4 Fun upcycling activities to keep kids entertained
Try some of our amazing, educational and eco-friendly, upcycling activities to see what you can make by simply reusing and recycling everyday items, whether you're learning at home or in the classroom.
For more activities like these see our Home Learning page, where you can find a great range of engaging, downloadable learning resources.
1. Build a Bird feeder
Ages: 7 - 9Why not bring nature to you with this quick and creative activity. Use the PDF activity sheet to see how you can build your own bird feeder.
For more easy-to-follow, step-by-step eco-friendly ideas for gardening at home see RHS Let's Get Gardening.
View the book for more eco-friendly gardening activities.
Let's Get Gardening is the perfect book for teaching kids how to be a green gardener, with tips on growing fruits and vegetables as well as teaching them the importance of conservation, sustainability and recycling.
Some of the other gardening actrivities in the book:
- How to build a nature reserve
- How to grow lettuce
- How to create your own mini greenhouses
2. Create a no-sew tote bag
Ages: 5 - 9 Use the PDF below to see how you can create your create your own no-sew tote bag.
For more creative making activities and ideas that give young eco-warriorsthe know-how to really help the environment see Recycle and Remake
For more creative creative making activities like this one view the book
Filled with over 10 creative, educational activities and environmental facts, Recycle and Remake will empower kids to reuse and recycle rather than throwing items away.
Some of the activities from the book:
- Turning plastic bottles into planters
- Creating seed pots from egg shells
- Creating bookmarks
3. Learn how to make tube owls
Ages: 7 - 12
Use this detailed, instructional PDF to transform a cardboard tube into one of the owls shown.
For more ideas on other on activites you can with a simple cardboard box view the book Out of the Box.
For more creative cardboard box activities view the book
Out of the Box is filled with over 20 activities that use recyclable materials. From castles to animal masks, pirate ships and even dinosaurs! You will be amazed at all the things you can create with a simple cardboard box.
Some of the creative, cardboard craft and engineering activities:
- Building a cardboard city
- Creating a cardboard puppet dragon
- Build a pirate ship
- How to make box robots - If you'd like a tutorial on see: How to Make Box Robots
4. Make your own geodes
Ages: 7 - 9Use the PDF to make your own colourful crystal eggs.
For more scientific activities that allow you to discover the skills it takes to bring scientific theories and practical experiments together at home see Outdoor Maker Lab.
View the book for more scientific and practical experiments
Outdoor Maker Lab will help kids to think like a scientist with fun, engaging and educational activities that bring scientific theories and practical experiments together at home.
Some of the science based activities shown in the book:
- How to create water rocket
- Latitude Locator
- Wormery
- Diamond Kite
See more activities like this
For more activities like this go to our Home Learning resource page and find fun, creative and educational activities for kids.
More Crafts & Activities books for kids
From learning Maths by finding out about 3D shapes with How to be a Maths Whizz, to the boredom-busting activities in Little Travellers Landmarks of the World , DK has a great range of entertaining and educational crafts and activities books for kids.View our category page to find out more.
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We have some great craft based, educational resources to keep kids entertained as they learn. Have a look through the list and see which ones you can do!
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