These leafy t-shirts are a fun and creative way for elementary kids and preteens in your ministry to celebrate Earth Day!

You’ll need:

• plastic tablecloth
• cardboard pieces
• fresh, green leaves
• fabric paints
• paintbrushes
• a container of water
• prewashed solid T-shirt for each child
• small craft sponges

Ahead of time, press the green leaves between layers of newspaper for one week.

Elementary and Preteen Earth Day Craft: Leafy T-Shirts

Cover your work area with a tablecloth. Put pieces of cardboard inside the body and sleeves of your T-shirt. Lay your shirt on the table and smooth out any wrinkles.

Wet a paintbrush and squeeze most of the water out of it. Use the brush to coat a sponge with one color of paint. Put the brush back in the water.

Dab the sponge on the veined side of the leaf, including the stem. Press, don’t rub.

Turn your leaf over and gently press onto your T-shirt, using your fingers. Pick the leaf up by the stem and check your print. Add more or less paint next time as needed.

Leave the cardboard inside the shirt until it’s dry.

Talk About It

Read aloud Revelation 4:11. Ask:

• Why do you think God created everything?
• How does creation give God pleasure?
• Do you think God is ever sad about creation? Why or why not?
• What does this verse teach us about how we should respond to God when we look at creation?

Close in prayer by having children praise God for specific elements of creation that they enjoy.

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Want more ideas for Earth Day? You can find lots of fun and practical ideas in the book Seasonal Specials for Children’s Ministry: All-NEW Ideas for 13 Holidays.

Looking for more ideas for spring? Check out these posts!