Earth Day Writing Prompt Crafts

1-2-3 Come Do Some Earth Day Activities With Me

Since Earth Day is just around the corner (April 22nd), I thought I'd design some quick, easy and fun writing prompt craftivities.

Tossing in a bit of craftiness to a writing activity, grabs my students' attention and gets them excited to start writing. With that in mind, I came up with the Earth Day: Lend A Helping Hand Dangler.

Students can choose to dangle their "writing prompt" circles vertically under their hand, or they can glue them together to form a sphere (like the earth).

The child's hand print makes this a sweet keepsake craft. PK children can skip the writing prompts and simply color their circles.

Completed projects look wonderful swirling and twirling from the ceiling.

Another Earth Day hand print craftivity I call "Reach Out!"

After studying the importance of taking care of our earth and discussing the fact that even little children can make a difference, I’d give a few directions, and tell my Y5s that they were going to be part of Mrs. Henderson’s “Kids Care Cleanup Crew”. (Name badge included.)

Each child got a pair of non latex gloves and armed with their own plastic grocery sack to put litter in, we’d hit the playground when no one was using it. My kiddos absolutely LOVED running around picking up all sorts of debris. They were always very proud of themselves.

Afterwards we'd do the craftivity. Adding flat-backed "jewels" to "rings" and polish to the nails on their hand print, was a big "woo hoo" for the girls.

Older students can complete the writing prompt (2 options) and glue it to the back of their poster. Younger kiddos can color their poster-poem certificate and glue that to the back. Punch a hole at the top, tie on a yarn loop and suspend from the ceiling.

Next up is a "What's In Your Garbage?" writing prompt craft, which features a teachable moment to review the cylinder shape by making the garbage can "windsock". (The writing prompt is completed on the colorful "ribbon" strips.)

In general, I don’t think students realize what or how much garbage their family throws away, nor the importance of recycling, which they soon discover isn’t all that difficult, thus the reason behind this craftivity, which includes ...

* A letter to parents,
* A “Tally Time” data collection worksheet
* Graphing worksheet with a matching . . .

* Whole-group graphing activity
* 2 writing prompt worksheets (boy & girl options), plus . . .
* A 3D writing prompt craftivity (“I Can Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" garbage can dangler) to pull it all together. Add a school photo for that finishing touch.

"I CAN Make A Difference" is another "dangler", which is one of my students' favorites. I think it's because they really like the eye graphic with the recycle symbol inside the pupil.

Older students can write how they can make a difference on the back of their "dangler", while PK kiddos simply do the craft.

Run off the R (for reduce, reuse & recycle) on a variety of colors of construction paper. Children choose one and trim. They can either write the 3 Rs on their letter, or cut & glue the labels.

The packet also includes a boy/girl "promise pledge" for added accountability. Plus separate "How I can make a difference" writing prompt worksheets, which can be done as a whole-group activity, with younger students on the "How WE can make a difference" paper.

The patterns come on a full page, as well as a smaller, 2-on-a-page pattern for PK. Add extra pizzazz with a school photograph.

Finally, my personal favorite is the "Reduce Your Envoronmental Footprint" writing prompt craft. I'm sure your girls will enjoy making a 3D flip flop and adding a flower as much as mine do.

Read my background information about environmental footprints, and share a few things with your students. I've added a checklist of things even a child can do to help reduce their footprint.

You can do this as a whole-group discussion. I’ve also included a page of links with lots more interesting information.

There are several options for the “craftivity”. For that “keepsake” effect for younger kiddos, or to add a nice variety to your display, have students trace their foot with their shoe on.

I’ve also included 5 other footprint options, as seen on the cover. Older students complete the writing prompt, starting on the front of their shoe, then completing their thoughts on the back.

Children can glue their shoe to the large earth pattern which they’ve colored, or older students can make the 3D earth sphere, by gluing the 3, smaller earth-circles together. Completed projects look awesome swirling & twirling from the ceiling.

Today's FREEBIE also centers around Earth Day and is an "Every Day Should Be Earth Day!" bookmark.

I've included a 4-on-a-page pattern in color, as well as black & white, so students can enjoy coloring their own.

Older students can explain "why" they think "Every day should be Earth Day" on the back of their bookmark, then share with their classmates.

Well that's it for today; thanks for stopping by. I hope you found something useful. To help celebrate Earth Day, all of the above writing prompt crafts are on sale for just $1.95.