Easy Recycled Crafts for Earth Day

Earth Day crafts can be a great way to engage kids in a hands-on activity for Earth Day. Recyclable materials are often perfect for creating easy craft projects, and appropriate for kids of nearly any age. Earth Day crafts require few supplies, and allow crafters to find creative ways to recycle everyday materials such as newspapers, magazines, and plastic bottles.

Homemade Band Instruments

Kids can create their own band with a few easy instruments made from recyclable materials. The plastic bottle maracas and coffee can drums are easy crafts to make and a fun way for kids to create something for Earth Day.

Supplies

Coffee cans with lids
Variety of plastic (12-24 ounce)soda or water bottles
White glue
Package(s) of dried beans
Old newspapers
Scissors
Poster paint (optional)

Instructions

The coffee can craft requires little more than gathering some used coffee cans and newspapers. The first step is to cut the newspaper to fit around the coffee can, measuring it to fit around the sides. After measuring, cut the newspaper and glue to the coffee can. Poster paints or other decorations can be used to brighten the coffee can drums.

Plastic bottle maracas can be created for Earth Day by selecting a few different water or soda plastic bottles and filling each about half way with dried beans. Once the beans are placed inside the bottles, put the cap back on and add some decoration to the outside of the bottles.

Magazine Flower Bouquets

Magazine flower bouquets for Earth Day combine recyclable magazine materials and plastic recyclable bottles to create an attractive craft.

Supplies

Old magazines
Scissors
Pipe Cleaners
Plastic soda bottle (colored or clear) 12-16 ounce size

Instructions

Start this Earth Day craft by cutting out circular shapes from magazine pages, choosing a variety of brightly colored images and various sized shapes. Cut about 30 magazine shapes and trim the edges with zig-zags or other borders. Place 5-8 magazine shapes together and pierce the center with a pipe cleaner. Repeat these steps until about 6 flowers are created. Once each magazine flower is set on a pipe cleaner, bend the top of the pipe cleaners to form a small knot. Wind the pipe cleaners together to create a bouquet and place inside the plastic bottle.