Paper Plate Earth Craft

Paper Plate Earth Craft is a simple and fun way to teach young kids about our amazing planet. I always enjoy adding hands-on projects like this to our science time because it keeps early learners interested and active. This Earth art project works well for preschool and early elementary ages.

If you are planning a space unit, you will also love these space activities for kids. I like to mix crafts, worksheets, and books so my kids can see the topic in different ways.

In this post, I am sharing how we made this easy Earth craft, what kids can learn from it, and a few ways you can build on the lesson. Keep reading to see how you can use this planet-themed activity in your space lessons.

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Why Kids Need to Learn About Our Planet Earth

Children should understand the world they live in from an early age. When they learn about land, water, and the environment, they start to see how everything works together.

This paper plate globe craft provides a visual way to discuss continents and oceans. While my teens have moved on to deeper science topics, I remember doing simple planet projects like this when they were younger, and those early lessons helped them later on.

Recommended Space Books

Books about space and Earth bring this topic to life for young readers. I suggest adding a mix of picture books and beginner science readers to your lesson plan.

Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years (Our Universe, 1)An Anthology of Our Extraordinary Earth (DK Children’s Anthologies)The Earth Book for Kids: An Introduction to Earth Science (Simple Introductions to Science)Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet EarthMy First Book of Earth: All About Our Planet for KidsKnowledge Encyclopedia Planet Earth!: Our Exciting World As You’ve Never Seen It Before

 

What Can Kids Learn From This Earth Activity

This Earth-themed art project is more than just painting. It gives your child a chance to explore basic geography concepts while building important skills.

• Kids learn the difference between land and water as they paint green and blue areas.
• They practice fine motor skills by cutting, coloring, and gluing the eyes.
• They build creativity and confidence as they design their own smiling planet.

Explore My Space Printable Packs

If your child enjoys this Earth craft, you may want to add my printable science resources to your lessons. They provide structured activities that pair well with hands-on projects and help reinforce key space and weather concepts.

Paper Plate Earth Art Project Supplies

• Paper plate
• Blue and green paint
• Glue
• Scissors
• White paper

Making the Paper Plate Earth Project

When we worked on this craft, I set everything out on the table ahead of time. Younger kids enjoy choosing how much green and blue to use, and each planet turns out a bit different.

As your child paints, you can talk about oceans, continents, and where you live. I used to ask my older boys to point out where they thought different countries might be, which led to great conversations.

After the paint dries, adding the eyes and smile gives the planet personality. Early elementary kids love seeing their Earth come to life with a friendly face.

Ways to Extend This Activity

Once your child finishes their Earth art, you can continue the learning with more planet-themed resources and simple science lessons.

• Layers of the Earth worksheets: These pages help kids see what is inside our planet and introduce basic geology terms in an easy way.
• Planet Earth worksheets for kindergarten: These are great for tracing, matching, and early reading practice with an Earth theme.
• Create a simple map activity where your child colors different continents and labels oceans. This helps reinforce geography vocabulary in a hands-on way.
• Watch a short educational video about Earth and discuss what makes our planet special.
  This opens the door to meaningful conversations about caring for our world.

More Space Activities to Try

If your child enjoys learning about Earth, try adding more outer space ideas to your week.

• Space Writing Worksheets
• Moon Tracker Worksheet
• Paper Plate Spaceship Craft
• Books About Planet Earth for Kids by 3 Boys and a Dog
• Handprint Earth Craft For Earth Day by Simple Everyday Mom

In the early years, simple crafts like this helped my older kids connect with science in a hands-on way. I hope this paper plate Earth project brings fun and meaningful learning to your homeschool, too.