Lesson 144: Creating from recycled materials

Objective

I can choose clean, safe recycled materials and use them to create a simple new object. I can tell how this helps take care of the Earth.

Materials

• Clean recycled items (for example: cardboard tubes, small boxes, paper rolls, plastic bottles, bottle caps, yoghurt pots with no sharp edges)
• Safe joining tools (for example: tape, glue stick, string, paper clips, cloth strips)
• Child-safe scissors (with adult supervision)
• Paper for planning and drawing a simple design
• Pencil and crayons
• Optional: stickers or scrap paper for decoration

Mini-lesson — Using recycled materials to create

Guided Practice — Plan and build a recycled creation

You will choose recycled materials, draw a simple plan, and build a small model with an adult helping.

1. Collect safely: With an adult, look for clean boxes, tubes, bottles, and lids. Check that there is no sharp glass or metal.
2. Clean and dry: Rinse any food containers and let them dry. Throw away anything that is broken or sharp.
3. Choose an idea: Decide what to make, such as a robot, rocket, toy car, or animal.
4. Draw a plan: On your paper, draw your creation. Label at least two parts, such as "body", "head", or "wheels".
5. Build it: Use tape, glue, or string to join the pieces. Work slowly and ask an adult to help with scissors.
6. Decorate: Add simple decorations with crayons, scrap paper, or stickers if you like.
7. Talk about it: Tell an adult what you made and which parts came from recycled materials.
8. Use the tracing pad: Choose words like recycle, reuse, box, or Earth and trace them. Say a sentence such as "I reuse boxes to make a robot".

Tracing Pad

Lines Primary lines Baseline only Grid Blank Trace (none) recycle reused materials box bottle cardboard plastic Earth clean safe create build plan robot

Pen Clear

Tip: As you trace, say a full idea like "Recycling helps the Earth" or "I can build with boxes".

Practice 1 — Sort safe recycled materials

Sort items into groups such as "safe to use" and "not safe" with an adult helping.

1. Draw two big boxes on your page. Label them "safe to use" and "not safe".
2. Think about different items people throw away: glass jars, cardboard tubes, metal cans, sharp broken pieces, and clean plastic bottles.
3. Draw or write each item in the box where it belongs. Talk with an adult if you are not sure.
4. Use words like clean, sharp, soft, and hard to explain your choices.
5. Circle three items that would be good for a recycled art project.

Practice 2 — Plan a recycled creation

Use your imagination to plan a new object made from recycled materials.

1. On a clean page, draw your recycled creation in the middle.
2. Around your drawing, sketch the recycled materials you will use, such as "big box", "small tube", or "bottle cap".
3. Draw arrows from each material to the part of your creation it will become, such as "legs", "wheels", or "roof".
4. Write at least one sentence that starts with "I will reuse…" and finishes with what you will make.
5. Share your plan with an adult and ask if your materials are safe to use.

Practice 3 — Explain how you help the Earth

Use your voice or writing to explain how creating from recycled materials helps the Earth.

1. Look at your finished creation or your plan.
2. Write or say one sentence that starts with "I helped the Earth when I…".
3. Use words like "reused", "did not waste", or "used a box again".
4. Draw a small picture of the Earth with a happy face and one arrow to your recycled creation.
5. Share your sentence and picture with someone and explain your idea.

Quick Check — Creating from recycled materials

Answer each question about recycled materials, reusing, and helping the Earth.

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)