If you’re looking for a simple but sweet Earth Day craft, this paper plate Earth is the perfect one to try! Using simple supplies this craft is a keepsake that can remind kids that they will leave an imprint on the planet.
It’s a toss up whether paper plate crafts for kids or handprint keepsake craft ideas are my favorite, but this combines both and would be a fun way to celebrate Earth Day either in a classroom or at home.
Key Supplies
- Blue paint stick, paint or markers
- paper plate
- construction paper- you could try different shades of green too!
How to Make a Paper Plate Earth
Step 1. Start by painting your paper plate blue. I recommend using a paint stick because they dry super quickly. You can pre-paint the plates blue if you prefer, but using a paint stick is a way for the kiddo to really do most of this craft independently.
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Step 2. Have an adult help trace the child’s handprint 2-3 times. If necessary, and depending on the child’s age, help cut out the handprints.
Step 3. Use a gluestick and add the handprints to the paper plate, representing continents. Allow to dry.
Tips and Variation Ideas
- I really recommend the paint stick, but you could also use blue markers or actual paint.
- You could stamp or paint the handprints too! It could look more like an ocean/tides or clouds if you stamped the hand on white paper before cutting out and glueing.
- Instead of handprints you could use our Earth printable and cut out continents to glue onto the plate.
- Using scrap paper to make the ocean and the continents would be a fun torn paper craft project option.
- If you are going to paint the plates- you could paint in bulk or prep ahead of time. I do like to keep a few pre-painted plates around in case inspiration hits but we don’t have a lot of time!
Get the Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 single paper plate
- 1 blue paint stick (could also use blue paint or markers)
- 1 piece green construction paper
- 1 pencil or pen (to trace handprint)
- 1 gluestick
Equipment
Instructions
- Start by painting your paper plate blue. I recommend using a paint stick because they dry super quickly. You can pre-paint the plates blue if you prefer, but using a paint stick is a way for the kiddo to really do most of this craft independently.
- As the plate dries, help the child (if necessary) to trace and cut out their handprint onto green construction paper.
- Using a gluestick, add the handprints to the dried paper plate in the places where they could be considered continents.