YOUR MISSION:
Create greeting cards only using reused materials!
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the 3Rs and how they contribute to protecting the environment
- Relate small actions to making a difference
During this activity, students will:
- Review the 3Rs and their role in reducing garbage
- Apply the concept of reusing by making greeting cards
Materials
- Old greeting cards, calendars, cereal boxes, magazines, wrapping paper scraps
- Used paper or cardstock (back side of printed sheets, leftover construction paper)
- Scissors, glue
- Markers, crayons, coloured pencils
3Rs explained to kids
The 3Rs — Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle — are ways we can help the Earth.
- Reduce means using less, like not buying things you don’t need.
- Reuse means using something again, like making a craft from a cereal box or using a jar to hold pencils.
- Recycle means sending old things, like paper or cans, to be made into new things.
Reducing and reusing help stop garbage before it’s made.
Discussion Questions
Engage students in a discussion using the following questions as a guide:
- Who has heard of the 3Rs? What do they stand for?
- Why is it better to reuse something instead of throwing it away?
- How can small actions, like using both sides of a piece of paper when drawing, show care for the planet?
Ask students what they remember from the Earth Rangers assembly about recycling (i.e. 50% of things that could be recycled end up in landfills, people can be confused about what can be recycled, what things they learned could be recycled).
Activity Steps
- Provide students with craft materials and have them create their cards.
- Explain that you are going to reuse materials to make greeting cards.
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Select or have students select an occasion for their card:
- Birthday
- Thank you
- Valentine’s Day
- Thanksgiving
- Halloween
- End of the year holidays
- Or any other occasion!
Need inspiration? Check out these creative and crafty ideas:
- Holiday Cards Designed by Earth Rangers
- Moose Card
- Twiggy Tree Art
- Paper Plate Butterfly
- Handprint Peacock or Turkey
- Send us a picture of your class with their cards!