6-8yrs. Week 3: Katharine

Eco-bots:
Scrap-box materials—foam pieces, Styrofoam shapes, cardboard scraps and cylinders, wire, any other scraps…

Use your imagination and create crazy creatures made from an assortment of recycled objects. The sky is the limit on this one.

Stuffed animals:
Old sweaters, hats, gloves, buttons, heavy-duty needles, thread and/or yarn, felt or cotton for decorations, plastic bags or cotton wool for stuffing (any other ideas?)

Learn how to turn old clothing into adorable little creatures while mastering basic sewing techniques.

Recycle bouquet:
For tulips: Egg cartons (getting them from Whole Foods), tempera paints, sticks/twigs for stems. For vase: chicken wire, duct tape, scissors, papier-mâché, craft paper, old maps or recycled papers or tissue paper

Students learn to be resourceful and respectful of the environment as they take household objects and transform them into beautiful art.

Papier-Mâché jewel necklaces:
Papier-mâché mix, colored scrap paper turned into mulch (done beforehand), more (dry) colored scrap paper, cookie cutters, pencils, yarn

Students create fun shapes and beads out of scrap paper mulch and scrap paper rolls in order to create colorful eco-friendly necklaces. A short discussion of what it means to be eco-friendly and how to recycle and be resourceful!

Milk Carton birdhouses:
Old milk cartons, acrylic paints, raffia for nest, wine corks for chimneys, wire to hang, wooden dowels for perch, buttons or other decorations for outside

Students use recyclable materials to create their very own birdhouse!

Handmade paper cards:
Prepared mulch, tubs, warm water, framed screens (I have some at home), old towels, to decorate: buttons, needles, thread, scrap fabric and paper

Students learn how to make handmade paper from old scraps and once dry turn them into beautiful cards with buttons and other decorations.

Melted crayon weavings:
Wax paper, crayon shavings, iron and ironing board, old towels, scrap paper, tissue paper, ribbons, hole punch and scissors
Students will arrange crayon shavings into different patterns between two wax sheets that the teacher will iron and turn into a stained glass creation. Then students will trim as desired and cut slits in order to weave scrap paper and ribbons through. When finished they may punch holes and add a ribbon to hang up in the window.

Newspaper sculpture group activity:
Newspapers, masking tape

Class works together to create huge abstract sculptural forms from newspaper and masking tape. Students will discover which shapes work best as a base and how to create a sturdy self-supporting structure.

Picture in a box:
Old cereal boxes, scrap paper, magazines, any other recyclable materials

After cutting out one side of the box minus a 1-inch border, students will have a shadow box in which they can create any sort of image using the different scraps available.

Paper bag kite:
Paper bags, strong string, masking tape, hole punch, scissors, crepe paper or plastic bags for streamers, tempera paint and markers/crayons for decorating, foam stickers and glitter/sequins also for decorating

Students learn to be resourceful as they create a kite from largely recyclable materials. Aerodynamics will also be discussed.

Fruit scrap sculptures:
Fruit crates (plastic and cardboard), mesh fruit nets and potato sacks, bubble wrap, plastic bags, scrap fabric, ribbons, markers, wire, any other recyclable materials I accumulate

Still trying to think of a concrete idea for this, but as of now I’ve collected quite a bit of random fruit trays and containers from Whole Foods and I thought kids could either go crazy and use their imaginations or if I think of something nifty I could present that as well. Any ideas for projects incorporating these materials, let me know!