[lovegrade1]

Hope this gets you in the mood for Earth Day which is April 22. Take a coffee filter. Scribble with blue and green Crayola water based, broad tip markers. The filter does not need to be full coloured in. Mist with spray bottle filled with water. Dry. I like to iron as it makes it easier to mount on black paper. The sample shown has been sprayed with floral glitter but you could also use glitter glue or paint white dots.

[luv2chat]

cute idea! thanks I might use that after spring break

[subnotes]

That's awesome!!

I have one question, does the water make the color spread?

[usechalk]

Great idea. The black background provides great contrast and highlights the colors of the earth. Thank you for sharing.

[NoMorePencils]

These come out really neat! I've have done them before when I have the children create their own planet - and then they get to name them!

[Zoe09]

Love it! Simple and cute!

[jacque/Wa/K-1]

Don't forget to read Shim Shimmel books along with this. I also do a craft with paper plates where students paint the earth with blue and green paint on a white paper plate, fit another paper plate inside and give a twist, this remove the paper plate and voila! there are unique textures (raised mountain ranges?).

We add googly eyes, two brads and stretch a rubberband between to make a mouth, then also attach a chenille stem to the mouth, form the remaining chenille stem into a 'handle' to make the mouth move and then we learn the poem, "The Earth is Me and I am the Earth"....I have each child recite that line from it.

They love these and after reading Shim Shimmel's books it's perfect to get the point across.

[kid.at.heart]

Love this activity. Going in my lesson plan book right now! Thanks!

[vacation]

I have copied this and made a sample. We also have a guest speaker coming to our class for earth day. Can hardly wait to do this craft.

Thank you

[lovegrade1]

Yes, the water does make the colours spread because the felts are water based. That is why the directions say "scribble" rather than "colour in solidly". The water spray causes the colours to bleed out and mix. I usually spray the filters on a cookie sheet or in the sink.

[HatTrick217]

Cute idea!

[NBarney]

I always check this board for my own kids. Love this idea and plan to use it! Thanks!

[iteachk2010]

In addition to the coffee filter Earth, I have my students marble paint using white tempera paint on black paper so it looks like stars. Then we glue the "Earth" onto the black paper.