Coffee Filter Earth Day Art

Using washable markers in blues and greens, allow your child to color the coffee filter with continents and oceans. Although it can be fun to think about the shapes of the Earth's real continents and try to draw them accurately, this isn't important. Your child should aim to create a "blue-green marble", like our planet is seen from space. Note: Marker ink seeps quickly into the coffee filter, which is meant to absorb moisture, so you won't have to worry about the white space in between marker strokes.

When your child is satisfied with her continents and oceans, lay the coffee filter down on a flat surface and spray it lightly with water from a spray bottle. The ink will begin to run together and spread like a watercolor painting. Don't spray too much water, or else the colors may get very mixed and muddy.

Leave the wet Earth on the table top to dry. As soon as it is dry, tape it to a window. If it is too wrinkly for your tape, gently iron it on medium heat without any water spray or steam. Happy Earth Day!