How We Reduce and Reuse in Lower Elementary

written by Rachel Cupps, Minnehaha Creek guide

In Minnehaha Creek, we try to get creative with unwanted materials. We often find used cardboard boxes, leftover tin foil and excess laminate around the school. Rather than letting these items go straight to the recycling bin or worse the landfill we give them a new purpose in our work

Most recently, Minnehaha students created a gallery walk of mammal habitats. Students used everything from cardboard and yarn to laminate sheets and popsicle sticks to create a home for their mammals. Here is how some of our students got creative:

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Wiley used laminate to enable the audience to see his clay model but make it so they could not touch it.

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Will and Rain construct their habitats out of small pieces so there is enough cardboard to share.

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Claire and Lucio use yarn to add texture and vines to their habitats.

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Vivian and Victoria add details with paint.

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Everyone shares their hard work at the gallery walk. We learned about mammals and their habitats as well as how we can work together to be more sustainable for our planet. Next time you are going to the recycling bin why don’t you think twice and get creative!