In this fun hands-on activity, your students will create greeting cards using only recycled materials.
Grades K-3
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 card
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
Instructions
- 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).
- 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?
- Explain that you are going to reuse materials to make greeting cards. 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:
- Provide students with craft materials and have them create their cards.