Recycled Mix Media Earth Day Collaborative Art

To celebrate Earth Day we have been reading the stories We Are Connected, Caring for Each Other & The Earth by Gabi Garcia &Natalie Jimenez Osorio & A Love Letter to Our Planet: Thank You, Earth Dear Earth by April Pulley Sayre. Learning about Earth Day early on fosters environmental awareness &  responsibility, encourages critical thinking about environmental issues, & promotes positive action towards a sustainable future. By connecting with nature & understanding the impact of their actions, young children develop a lifelong appreciation for the planet. 

To integrate the literacy experiences we set out an invitation to paint a planet earth that was made with recycled materials. We created the recycled planet earth by using recycled cardboard boxes as the base of the earth. We used egg cartons, packaging, drink carriers, bubble wrap, paper rolls, binding clips, and more. The materials were used to make an outline of the continents. Tempera paint was provided in different shades of blue, brown, green & white to paint the earth.

When children paint on surfaces with a variety of textures it provides for sensory exploration, experimenting with materials, & being more observant of their technique. All the bumps, lines, textures, groves, has their senses/skills creating & exploring in different ways. The beauty of this invitation is that it is collaborative. Therefore when creating together it boosts their ability to analyze & open discussion. Endless amounts of language bursts as they discuss the connections between the books & what they are creating. They talk about the difference between planets, land & water, varying ecosystems, where they live or have traveled to, how to recycle, & ways to save the planet.