Creating fun and educational crafts with kids is one of the joys of parenting, especially when it aligns with a meaningful celebration like Earth Day. It’s that special time of the year where we get to talk to our little ones about our planet and the importance of taking care of it.
And what better way to do it than with a hands-on activity that’s as delightful as it is symbolic?
Our handprint paper plate Earth craft is not just a fun paper plate craft; it’s also a conversation starter, a teaching moment, and a keepsake all rolled into one.
Why Earth Day Matters to Kids
Earth Day is more than just another event on the calendar; it’s a day that reminds us of our shared responsibility to the environment.
For children, it’s an opportunity to learn about the world around them and the role they play in preserving it.
By involving them in fun earth day activities like crafting our adorable paper plate Earth, you’re not just keeping them busy—you’re planting seeds of environmental awareness that will grow with them as they celebrate earth and it’s importance as our home.
This crafty earth day activity is ideal for kids of all ages, for families at home or students in the classroom.
It works as a paper plate earth day craft for toddlers, with parent support to work through the steps, but it’s also a great earth day craft for preschoolers and fun for tolder kids to make independently too.
This craft is designed to be simple enough for kids to enjoy, but engaging enough to spark their curiosity about the Earth.
As they paint, cut, and glue, they’re not just making art; they’re enhancing their motor skills, learning to recognize the shapes of the continents, and understanding the concept of recycling and reusing materials.
Plus, the use of their own handprints makes the craft a personalized reminder that the Earth is quite literally in their hands.
Earth day is celebrated on April 22nd and was first celebrated in April 1970 to raise awareness about environmental issues.
How to Make a Handprint Paper Plate Earth Craft for Kids
Here’s How to Make Your Own Handprint Paper Plate Earth Craft
For our paper plate Earth craft, you’ll need a few basic supplies that you probably already have around the house. Grab a paper plate as your base—this will be our Earth.
You’ll also need some blue paint to color your oceans, so make sure you have a paintbrush handy. We used acrylic paint but you can also use regular kids washable paint if preferred, for less mess.
For the continents, green glitter paper will do the trick and add some sparkle. You’ll need a pair of scissors for cutting out the continents and handprints, and some markers for details like the Earth’s smile and eyes.
Don’t forget a couple of sheets of construction paper for those handprints. It’s simple, no-fuss, and all about making learning fun and engaging for your kids.
Now follow the step by step to get this cute earth day craft completed!
Handprint Paper Plate Earth Craft for Earth Day
Get ready to celebrate Earth Day with a splash of creativity and a dash of eco-awareness! Grab some simple supplies and join us for a quick, 30-minute craft that'll leave your little ones with sparkly smiles and a brighter understanding of our big blue planet. It's hands-on learning, with a touch of glitter and a whole lot of fun!
Materials
- Paper plate
- Green glitter paper
- Blue paint
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Marker
- Brown Construction paper
Tools
- Scissors
Instructions
- Start by painting the paper plate blue to represent the oceans. This is a great time to chat about the vastness of the seas and their importance to Earth's health.
- While the paint dries, talk about the different continents as you cut their shapes out of the green glitter paper, then attach them to the plate.
For this, you can use glitter paper or regular green construction paper as preferred. 
- Trace and cut out your child's hands from brown construction paper
, cut out 
and attach them to the bottom of the plate. 
It's a sweet moment to discuss how we can all lend a hand to protect our planet. For the construction paper handprints, you can look at different shades of paper and let your child choose the one that best represents them - maybe you would like a darker shade of brown, or peach. You should be able to find a color to go with your child's skin tone. 
- At this point, we're going to add a cheeky face for our Earth. For the eyes, cut two oblong shapes
shade them in 
and stick them on to give our Earth craft a friendly face. If you prefer you can use our free printable eyes instead of drawing. 
- Draw and attach a smile, because Earth Day is a joyful occasion, after all!
- Finally, add a small red paper cutout tongue to the smile to complete your Earth Day craft.
Celebrating Earth Day Every Day
As you hang up your child’s handprint Earth craft, let it serve as a daily reminder of the beauty and fragility of our planet.
Encourage little ones to think of ways they can help Earth in their daily lives, whether it’s by saving water, recycling, or planting a tree.
In the end, Earth Day is every day in the eyes of a child. Each step we take towards educating them about environmental stewardship is a step towards a brighter, greener future.
So let’s make every craft, every conversation, and every small action count. Here’s to nurturing the next generation of Earth’s caretakers, one handprint at a time!
More Earth Day Crafts and Activities
We hope you liked this easy earth day paper plate craft.
Check out even more of our earth day crafts, free printables and all kinds of activity suggestions to help you celebrate Earth day this April.
- 30+ Easy Earth Day Crafts for Preschoolers
- Earth Day Color by Number (color by letter)
- Short Earth Day Poems for Kids to Inspire a Love of Nature
- 50+ of The Best Funny Earth Day Jokes for Kids
- Earth Day Coloring Pages and Printable Activities for Kids
- Recycled Jar Pencil Holder Earth Day Craft
- Earth Day Eco Bead Bracelet Craft
Related: are paper plates bad for the environment? Check out our guide on can you compost your paper plates.
If you and your little ones enjoyed creating our handprint paper plate Earth craft, we’d love to see it take flight across the community!
Please share this blog post on Pinterest to inspire other families with this fun and meaningful Earth Day activity. Your shares not only spread the joy of crafting but also the message of sustainability and care for our planet. Happy crafting and pinning!
