Earth Day Activities for Kids: 3 Ways to Play in the Dirt

The Earth may be a planet, but “earth” is also another word for dirt. And dirt is one of the most underrated playthings on the planet. These Earth Day activities for kids get hands messy, imaginations moving, and families outside, no special supplies needed. Just find some dirt and dig in.

Materials

• Paintbrush (for dirt painting)
• Paper or cardboard (for dirt painting)
• Plastic containers in various sizes (cups, yogurt containers, buckets)
• Water
• A patch of dirt (garden bed, park, trail edge, playground, or a pot of soil on a balcony)

No yard? No problem. A bucket or large pot filled with soil from a garden center works for all three activities. You can also do these at a park, nature trail, or anywhere with exposed ground.

Steps

Activity 1: Dig In and Explore

Get your hands dirty and discover what’s in the ground.

1. Find a patch of dirt. A garden bed, a spot next to a trail, or a corner of a playground works.
2. Dig with your hands. Scoop up a handful and really look at it. What color is it? Is it dark brown, reddish, sandy, or gray?
3. Feel it. Is it gritty like sand? Smooth like flour? Sticky like clay? Squeeze it into a ball. Does it hold its shape or crumble apart?
4. Smell it. Healthy soil has a rich, earthy smell. That scent comes from tiny organisms called actinobacteria (ak-TIN-oh-bak-TEER-ee-uh) that live in the soil and help break down dead leaves and plants.
5. Add water. Pour a little water on the dirt. Does it soak in quickly or puddle on top? Sandy soil drains fast. Clay soil holds water.
6. Look for life. Sift through the dirt gently. Can you find worms, beetles, ants, roots, or tiny seeds? Every handful of soil is a miniature ecosystem.

Activity 2: Build a Dirt Castle

Use soil like sand to mold towers, walls, and nature sculptures.

1. Wet the dirt. Add water until the soil is damp enough to hold a shape when packed, like wet sand at the beach.
2. Pack and mold. Fill plastic containers with the wet soil, pack it down firmly, then flip them upside down and lift. You should have a solid dirt mold.
3. Stack and build. Use different container sizes to build towers, walls, and structures. A yogurt cup makes a turret. A bucket makes a base.
4. Decorate with nature. Press sticks, leaves, pebbles, pinecones, flowers, and feathers into your castle. Add a twig flagpole. Build a leaf drawbridge. Make a pebble path to the front door.

Activity 3: Make a Dirt Painting

Mix soil with water to create natural paint.

1. Collect different soils. Gather small amounts of dirt from different spots. Each one may be a different color, from pale sandy yellow to dark chocolate brown to reddish clay.
2. Mix with water. Put each soil sample in a separate container and add water until the mixture is about the consistency of thick paint. Stir well.
3. Paint. Use a paintbrush to create artwork on paper, cardboard, or the sidewalk. Each soil color gives you a different shade. Layer the colors, mix them, or keep them separate.
4. Let it dry. Dirt paintings on paper will dry into a textured, earthy piece of art that actually smells like the outdoors.

Grownup help needed: These activities are messy but safe. No tools or heat required. Supervise younger children around water and make sure everyone washes hands afterward. Dress in clothes that can get dirty.