If you’re anything like me, you love a good themed week—but Earth Day is more than just cute crafts and green glitter. It’s a golden opportunity to help our preschoolers fall in love with caring for our planet… in ways they actually understand. Whether you’re planning a full week of earth day activities for preschool or just want to sprinkle some eco-magic into your day, I’ve got you covered.
With hands-on ideas, story-time faves, group games, and even a couple of ready-to-go resources I’ve created (because sometimes we just need to print and go, am I right?) you are going to be inspired! Here are my favourite Earth Day activities perfect for preschoolers.
🌍 What is Earth Day for Preschool?
Earth Day, celebrated every year on April 22, is a global reminder to care for our home—Planet Earth! For preschoolers, it’s a chance to learn that the Earth gives us so much (trees, water, animals, sunshine!), and it’s our job to take care of it in return. (Learn more at EarthDay.org)
We introduce Earth Day as a special celebration—like a birthday party for the planet—where we get to do kind, helpful things for the Earth like:
- Picking up rubbish
- Planting flowers or trees
- Recycling
- Turning off lights and taps to save energy and water
The goal is to help our young learners begin to notice and appreciate the world around them while feeling empowered to make a difference.
🗣 How to Explain Earth Day to Preschoolers
Preschoolers learn best with concrete examples, simple language, and real-life connections. Here are a few ways to explain it:
“Earth Day is a special day when we remember to take care of our world. We live on Earth, and it gives us trees, animals, water, and sunshine! On Earth Day, we do little things to help keep it clean and happy.”
Use questions to spark curiosity:
- “What do you love about the Earth?”
- “What would happen if we threw rubbish on the ground every day?”
- “How can we help keep the Earth clean and safe?”
Keep it positive and action-based. Instead of focusing on what’s wrong with the world, focus on how we can help.
💡 How to Teach Preschoolers About Earth Day
The best way to teach preschoolers about Earth Day? Through meaningful play, stories, crafts, and hands-on experiences.
At this age, we want to:
- Nurture a sense of wonder
- Build basic eco-habits (like recycling and conserving water)
- Teach empathy for living things
- Show how even small actions can make a big difference
Easy and Engaging Earth Day Activities for Preschool Classrooms
1. 🌱 Plant Something (Even If It’s Just Cress on Cotton Wool)
One of the most classic and impactful Earth Day activities for preschool is planting something together.Give each child a small recycled container (yogurt cups, egg cartons, toilet rolls) and help them plant something simple—like cress seeds, beans, or sunflower seeds. You can use soil, or even damp cotton wool for cress.
Why it’s great:
- Teaches responsibility and patience
- Encourages care for living things
- Builds fine motor skills and science curiosity
Pro tip: Let them name their plant! This instantly builds connection and responsibility.
2. 📚 Books That Pair Perfectly with Earth Day Activities for Preschool
Books are such a beautiful way to introduce big ideas to young minds. When it comes to Earth Day, the right stories can spark curiosity, deepen empathy for nature, and gently teach eco-friendly habits in ways our preschoolers can actually get.
Here are some of my absolute favorites for Earth Day—and how you can use them in your classroom:
🌎 The Earth Book by Todd Parr
Age range: 3–6
Why I love it: Bright, bold, and beautifully simple. Todd Parr uses kid-friendly language and playful illustrations to show small, everyday ways kids can help the Earth—like turning off lights, using both sides of the paper, and bringing reusable bags. Each page starts with “I take care of the Earth because…” which makes it a perfect model for class discussion or writing/drawing prompts.
💡 Activity idea: After reading, invite children to complete the sentence “I take care of the Earth by…” and draw their own page to add to a class book.
🗑 Don’t Throw That Away! by Lara Bergen
Age range: 2–5
Why I love it: It’s an interactive lift-the-flap book that introduces recycling and upcycling in a way that’s fun and tangible for preschoolers. Kids lift the flaps to discover how everyday items (like plastic bottles or old clothes) can become something new and useful.
💡 Activity idea: Use real recyclables and challenge the kids to think of ways to reuse them. Great tie-in with a recycled building or collage activity.
🦸 Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel
Age range: 4–7
Why I love it: This rhyming story introduces Michael Recycle, a green-caped superhero who inspires a town to clean up their act and go green. It’s energetic, imaginative, and empowering—preschoolers love the idea that they can be eco-superheroes too!
💡 Activity idea: Make superhero capes out of old t-shirts or paper bags, and create “Eco Hero” badges for kids to wear during Earth Day activities.
🍎 Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals
Age range: 4–8
Why I love it: This clever alphabet book walks through a list of compostable items, from apple cores to zinnia heads, all with rhythmic rhymes and playful illustrations. It’s a fun way to start talking about composting and natural recycling.
💡 Activity idea: After reading, sort pictures of compost vs. rubbish, or start a small class compost bin with snack scraps (fruit peels, etc.) and garden trimmings.
🌿 Bonus Pick: We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers by Lauren Child (Charlie and Lola)
Age range: 4–7
Why I love it: Lola wants to win a recycling competition, and with Charlie’s help, she learns all about how and why we recycle. It’s humorous, relatable, and filled with teachable moments.
💡 Activity idea: Create a simple recycling challenge in your classroom—track how many items you recycle or reuse in a week and celebrate your efforts!
Storytime Tip:
After reading, bring the story to life with:
- Open-ended questions (“What would you do if you were Michael Recycle?”)
- Movement (act out turning off lights, picking up rubbish, planting seeds)
- Drawing or craft extensions (like making your own version of The Earth Book)
3. 🧩 Earth Day Size of the Problem Scenarios (SEL + Sustainability!)
You present everyday Earth Day-themed scenarios (like dropping rubbish on the ground or forgetting to turn off the tap) and ask the children to decide:
- Is it a small problem?
- A medium problem?
- Or a big problem?
Why it’s powerful:
It helps preschoolers reflect on the impact of their actions—something that can be tricky at this age! It also gives them tools to assess and respond to situations thoughtfully.
✨ Want to DIY it? Make cards with different pictures or situations and sort them as a group.
💚 Want it ready-to-go? Check out my Earth Day Size of the Problem Scenarios here.
It’s perfect for circle time or small group discussions and builds both SEL and environmental empathy.
4. 🎨 Make Earth Day Friendship Bracelets
Crafting is always a hit in the early years, and this bracelet is a fun twist on traditional Earth Day activities for preschool. These printable bracelets are a sweet way for children to celebrate Earth Day with their friends. Each bracelet features a simple, eco-friendly message like:
- “Be Kind to the Earth”
- “I Recycle!”
- “Love Our Planet”
Kids color them, cut them out, and wear or swap them with classmates.
Why it’s awesome:
- Easy prep, high engagement
- Encourages conversation about Earth Day messages
- Supports fine motor development
🖍 Want to DIY it? Use paper strips and let kids create their own messages.
🌍 Want 54 designs done-for-you? Grab my Earth Day Friendship Bracelets here.
These Earth Day Friendship Bracelets are the perfect addition to your preschool, Pre-K, or Kindergarten Earth Day lessons! With 54 creative designs, these easy-to-use bracelets make Earth Day both meaningful and fun.
5. ♻️ Sorting Game: What Goes Where?
Set up three bins labeled Rubbish, Recycling, and Compost. Gather real, clean recyclables or printed picture cards and let the kids sort each item into the correct bin.
Why it’s helpful:
- Builds categorization and sorting skills
- Reinforces real-life eco-habits
- Makes “reduce, reuse, recycle” hands-on and memorable
This is also a great lead-in to a class walk to look for bins in your school or center.
6. 🎵 Using Music to Support Earth Day Activities for Preschool
Music is such a powerful way to help preschoolers remember important messages—plus, it’s fun, engaging, and gets the wiggles out! Whether you’re looking for a sweet circle time tune or a full-on dance party, songs can help bring Earth Day messages to life.
Start with a simple, familiar tune and easy actions:
🌟 Try this to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”:
Reduce, reuse, recycle too
These are things that we can do!
To help our Earth be clean and bright
Let’s treat it kindly day and night…
Reduce, reuse, recycle too—
These are things that we can do!
💡 Pro tip: Add actions like pretending to throw something in the recycling bin, turning off a tap, or hugging a tree. Let kids come up with their own verses!
🎧 YouTube Earth Day Songs Preschoolers Love:
Here are a few preschool-friendly Earth Day songs you can find on YouTube. They’re catchy, meaningful, and perfect for movement breaks or transitions:
🎶 “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” by Jack Johnson
A gentle, acoustic song with simple, powerful lyrics. It’s calm, easy to follow, and great for a mindful moment or wind-down time.
🎶 “Earth Day Song” by The Kiboomu Kids Music Channel
A bouncy, easy-to-learn song that repeats key Earth Day vocabulary like “plant a tree” and “clean the Earth.” Great for whole-group singing and building Earth Day language.
🎶 “Recycle Rap – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – an Earth Day & Environment Day song for kids by Susie & Phil
Recycle Rap – an Earth Day and World Environment Day song for kids all about recycling, protecting our planet, and helping one another to keep our world healthy.
🎶🌎 Earth Day Run 🌎 | Fitness Run | Brain Break
Jump, Duck, Dodge, and avoid all of the obstacles as you make your way through the different levels and working together to keep the Earth clean and healthy!
🌱 Bonus Idea: Make Your Own Earth Day Song!
Let your class create a song together! Use a familiar tune (like “If You’re Happy and You Know It”) and make up Earth-friendly verses:
If you love the Earth, pick up trash (clap, clap)
If you love the Earth, plant a seed (clap, clap)…
Record it and play it back—it’ll become a classroom favorite!
Music + movement = magic. And when you tie in meaningful messages, you’re not just entertaining… you’re teaching in such a fun way. 🎶💚
7. 🖼 Create Earth Collages
Get out the glue sticks and old magazines! Invite kids to create collages using only recycled materials. You can offer a theme like:
- “Things I love about the Earth”
- “Ways I can help the Earth”
Why this works:
- Encourages creativity and reuse
- Builds conversation about environmental choices
- Supports fine motor and visual literacy skills
Hang them up for an instant Earth Day gallery wall!
8. 🧽 Earth Clean-Up Crew
Turn your outdoor time into a nature-clean-up mission. Give children gloves, buckets, or tongs and let them help pick up safe rubbish around the playground or garden area.
Before you start:
Talk about why we pick up litter and how it keeps animals and plants safe.
Afterwards:
Celebrate with a class photo or thank-you certificates. Helping the planet should feel proud!
9. 📦 Build With Recyclables
Set out clean recyclables—cardboard boxes, milk cartons, lids, paper rolls—and let the kids build freely. Prompt them with ideas like:
- “Can you make a robot that helps the Earth?”
- “What would a recycling machine look like?”
Why it rocks:
- Encourages creativity and STEM thinking
- Models reuse instead of waste
- Builds collaboration if done in pairs or groups
10. 🖐 Eco-Pledge Activity
This one’s close to my heart and always makes Earth Day feel extra meaningful in the classroom. The Eco-Pledge Activity invites each child to reflect on how they can help the Earth—and then turn that idea into a personal promise.
You can keep it super simple with sentence starters like:
- “I promise to help the Earth by ____________.”
- “I will take care of the Earth by ____________.”
Have kids illustrate their promise and write (or dictate) their words. Then display them on a Class Pledge Wall—a bulletin board, hallway display, or even your classroom door with a title like:
“Small Hands, Big Promises”
or
“Our Earth Day Pledge Wall”
Why it’s powerful:
- It makes the learning personal and reflective
- Children love seeing their promises on display
- It creates a visual reminder that everyone can help care for our planet
💚 Want a ready-made version? I’ve turned this into a printable resource with poster templates, badges, take-home certificates, and even a family letter so you can keep the Earth Day love going at home. Check out the Eco-Promise Posters Pack here (coming soon).
Final Thoughts: Earth Day Activities for Preschool
When we create space for meaningful conversations and hands-on learning, we’re not just filling time—we’re planting lifelong values.
The best Earth Day activities for preschool are the ones that feel joyful, doable, and true to your teaching style. You don’t have to do it all. Just pick one or two ideas that light you up, and trust that it’s more than enough.
And if you’re short on prep time (because… let’s be real), I’ve got you covered:
🧩 Earth Day Size of the Problem Scenarios – SEL meets sustainability
🎨 Earth Day Friendship Bracelets – meaningful, creative fun
Recommended Earth Day Resources:
- Want to keep the eco-curiosity going after Earth Day? National Geographic Kids has beautiful pictures, fun facts, and simple explanations perfect for preschoolers and early learners.
These Earth Day Friendship Bracelets are the perfect addition to your preschool, Pre-K, or Kindergarten Earth Day lessons! With 54 creative designs, these easy-to-use bracelets make Earth Day both meaningful and fun.
