Go Green Activities
Technology integration goes green! Find activities, lessons, and projects that integrate environmental awareness, technology, literacy, and content standards. Each activity offers suggestions for implementation at K-2, 2-5 and 6-12 grade levels, as well as adaptations for use in different content areas.
Reuse Activity
for Grades K-2
Do you know what the difference between recycling and upcycling is? Upcycling, a phrase created by Cradle to Cradle authors William McDonough and Michael Braungart, is the act of creating useful products from waste materials. Maybe you’ve even seen upcycled products like bags made from CapriSun® packages, or quilts made from old clothes.
Upcycling
Create your own upcycled objects from discarded materials in your recycling bin like old cereal boxes and empty soda bottles. If you need some help coming up with an idea, you can find many ideas on-line. (Internet / NETS 1,3)
After you’ve completed your project, use a drawing program to draw a before and after picture. This can be completed on one page by drawing a straight line down the middle of the page to divide it in half. Older students can write a few lines or a paragraph within the program or with a word processing program to explain what they started with and what they upcycled it into. (Drawing, Word Processor / NETS 1, 2, 4)
Share with others the benefits of upcycling using a class slide show presentation of the before and after pictures (Presentation / NETS 2, 5)
- Indiana Learning Standards:
- English/Language Arts
- Standard 2: Reading and Analysis of Nonfiction and Informational Text
- Standard 4: Writing Process and Features
- Standard 5: Writing Applications
- Standard 7: Listening and Speaking: Skills, Strategies, and Applications
