If you have a young child at home, you’ll definitely want to try this cute coffee filter Earth craft! It is easy to make, only requires a few simple supplies, and is perfect for kids of all ages.
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Love crafts that the whole family can do together? If so, make sure you save this easy Earth Day coffee filter craft! You’ll only need a few simple supplies to turn a regular old coffee filter into a colorful planet Earth.
This process art activity is part craft, part scientific exploration, and it is perfect for toddlers, preschoolers and up. Your children will love seeing the colors spread when they add water to the coffee filter!
Why You’ll Love This Craft
- Easy to make: This project is simple enough for toddlers to do with minimal (if any) adult involvement, which makes it perfect for both younger and older kids.
- Simple supplies: No need to make a special run to the store—you’ll only need four everyday items in order to make this craft, and you probably already have all of them at home.
- Fun for kids: This craft is all about having fun and exploring! It is more of a process art activity, and isn’t focused on a specific end result.
Looking for more easy Earth Day crafts? Try this Mess-Free Earth Day Smush Painting, this Crumpled Tissue Paper Earth or this Earth Day Suncatcher!
Required Materials
- Coffee filter: Any size you have at home will do, as long as it’s white or off-white in color. We grabbed one of the large coffee filters my husband uses to brew his morning coffee.
- Markers: Make sure to use washable markers for this project, as the ink from permanent markers won’t spread when water is added.
- Water: You don’t need anything fancy—room temperature tap water is fine.
- Dropper: If you are doing this activity with young children, I recommend using plastic droppers rather than glass since they won’t shatter if accidentally dropped. You can also use a spray bottle instead if that’s what you have at home.
The full supply list and instructions can be found in the how-to card.
How to Make a Coffee Filter Earth (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Draw continents. Use a green marker to draw continents on the coffee filter. (They don’t have to look like the Earth’s real continents.)
Step 2: Draw oceans. Fill in the rest of the coffee filter “Earth” using a blue marker.
Step 3: Add water. Use a dropper to add water to the coffee filter. This will cause the colors to spread and blend together.
Step 4: Let dry. Once you have added as much water as you wish, place the tie dye coffee filter on a flat surface and allow it to fully dry.
This project is a great choice for younger kids because it is so simple to make, but school-aged kids will have fun with it too! We used blue and green to make it appropriate for Earth Day, but if your kids enjoy this activity, you can do it at any time of year using any combination of colors you wish.
Looking for Earth Day activities that you can print out for your kids? Check out these Free Earth Day Coloring Pages or this Nature Scavenger Hunt!
Helpful Tips
- Protect your work surface: To prevent the marker ink from spreading everywhere once the water is added, place the coffee filter on a large plate, do this craft inside a baking sheet or plastic tray, or cover your table with parchment paper.
- Try different designs: I decided to make my continents similar to the Earth’s actual continents, but you don’t have to, especially if you are making this craft with younger kids. Feel free to use your imagination!
- Choose your amount of water: The more water you add, the more the colors will blend together. If you want the shape of your continents to remain identifiable, make sure you don’t add too much. If your child is having fun adding water and doesn’t care about the shape of the continents… that’s totally fine as well!
- Try using a spray bottle: Don’t have any droppers at home, or feel like trying something new? Try adding water using a spray bottle instead of a dropper.
More Earth Day Craft for Kids
If you have tried this Coffee Filter Earth Day Art or any other project on my website, please let me know how it went in the comments below. I can’t wait to hear from you!
Coffee Filter Earth
Materials
- 1 coffee filter white or off-white
- 1 green washable marker
- 1 blue washable marker
- water as needed
- 1 plastic dropper
Instructions
- Use the green marker to draw continents on the coffee filter. (They don’t have to look like the Earth’s actual continents.)
- Fill in the rest of the coffee filter “Earth” using a blue marker.
- Use a dropper to add water to the coffee filter. This will cause the colors to spread and blend together.
- Place the coffee filter on a flat surface and allow it to fully dry.
Video
Notes
- Protect your work surface: Prevent the marker ink from spreading everywhere by placing the coffee filter on a plate, by doing the craft inside a baking sheet or plastic tray, or by covering the table with parchment paper.
- Choose the amount of water: Add more water to make the colors blend together more, or add less water to retain the shape of your continents.
- Try using a spray bottle: If desired, use a spray bottle to wet the coffee filter instead of a dropper.
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