Preschool Earth Day and Recycling Activities and Lesson Planning Ideas
Below you can find tons of fun and engaging Earth Day & Recycling Activities! Pick and choose the activities for your lesson or download a free copy of our Earth Day & Recycling Preschool Lesson Plan to save you time!
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Earth Day and Recycling Preschool Theme Map
Save even more time when you combine the ideas found on this page, with our coordinating resources!
Sign up below to get a sample plan we created using some of the ideas found on this page!
*Painting with RecyclablesSet out some paint and recyclables for children to create anything they like. This is a great time to explore how different tools can create unique designs!
Another fun creativity idea is to invite your preschooler to create 3D art using recyclables. |
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DIY WatercolorsSave those dried up markers to reuse!
Sheena W. of Building Blocks Family Child Care contributed this photo. She placed dried up markers in a plastic bottle then filled with water. She paired them with droppers for her preschoolers to use for painting. |
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Make Your Own Crayons
Make your own crayons by recycling old broken crayons!
Find all the instructions on our Make Your Own Crayons Blog post |
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Coffee Filter Earth
Mix blue water color paint and green water color paint in small jars of water. Lay out coffee filters on trays for easy clean up. Invite children to use pipettes to suck up blue and green and drop the color on their coffee filter to create Earth!
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Decorate a Reusable Shopping BagCreate a unique reusable shopping bag.
You will need: -Canvas shopping bags -Assorted color markers or paint pens -Cardboard pieces, cut to fit into each bag to keep the markers/pens from bleeding through Place cardboard pieces inside each bag and begin coloring your design! Let dry and then you can take the beautiful bag with you whenever you go shopping to help reduce plastic use! |
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Paper Towel ArtCreate fun art pieces using paper towels!
You will need: -Paper towel -Black permanent marker -Colored washable markers -Scissors -Shallow dish of water Fold paper towel in half and then cut in half creating two pieces that look like a book. On one of the books use the permanent black marker to draw a design, allowing it to bleed through to the piece underneath. Next, open the book and color the impression left from page 1. Close the book and place in the shallow dish of water. The black and white design will be magically colored! Remove and let dry. |
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More Earth Day & Recycling Preschool Art Ideas
23 Earth Day Crafts from Happy Hooligans
Earth Day Shaving Cream Paint Craft from Easy Preschool Craft
No Mess Painting in a Bag Earth Craft from Still Playing Preschool
Make a Toy Guitar out of Recycled Materials from Projects for Preschoolers
Earth Day Shaving Cream Paint Craft from Easy Preschool Craft
No Mess Painting in a Bag Earth Craft from Still Playing Preschool
Make a Toy Guitar out of Recycled Materials from Projects for Preschoolers
Recycling Center
Easily set up your own Recycling Center for Dramatic Play using the printables from the Pre-K Printable Fun Recycling Center Dramatic Play Pack. Pair the printables with a variety of bins and recyclable materials for children to practice what they have learned about recycling. See more ways to set up this invitation to play on my Recycling Center Dramatic Play blog post.
Recycling Center Dramatic Play Pack
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Gardening and Composting
Set up a pretend play garden, and learn more about growing fruits, and vegetables and composting. Our Friend Erica created this garden! She placed pool noodles inside a box, attached garden edging, and covered the noodles with brown fabric dirt.
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Repair Shop
Set up a repair shop in your Dramatic Play Area. Invite children to try to fix broken things to help keep them out of the landfill.
More Earth Day & Recycling Preschool Dramatic Play Ideas
Materials to Add to this Space
While learning all about Earth Day & Recycling add some fun and interesting materials to your building and small world space. Save up some recycled materials such as cardboard tubes, empty bottles, and a variety of lids for children to build with. For small world play include some recycling trucks, small people, and small containers that can be used as recycling bins.
Consider making your own DIY mini recycling bins to enhance this play as a craft project this week with your preschooler.
Consider making your own DIY mini recycling bins to enhance this play as a craft project this week with your preschooler.
*Build with Recyclables
This photo was shared by Sheena W. of Building Blocks Family Childcare
Choose a variety of recyclables that children could use for building, clean them up, and add them to your building center. The food containers on the left were wrapped in colorful duct tape for durability. You can create specific challenges for preschoolers and encourage them to build anything they can dream of. One of the great things about using recyclables is the freedom to change them up using markers, tape, gluing on images etc. Find more Free & DIY Ideas for Your Building Space on my blog! |
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Recycled Town
Add a variety of recycled materials, scissors, tape, glue, etc. in the building center. Invite children to build a town with the recycled materials. Help children brainstorm different buildings and structures they could build in their Recycle Town!
More Earth Day & Recycling Preschool Construction & Small World Ideas
*Earth Day 3-Part CardsThere are so many vocabulary words to learn while engaging in this theme!
Use these 3-part Earth Day cards, from my Earth Day & Recycling Activity Pack, to play a matching game to support children in learning and remembering these words. Find more ways to use these cards in my Teaching Tips for Using 3-Part Cards with Preschoolers post. |
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Write an Earth Day StoryUse the writing template included in my Earth Day & Recycling Activity Pack to create your own story about Earth Day. For preschoolers not ready to write encourage them to draw the illustration and dictate the story do an adult.
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Search for the Recycling Symbol
Environmental print is an important part of learning to read. Everywhere children go there are signs and print to spot; children can easily recognize restaurant logos, food packaging, street signs and more.
Introduce the Recycling Symbol to your preschoolers and talk about the Recycling Trilogy.
Then challenge your preschoolers to find the symbol in real life!
You can provide a bin of recyclables for this project or go on a scavenger hunt.
Soon your preschooler will be recognizing this symbol everywhere they go!
Introduce the Recycling Symbol to your preschoolers and talk about the Recycling Trilogy.
Then challenge your preschoolers to find the symbol in real life!
You can provide a bin of recyclables for this project or go on a scavenger hunt.
Soon your preschooler will be recognizing this symbol everywhere they go!
Recycle Name Collage
Place out a variety of recycled materials, glue and tape as well as large paper. Have children form each letter of their name using the recycled materials to create a fun name collage! This activity is great for practicing letter formation as well as name and letter identification.
*Flip and Find Recycling Letter Mat
Use these recycling themed letter mats included in my Earth Day & Recycling Activity Pack to help children practice matching upper and lowercase letters. Put out the mat and lay out the water bottle letter cards face down. Have them turn over one card at a time and match it to the correct recycling bin.
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The Earth Book by Todd Parr
Recycling Day by Edward Miller
Earth Day Every Day
by Lisa Bullard and Zin Zheng
Earth Day--Hooray!
by Stuart Murphy and Renee Andriani
Earth Day, Birthday!
by Maureen Wright and Violet Kim
Recycling Day by Edward Miller
Earth Day Every Day
by Lisa Bullard and Zin Zheng
Earth Day--Hooray!
by Stuart Murphy and Renee Andriani
Earth Day, Birthday!
by Maureen Wright and Violet Kim
*Recycling Counting Mat 1-20Work on number recognition and counting skills from 1-20 with this fun Recycling Truck Counting Mat.
Flip a number card, identify the number, then add the total number to the recycling truck. This activity is easy to set up and a great addition to your math center for independent exploration. This activity can be found inside my Earth Day & Recycling Activity Pack |
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Beach Clean-Up CountingWork on some adding fun with this counting activity. Select two addend cards, count up the number of recyclables altogether to find the total. Identify the matching trash bag number and place it at the end to finish the equation.
This Earth Day Math Activity is included in my Earth Day & Recycling Activity Pack |
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Sort Cans by Size & ColorPractice sorting cans by color and size with this recycling sorting activity from Pre-K Printable Fun
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Weigh Recycled Items
Gather a variety of recycles items. Weigh each of the recycled items to discover which are heavier and which are lighter using a scale. Have children make predictions about what items are heavy or light.
More Earth Day & Recycling Preschool Math Ideas
Create a Trash Rainbow from No Time for Flashcards
Make Your Own Paper
Make your own paper using old newspapers, water, blender, screen, and towel!
You can find more images and tips on our Make Your Own Paper Blog Post. Step 1: Rip the newspaper into strips. Step 2: Add to blender with water. Blend until combined. Step 3: Pour the mixture on the screen and squeeze out excess water as you flatten it across the screen. Step 4: Lay a towel on top of the screen to soak up extra moisture. Step 5: Let dry. Step 6: Use your homemade paper for all kinds of fun drawing activities! |
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*Recycle or Compost?
Learn about which items can be recycled, which can be composted and the benefits of each.
This would also be a good time to talk about what happens when an item that can be recycled ends up in the landfill, such as a plastic bottle. This sorting set is included in my Earth Day & Recycling Activity Pack |
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Start a Worm FarmThis week would be a fun time to start up a worm farm with your preschoolers.
See how to set up your very own DIY Worm Farm on my blog. |
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Soda Bottle Compost
Use a large clear soda bottle or similar container to create a compost bin that children can observe.
Encourage preschoolers to draw what they see and talk about the changes they observe on a daily basis.
Encourage preschoolers to draw what they see and talk about the changes they observe on a daily basis.
Shredded Paper Sensory Bin
Fill up your sensory bin with shredded newspaper this week. You can toss in other small recycled materials for children to explore such as cardboard tubes to push the paper through, plastic bottles to fill and a variety of lids to explore.
Soda Bottle Composter
Use a large clear soda bottle or similar container to create a compost bin that children can observe.
Encourage preschoolers to draw what they see and talk about the changes they observe on a daily basis. |
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More Earth Day & Recycling Preschool Science Ideas
Making Recycled Paper from You Clever Monkey
Seed Bombs from Little Bins for Little Hands
intheplayroom.co.uk/celebrating-earth-day-with-sensory-play/Earth Day Sensory Play from In the Playroom
Seed Bombs from Little Bins for Little Hands
intheplayroom.co.uk/celebrating-earth-day-with-sensory-play/Earth Day Sensory Play from In the Playroom
*Recycling Clip and Count CardsGive little fingers a big workout by pairing clip card activities with clothespins.
Adding a clothespins in a variety of sizes encourages engagement and works hands in different ways. These Count & Clip Recyclables Cards are included in my Earth Day & Recycling Activity Pack. |
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*Recycle Relay RaceSet up a fun relay race to encourage large muscle development.
Word Wall Cards are a fantastic tool to use for gross-motor games. Pair the cards with objects from around the house or other printables. Set up the categories on one side of the room and the sorting objects on the other. Encourage children to move in a variety of ways as they travel across the room. Some ideas: Twirl like the Earth, Vroom like a Recycling Truck, Tumble like a Compost Bin You can find this set of 16 Word Wall Cards in my Earth Day & Recycling Activity Pack. |
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Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
Put together an Earth Day themed scavenger hunt. Give each child a list of items with visuals that they need to find either within the classroom/school or outside. Some ideas for your list could be:
Recycling bin
Recycling sign
Bottle
Can
Glass
Cardboard
Garbage can
Recycling bin
Recycling sign
Bottle
Can
Glass
Cardboard
Garbage can
More Earth Day & Recycling Preschool Physical Development Ideas
How I Care for Earth
After learning about what it means to care for our planet, challenge your preschoolers to talk about ways they already care for Earth and new things they can do.
Decide on three new things that you can do together to better the environment.
Decide on three new things that you can do together to better the environment.
*Recycle Roll & SortGrab a buddy to play this fun game! Roll the playing cube, identify the type of recyclable shown. Find a matching recyclable on one of the cards to add to the bin. Working in a small group gives an opportunity for young children to figure out the answers together.
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Learn About the Recycling Community
Take some time to learn about the professionals in our community that help with recycling.
This might include visiting a recycling center or taking a virtual field trip to a recycling center.
Your library is a wonderful unexpected resource for this theme! They often have ideas for crafts that use recyclable material and of course fun book suggestions.
This might include visiting a recycling center or taking a virtual field trip to a recycling center.
Your library is a wonderful unexpected resource for this theme! They often have ideas for crafts that use recyclable material and of course fun book suggestions.
List Ways to Keep the Earth Clean
During circle time or as a group, help children brainstorm ways that we can keep the earth clean. Some answers might include: recycling, reducing what we use, composting, picking up litter, etc. You can enhance the activity by creating visuals of their answers that you can keep hung up in the classroom during your Earth Day study!
Go on a Neighborhood Clean Up
Take the children from a walk around the neighborhood to help clean up litter. Give students plastic dish washing gloves or medical gloves and trash bags. Stop and point out litter that you see and have one child pick it up and put it in their bag. Talk about all of the things they cleaned up from their walk. You can extend the activity by talking about how we can prevent litter from happening.
More Earth Day & Recycling Preschool Social Studies Ideas
Learn More About Earth Day from Projects for Preschoolers
Up cycle Ideas for Your Space
Early Childhood Educators are always on the lookout for new and engaging activities and materials for their students that fit in their educator budget.
Here are some resources for DIY and Recycling materials to create learning activities and spaces for preschoolers:
Here are some resources for DIY and Recycling materials to create learning activities and spaces for preschoolers:
10+ Ways for Using Tires in Your Outdoor Space
DIY and Free Ideas for Your Building Space
DIY Educational Activity Ideas
DIY and Free Ideas for Your Building Space
DIY Educational Activity Ideas
Break Out the Sidewalk ChalkHopefully April means it's starting to warm up where you are. If so break out the sidewalk chalk!
This is a great way to teach children to create without needing to use new materials. Use the Sidewalk Chalk Roll & Write set with your chalk to support children in letter recognition and formation. |
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Reuse Your Printables
If you use printables as a teaching tool consider laminating your materials. Laminating your printables means they can be used time and time again without the need to reprint. Being able to use your printables with multiple children and even year-after-year is better for the environment and for your pocket book!
All you need is a simple laminator (nothing fancy) and some pocket laminating sheets.
All you need is a simple laminator (nothing fancy) and some pocket laminating sheets.
Places to Visit
Plan to visit places in your community that are related to this theme such as your local landfill or recycling center. Consider a visit to a pond or other body of water; make some observations about litter that may be present and think about what challenges the trash can create for our world and the creatures that inhabit it.
Consider bringing personal safety equipment and a bin for picking up litter.
Consider bringing personal safety equipment and a bin for picking up litter.
Pledge to do Better: Family Engagement Idea
Identify 3 changes your family can make to make the earth healthier.
Some ideas: Set up recycling bins, if you already use bins ensure you are using them regularly, start a compost bin, pick up trash in the neighborhood, share a book about recycling with a friend, tell a family member that lives far away about your contributions to inspire them.
Some ideas: Set up recycling bins, if you already use bins ensure you are using them regularly, start a compost bin, pick up trash in the neighborhood, share a book about recycling with a friend, tell a family member that lives far away about your contributions to inspire them.
