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Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse
Recycled Planters
Lesson Description:
Students create their own environmentally friendly planters out of newsprint and glue.
Eco-Fact: In 2007, about 55 million tons of paper were recycled, with a recovery rate of 55 percent. Meaning, 55% of the paper that was recycled could be made into new paper.
Procedure:
Students create their own environmentally friendly planters out of newsprint and glue.
Eco-Fact: In 2007, about 55 million tons of paper were recycled, with a recovery rate of 55 percent. Meaning, 55% of the paper that was recycled could be made into new paper.
Procedure:
- Place a can on its side and roll one of the newsprint strips around it. Allow the paper to overlap one inch and cut off the excess. Then place a small dot of glue on the seam. Continue this process until the can is covered.
- Once the can is covered, repeat the same process by placing and gluing a second layer of newsprint around the can, making sure to alternate the newsprint’s placement in order to cover seams.
- A third and final layer can then be applied.
- Gently push the can out of the glued paper pot so that an inch or two of the paper is free.
- Then fold and glue the bottom like an envelope, or cut 5 to 6 slits in the paper and fold it inward to make a bottom.
- Carefully remove the can and allow the paper pot to dry.
- Once dry, the paper pots can be used as seed starters and then planted outside. If the planters are absorbing water and drying the plants, keep the planters in a tray with a little water to keep them from drying out as the seeds grow.
Lesson Type:
- Experiment
- Project
Sustainability Topic:
- Gardening
GEF Program Category:
- Green Thumb Challenge
Time Needed:
30 minutes to construct plus time to dry and plant
30 minutes to construct plus time to dry and plant
Materials Needed:
- Newsprint, cut into 3 to 3 ½ inch strips
- Cans such as ones for tomato juice, sauce etc.
- Scissors
- Non-toxic glue
Submitted By:
Green Education Foundation (GEF)
Green Education Foundation (GEF)
School or Group:
Green Education Foundation (GEF)
Green Education Foundation (GEF)
Contact Email:
service@greeneducationfoundation.org
service@greeneducationfoundation.org
