waste Worksheet
This Reusable Waste printable encourages kids to think before they toss! It includes 12 waste item images.
How to Do It:
Have your preschooler color the items that can be re-used. Then talk together about how each item could be used again. Can a jar hold crayons? Can a cardboard box become a toy house? This activity builds creative thinking and eco-conscious habits.
7. Race to Save the Earth
This fun and interactive printable turns helping the Earth into a friendly challenge.
It includes five simple Earth-friendly actions:
- Recycle
- Reuse an item
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth
- Turn off the lights
- Plant a seed
How to Use It:
Mark a box each time your child completes one of the actions. See which row fills up first and how long it takes! Afterward, brainstorm other ideas for how to help our planet.
Earth Day is more than just one day—it’s the perfect starting point for raising lifelong Earth-lovers. These simple preschool activities will help your child understand the importance of taking care of our planet in ways that are playful, age-appropriate, and easy to do at home.
Xx Jeni
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