Handprint Love The Earth Craft
Celebrate Earth Day with this sweet Handprint Love the Earth Craft for preschoolers. Kids use painted handprints to make a heart-shaped frame, then add a printable Earth in the center. It is a simple and meaningful Earth Day activity that helps children talk about caring for the planet in a hands-on way. This is a great choice for classroom activities, homeschool art time, or easy crafts for kids at home.
Supplies
- Flesh-colored washable paint
- Paper plate
- Newspaper or table covering
- White paper
- Printer
- Scissors
- Glue stick
Instructions
- Spread newspaper over your work surface to protect the table.
- Pour a small amount of paint onto a paper plate.
- Help the child place one hand in the paint, then press it onto the paper. Repeat with the other hand, using the example as a guide so the thumbs and index fingers touch and form a heart-shaped frame.
- Set the handprints aside to dry completely.
- While the paint dries, print the Earth heart template and carefully cut it out.
- Glue the Earth heart into the center of the handprint frame.
- Let the project dry flat before displaying it.
Fun Facts
Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22.
Recycling paper, plastic, and aluminum helps reduce waste.
Turning off lights when leaving a room is one small way kids can help the Earth.
Planting flowers and trees can help bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Patterns, Templates and Printables
Click on the pattern to open it in a new window and print the Earth heart template for this craft.
Teacher Friendly Educational Extension
This preschool craft is a wonderful way to start a simple Earth Day discussion. Ask children to name small ways they can help care for the planet, like picking up litter, turning off the water while brushing their teeth, or reusing paper when possible.
You can also extend this activity with a writing prompt such as, “I love the Earth because…” For younger children, let them dictate their answer while an adult writes it underneath the craft. This makes a great bulletin board display for Earth Day classroom activities.
Supplies
Flesh colored paint
Paper plate
Newspaper
White Paper
Printer
Scissors
Glue Stick
Instructions
Start by spreading newspapers over your work surface to make this Handprint Love The Earth Craft.
Pour a small amount of flesh colored paint in the paper plate. Place one hand in the paint and place on the paper using the picture as a reference for placement. Then repeat with the other hand, making sure that you have the thumbs and first finger touching to form a frame for the earth print.
While your handprints are drying, print and have the kids cut out the Earth heart.
Once the handprints are dry, have the kids glue the Earth heart in the frame to show they love the Earth and will help take care of it.
Patterns, Templates and Printables
Click on a pattern to open it in a new window
Contributor
These projects are created by Terri, Betty, Jamie or one of the talented staff members at MakingFriends.com. They have been created exclusively for publication on FreeKidsCrafts.com with supplies you'll be able to find around your house.
