Recycled Gifts

Environmental Education Topic for December:

Recycled Gifts

 

It's time to start crafting for holiday gift giving. Who wants a tin can pencil holder?  

No. I already have ten. 

But it's recycled! 

Umm. So?

There are plenty of amazing ways to reuse objects destined for the landfill or recycling center. And not all of them are pencil holders! The craft ideas suggested below can be used for holiday gifts and can inspire discussions on product lifespan, the waste stream, and stewardship. The processes of decomposition and biodegradation ensure efficient recycling of organic materials; creating soil, feeding creatures, sustaining plants. What happens to our waste products? What do they nourish? And how can we reduce waste? Get crafty and reuse!

Activities:

Decoupaged Votive Candle Holder

Materials: glass jars, mod podge, pressed flowers and leaves, tissue paper, scissors, brushes

Procedure: Collect and press flowers or leaves to dry them out. Or cut colored tissue paper into shapes such as starts, moons, butterflies. Cover jars with mod podge. Stick on leaves, flowers, or shapes, cover with more mod podge. tear white tissue paper into pieces and stick on jar. Cover with more mod podge. Let dry. Place votive candle inside.

For more instructions see: http://www.makingfriends.com/votive_flowers.htm

Recycled Calendar Stationery Set

Materials: old calendars, paper, pens, glue, scissors

Procedure: Use the template provided on the site below to trace and cut calendar pages into envelopes. Use the small pictures on the back of the calendar for the stationary. Glue a small picture to the corner of a piece of paper. Create a decorative border with pens.

For more instructions see http://www.makingfriends.com/recycled_stationery.htm

Recycled T-Shirt Bag

Materials: t-shirts, sewing machine or needle and thread, scissors

Procedure: Cut off the arms of the t-shirt. Cut a hole around the neck. Turn it inside out and sew up the bottom.

For more instructions see http://www.marthastewart.com/article/good-thing-t-shirt-bag

For an entire book on how to turn t-shirts into other t-shirts (but cooler!) check out Generation T: 108 ways to Transform a T-Shirt from the Seattle Public Library

Cap Stamps

Materials: plastic soda bottle or container caps, styrofoam trays, pens or pencils, ink pad, scissors, glue

Procedure: Trace the bottle caps on the stryofoam and cut out. Draw designs into the styrofoam. Glue to bottle caps. Use as stamps in ink pad

For more instruction see: http://thelongthread.com/?cat=20&paged=2

Easy Weave News-Print Basket

Materials: newspaper, plastic jar, scissors, clear tape

Procedure: Cut the newspaper into strips. Tape two strips together to form a cross. tape another two on top to create an asterisk. Place this on the bottom of a jar and fold the strips up the side and over the lip of the jar. Weave strips horizontally around the jar, taping at the ends. Remove the jar and tape vertical ends under.

For more instruction see: http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/crafts-by-material/recyclable-projects/easy-weave-newsprint-basket-858559/

Tin Can Robots

Materials: tin cans, random pieces (tin foil, paper clips, bottle caps, wires) hot glue gun

Procedure: Turn tin can into a robot by gluing found objects on as eyes, mouth, arms, antennae 

For more instruction see: http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/crafts-by-material/recyclable-projects/can-do-robots-674831/

Nature Sculpture

Environmental Education Topic for September:
Nature Sculpture

The natural world is filled with forms, colors, and textures. Whether you have access to large driftwood logs, or you are out making art in back of the Club with leaves and sticks, natural materials can become elements of amazing sculptures. Attention to the beauty and diversity of natural forms around us can help deepen our connection to the local environment.


Inspired by Andrew Goldsworthy
Check out a book by Andrew Goldsworthy from the Seattle Public Library. Use the photos as examples of sculpture made entirely from natural materials. Ask the kids how he may have constructed the pieces shown. How long might it have taken to build the pieces? What do the kids like or dislike? What questions would they ask Andrew Goldsworthy about his art? For even more information you can also check out the Rivers and Tides documentary on Andrew Goldsworthy from the library. This film is more suitable for an older audience, but younger kids would enjoy shorter parts demonstrating Goldsworthy's artistic process.

Sculpture Activity
The kids can work alone or in groups to create their sculpture from natural materials. Discuss some artistic considerations such as positive and negative space, balance, combination of colors and textures, and how the piece involves the viewer. Remind kids to use materials found on the ground (rather than stripped from a tree) and encourage thought of the landscape in which the piece will be built.

Art Show
After the groups have finished their art gather everyone together. Each group or artist will have an opportunity to show their art and explain their ideas. Encourage questions from the viewers about the materials selected, what was most difficult to achieve, the name of the piece, and what the piece might mean or allude to. Environmental art is by nature impermanent. Bring a camera and let each group or artist take pictures of their creation. You can continue to visit the art on different days to see how other people or the natural elements have added to or changed the work.


The above photos show kids from the Federal Way Club and the wonderful constructions they created on a Parks In Focus trip to the Olympic Peninsula this summer. The Udall Foundation provided digital cameras for the kids to use and keep and Parks In Focus staff led photographic and environmental education activities.