Classroom Challenge Checklist Join together to help make the Earth a better, healthier place! There are 48 days between Earth Day (April 22) and World Oceans Day (June 8) or seven weeks. We invite you and your students to complete the following fun (and Earth-friendly) weekly challenges together. As you complete each weekly challenge, check them off your list. Share your completed challenges on social media using #AAQGreen2Blue. We d love to see them and cheer you on! Then celebrate being awesome stewards for the planet on World Oceans Day!
week i: CREATE YOUR OWN RECYCLED BOTTLE CAP ART Did you know not all plastic bottle caps can be recycled? Every city s recycling program is different, so check with your program before you toss your old bottle caps into the recycling bin. Avoid using single-use plastics altogether but if you have bottle caps around (think laundry detergent, soda bottles, shampoo bottles, etc.) use them to make your own work of art! CHALLENGE: Ask each student to collect 5-10 plastic caps from home. Have them draw and color a cool design on their paper. Glue bottle caps to accent the picture. When finished, let glue dry (allow for 2+ hours). Hang up the art around your classroom. Bottle caps of assorted sizes and colors Construction Paper Markers Elmer s Glue
week 2: RECYCLED BIRD NESTING MATERIALS Birds right in your backyard help our environment in many ways and are important members of many ecosystems. Have leftover mesh bags from your produce? Don t throw them out! CHALLENGE: Ask students to each bring a mesh produce bag and 5 used dryer sheets from home. Have students stuff dryer sheets into their mesh bag. Hang bags from trees with string (either at school or home). Watch local birds fly by to pull the sheets through the mesh and use it for nesting materials. Mesh produce bag String Used dryer sheets
week 3: SAVE ENERGY, SAVE ANIMALS Need a reminder to turn out the lights when leaving the classroom? Saving electricity helps save animals! CHALLENGE: Each student should find a photo of his/her favorite animal (it should be no larger than a coaster). Carefully cut out each animal and tape the photos along the border of your classroom doorway to remind you to turn off your lights when you leave the room! Photo(s) of Favorite Animals Tape
week 4: CREATE BIRD PROTECTOR CD REFLECTORS Help protect birds in your backyard from making a wrong turn. CHALLENGE: Invite students to bring in old CDs from home. Using string, hang the CDs in your classroom windows to warn our feathered friends not to fly into the glass! Old CDs String
week 5: CRAFT AN EGG CARTON TREE Don t throw away your old egg cartons make art! CHALLENGE: Ask each student to bring an egg carton from home. Using scissors, carefully trim each individual section of the egg carton. Paint the egg carton pieces green. Set them aside to dry. Paint the trunk of the tree on the canvas or paper. Carefully glue the green egg carton pieces to the canvas, to make it look like a tree. Enjoy your work of art! Empty, clean egg carton Canvas or heavy paper Green and brown paint Scissors Paint brush Glue
week 6: DIY RECYCLED PHONE CHARGER STAND Repurposing is all about creativity.instead of tossing your old toilet paper roll, create your own charging station. Did you know your charger will still use electricity even without your phone attached? Make sure you unplug to save energy. CHALLENGE: Decorate your roll using colorful markers. Place your phone, charging end down, over the roll lengthwise. Use your pencil to trace around it. Carefully cut out the marked hole, making sure your phone fits in easily. Add fun stickers to complete your design. Insert push pins to bottom of roll to create a sturdy base. Thread charger through either end of the roll, plug your phone in and charge away. Toilet paper roll Markers Stickers 4 push pins Pencil Scissors
week 7: DIY REUSABLE T-SHIRT TOTE Paper or plastic? NEITHER! Make a reusable tote from an old t-shirt instead of tossing it in the garbage. CHALLENGE: Ask students to bring in a t-shirt they no longer wear. Flip it inside out and lay it flat on a table. Use your pencil/chalk to draw cutting lines around the neckline and sleeves (leave about 3 inches at the shoulder seam if possible for sturdier straps). Measure your shirt to determine how deep you want your tote to be, add 3 more inches to the bottom and mark the spot. Draw another pencil/chalk line at the marked spot across the front of the shirt. Carefully cut along your pencil/chalk lines. Keeping the bottom of the t-shirt lined up, cut the bottom of the shirt into 1 inch wide by 2 inches tall fringe. Be sure to cut the front and back at the same time so your ties will be even. Cut the very first and last fringe piece at the side seam to create 2 pieces of fringe. Flip the t-shirt inside out again and start tying the front and back fringe pieces together. Flip the bag inside out one last time and you re ready to shop! An old t-shirt Scissors Pencil or chalk Ruler