Underground Aquifers (Science)
All Ages
This project is designed to teach children about underground aquifers and the terrain beneath their feet. Get a small, clear fish tank. Carefully fill the bottom with large rocks, about 3 or 4 inches deep. Next add a layer of smaller rocks to sit atop the larger ones, and then a layer of pebbles or aquarium rocks. On top of these add a half-inch or so of sand, and then finally, about half an inch of dirt. Explain that this is similar to the ground underneath our feet, which consists of all different layers and different types of material.

Supply kids with a spray bottle set to spray fine mist, and have them spray the mist on the top just like rain, continuing to do so until the bottle is empty. Have them observe and record what happens as the water carves its way along the top layer and sinks into the material below.

Dirt Pudding (Food project/Sensory)
All Ages
This fun snack will spice up your theme: Make enough chocolate pudding to give each child a small bowl full. Crush some Oreos to sprinkle on top, then add a couple gummy worms for each child. It’s a fun snack kids can play with and eat with their fingers!

Jagged Cliffs (Blocks)
Preschool & Kindergarten
Collect a large cardboard box or two and cut it into 5 or 6 different cardboard pieces of assorted sizes: 1 foot by 3 feet, 2 feet by 2 feet, and so on. Spray-paint one side of each panel with stone-textured spray paint, or lacking that, paint it a stone-colored gray or beige. Next glue an assortment of landscape-size rocks onto the spray-painted side (use a good glue). Leave them to dry.

Set the panels in your block area along with Lego people or small play people, some brown or green fabric, and if you have time, some synthetic vines. Have the kids build mountain-like structures with the blocks, draping them with the fabric and then standing up the cardboard cliffs against the blocks or the wall to create ragged mountain scenery. They’ll have fun creating elaborate play scenarios with the props.

Flowing Waterfalls (Science / Sensory / Outdoors)
All Ages
Get a sturdy piece of plywood or another board that’s around 1 feet wide by 2 feet long. Next collect an assortment of rocks in different shapes and sizes, enough so that they could cover your board fairly liberally. Cover a table in newspaper or a protective plastic sheet, and lay the board on top.

Mix up enough plaster of paris to cover the board generously. It should be on the thicker side so that you can sculpt it, not too runny. Glue any large rocks onto the board using liquid nails. Then gather the kids around the table and have them dip their fingers in the plaster and then spread it along the top side of the board. Use your fingers to create channels meandering down the length of the board, and erect ridges along each side of the board to contain the water. As you do this press rocks into the plaster of Paris and sculpt around their sides to create a mountain river-like landscape. Once you’re done, set the board aside for a day to dry.

Take your board outside the next day. Find a way to securely prop it up above the ground at an angle. (An outdoor chair works well for this.) Fill a big pail with water, and give the kids cups. Have them dip their cup in the water, then pour it at the top of the board so that it runs down around the rocks and channels before emptying out into a waterfall. Place a cake tray at the bottom to recycle the water if you’d like. You can also just use a hose if you want a constant stream of water.

For added fun, have kids change into their swimsuits and set this up on the side of your sand box, so that as the water pours off the waterfall kids can create new channels and lakes in the sand. It will keep them entertained for hours, even days.

Earth Piñatas (Sensory/Art)
All Ages
For this activity you’ll need round balloons, old newspaper, flour and water for a paper mache paste, and tissue paper in green, blue and white. Blow up a balloon for each child and tie it off. (You can also do this as a class project if you’d like and have kids work together to make two or three piñatas, as opposed to having each child do their own.)

Cut the newspaper into one inch wide strips. Have children dip a newspaper strip into the paste, wringing off any excess paste with their fingers, and then lay it across the balloon’s surface in every which direction. Continue this process until the balloon is covered at least several layers deep in crisscrossing newspaper strips. (Leave a small opening at the top to fill the piñata.) Once you’re satisfied, set it out to dry.

After the newspaper shell has hardened, have kids use the tissue paper to decorate the piñata in earth colors. Once your piñata is complete, use a bobby pin to pop the balloon, fill the middle with candy, and swing away!