Recycling bins provide children with an incredible resource of creative crafts they can enjoy making from cartons, bottles, jars and boxes that quickly fill them up. These projects are fun for all ages while teaching important lessons about conserving and protecting our environment.
Recycle those milk cartons by painting and turning them into busses (or submarines or trains). Or use bottle caps to create an upcycled game of tic-tac-toe or checkers!
1. Make a Bird Feeder
Let children explore their creativity with an environmental craft project! Turn an old license plate into a bird feeder as an enjoyable springtime activity while showing state pride! Get more details from Birds & Blooms.
Gather materials found in your recycling bin to construct a one-of-a-kind robot! This DIY project is simple, fun and requires no tools – only creativity! Get instructions at Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom.
2. Create a Succulent Planter
Create an impressive and thoughtful present with this adorable succulent planter craft! Simply fill a decorated flower pot with potting soil, insert your succulent, wrap the planter with twine, and present as a thoughtful present to someone dear.
Children can transform plastic dinosaur toys into prehistoric succulent showcases using this DIY project from I Spy DIY. Simply cut open their backs and fill with cacti/succulent soil mix before planting Tillandsia air plants (also known as Semperflorens) or small succulents. This idea comes directly from I Spy DIY blog.
3. Make a Robot
Robots have become an indispensable part of modern life, so encouraging kids to build one will encourage an interest in STEM subjects. This simple robot uses vibration-sensitive motors for movement; making assembly simple enough for even young builders!
Cardboard boxes are one of the most versatile crafting materials around. Children can create anything from dollhouses out of its flaps, colorful butterflies made out of construction paper with moving eyes or plastic water bottle bottoms cut off for flower petals – creating stunning decorations in gardens or homes!
4. Make a Horse
Make learning anatomy fun for kids with this craft that teaches all about muscles, bones and how they move! Plus it provides sight word recognition practice while exploring parts of a horse!
Create an upcycled craft perfect for Earth Day or any time of year with this upcycling craft! Transform a cardboard box, paper plates and bottle caps into a Hispanic folk art turtle using this project – an excellent opportunity to teach kids recycling practices while conserving natural resources!
5. Make a Bug Hotel
Bug hotels are an essential feature in wildlife gardens, providing protection and encouragement to a wide array of insects that inhabit your garden. You can easily make one yourself using natural materials like old wooden pallets, bricks or timber – and it doesn’t even take that much effort!
Gather together an assortment of twigs, sticks, straw, moss and pinecones – hollow stems are ideal – hollow stems make your bug hotel more visible to solitary bees who may visit! Once assembled place it somewhere sunny in your garden or outdoor space and keep an eye out – you might even spot one or two visitors!
6. Make a Quilt
Quilting is an engaging hobby that will teach kids the science behind sewing, as well as giving them something soft to snuggle under when temperatures turn chilly.
Give your children something fun to keep them occupied with this craft project made from recycled materials! Perfect for Earth Day or any time of year! Upcycled craft materials like cereal boxes, egg cartons and tin cans offer great ways to teach children about recycling while simultaneously cutting costs by saving on craft store visits! Plus it will likely save money!
7. Make a Wind Chime
Kids of all ages can make an amazingly beautiful recycled wind chime from aluminum beverage pop tops, providing them with an opportunity to learn about recycling, math, and create something truly fun for their home or school!
Bubble wrap is an accessible crafting material that keeps kids occupied for hours; but this innovative project takes it even further! Cut pieces of bubble wrap into dinosaur shapes and add two eyes for an intriguing crocodile! This recycled craft offers ample opportunity for practicing scissor skills and fine motor development.
8. Make a Paper Bag Artwork
Paper bags make an ideal base for artwork, and can easily be transformed with paint, markers or crayons. Add texture through stencils, feathers or glitter!
Bubble wrap provides hours of entertainment, and also helps children develop design skills. They can use it to make dinosaur family sculptures or add bulging eyes for an easy crocodile disguise!
Prior to assembling, it’s advisable to decorate your paper bag. Patterned or colourful paper works best, while wrapping paper or newspapers could also be utilized.
9. Make a Crayon Mold
Recycle old crayons using a silicone baking mold – you’ll even be able to find fun shapes so your children will love what comes out!
Step one is to remove all of the wrappers from the crayons; hot water can help speed this up considerably.
Place crayon pieces into a mold (we used ice cube trays). Put it in the oven until everything melts completely; once cool, remove and let your kids enjoy their new crayons!
10. Make a Car
When your children want something fun and creative to do, use their cardboard boxes as cars! This activity gives them the chance to hone their engineering skills while understanding how wheels and axles function.
Don’t let those empty plastic water bottles go to waste — they make great art supplies! Use washable markers to decorate them before cutting off their ends for hangers and filling with garden soil to grow plants or flowers in them – the rounded plastic wells also make great flower petals!