Teach your kids about recycling this Earth Day with a few fun crafts! It is great to share the importance of the three R’s with our kids- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! Your kids can get started on this with a few fun projects this weekend that will reuse and recycle items, and reduce waste in your home. Check out these fun Earth Day Crafts!
See my Earth Day Segment on Good Morning Washington here!
Recycled Bird Feeder-
Supplies: Toilet paper rolls, peanut butter, bird seed, string.
How To: Gather the toilet paper rolls and instead of tossing them in the trash, reuse them to help feed the birds! Cover the toilet paper rolls in peanut butter, and roll in a bowl of the seeds until fully covered. Tie with string or twine on a tree or even off of your deck.
The birds will thank you for it!
DIY Seed Bombs-
Supplies: Construction paper or newspaper (2-3 pieces), flower seeds, water, silicone mold.
How to:
- After you’ve torn up all your paper, put the pieces into the blender.
- Add 2 cups of water to blender and blend everything until pulverized.
- Place a strainer over a small bowl and pour the entire contents from the blender into the strainer. Allow to sit for about 5 minutes so the water can drain out of the pulp.
- Scoop a handful of paper pulp out of the strainer and add a small spoonful of seeds to your pulp.
- Gently mix up the pulp and seeds and squeeze out any excess water over a bowl until the seed bomb is fairly compact.
- Press the mixture into a mold, squeezing out any excess water and draining it from the mold. Continue until you’ve used up all the pulp.
- Using a paper towel, press down on each seed bomb to soak up any left over moisture in the seed bomb – we want to remove as much water as possible to prevent the seeds from germinating.
- Allow seed bombs to dry for 24-48 hours and then gently remove from mold.
These were really easy to make, and a fun hands on activity for the kids! Plant in your yard and watch the flowers grow!
DIY Egg Carton Seed Starters
Supplies: Cardboard Egg Carton, Egg Shells, Potting Soil, Seed, Spray Bottle, Scissors, Garden Trowel.
How To: Cut the egg carton in half. Next, add potting soil to individual egg cups in carton. Poke a hole in the center of each cup. Place one seed in each hole. Cover with soil. Keep them in a warm light filled location until they start to sprout. Be sure to have your kids water the seeds every day. The soil should stay very moist! Once sprouts have grown large enough to transfer, thin them out and plant directly into the ground or larger planter after gently cracking the eggshell around them. The roots will grow beyond the eggshell into the soil, the shell will continue to provide nourishment to the plant and surrounding soil, and will eventually will biodegrade. How neat!
Kids will love to see the results of their hard work, time, and care!
For more Earth Day activities, check out our Earth Day Pinterest Board!
