Do you need class project ideas for Earth Day? How about Recycling? It is essential to sustaining our environment and it allows us to reuse things such as water bottles and newspapers. There are plenty of efforts to reduce waste in the environment from waste drives to putting recycling bins in public spaces. Show your students how recycling is beneficial for them. Recycling doesn’t have to be boring, so here are some fun projects for your students to try:
1. Recycling games can be used to teach students how to recycle, while having fun. There are many different recycling games that not only teach students how to recycle, but track recycling as well.
-This game is designed to teach students while also seeing who can get the most recycled bottles and cans in the trash can.
-This game is played with two separate teams who keep track of the points.
-The points are determined by the recycled products that fall into the trash can for the team.
-This is a fun idea to incorporate into the class as students will have fun and learn at the same time.
2. Build a bird feeder with materials that can be recycled. Building a bird feeder can help students learn about everyday items that can be recycled. Bird feeders are also good for the environment as they provide food for birds and less waste being dumped into landfills and in the ocean.
-This bird feeder is made by recycling toilet paper rolls, string, and some bird food.
-Students will be able to feed the birds and learn how something as simple as a toilet paper roll can be recycled
3. Middle school and high school students can see what electronic waste is and whether the electronics can be recycled. Everyone has electronics that become old and outdated, but what do we do with these electronics once we replace them? These electronics can range from old phones, computers, laptops, gaming consoles, etc. Students can determine the amount of electronic waste that they have in their house and determine if these electronics can be recycled and where can these electronics be disposed of along with finding out if these electronics are harmful to the environment.
4. Students can create their own planters by recycling tin cans. This allows students to grow their own plants while being able to recycle the tin can that they can find after their parents are done cooking. This is a fun activity for students to see if they can take care of a plant, while reusing tin cans.
5. Students can make a catalog necklace with old magazines and scraps of paper. Students will need old pieces of paper whether it would be old magazines, recycled paper, or old catalogs that are colorful. The student will also need a string to hold the necklace together. This project is great to teach young students about recycling, while also giving them a gift that they can give to someone.
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Written by: Lee Metoyer
