Makerspace Lesson Plan

Project Title: Reduce, REUSE, Recycle: Making useful objects out

of Refuse
Created by: Stefanie Stephens
Setting: Public Library
Target Audience: for ages 11-17
Skills Needed: basic machine sewing, cutting
Difficulty level: project A- level 1, project B- level 2, project C- level 3
Content area: Environmental Science
Subject: Recycling
Source:
Instructables staff. (2013). Upcycle it! Plastic Bottle Zipper Change Holder.
Retrieved from http://makeitatyourlibrary.org/living/upcycle-it-plasticbottle-zipper-change-holder
Instructables staff. (2014). Bottle Cap Pins. Retrieved from
http://makeitatyourlibrary.org/living/bottle-cap-pins
Instructables staff. (2013). Fastest Recycled T-shirt Tote Bag. Retrieved from
http://makeitatyourlibrary.org/living/fastest-recycled-t-shirt-tote-bag

Standards for Learning expectations for student learning:

Adapted from the YALSA report The Future of Library Services for and with
Teens: A Call to Action (2014) which states that there are specific benefits that
teens gain when young adult library services are reimagined, these are the
specific benefits that this lesson plan addresses (p. 18).

Learning:
Build and try out academic knowledge and skills
Engage in peer-supported learning activities
Learn through experience
Explore what is important to them/what they are passionate about
Construct their own meaning
Gain non-traditional skills
Demonstrate proficiency in non-traditional ways

Leadership
Make their voices heard

Community
Connect with others interested in the same topics/issues
Build a sense of community
Take meaningful action in the community
Build relationships with adults they can trust
Become familiar with ideas and experiences that take them beyond their
own community
Develop empathy

Technology
Access technologies that they might not otherwise have access to
Creativity
Engage in self-expression
Create meaningful and authentic content/products
Share their expertise
2

Essential questions for learning:

What is recycling?
Why is it important?
What are creative ways we can get more use from items and create less
waste?
Lesson overview:
The lesson will begin by explaining to the participants the 3 R's: reduce, reuse,
and recycle. An emphasis should be placed on reusing items that are still useful
that would otherwise be bound for the landfill. Teach why recycling and all its
aspects are important to the environment. Discuss ways that items that are
typically thrown away can be used. Give and ask for specific examples. Discuss
how reusing items instead of throwing in trash can benefit in other ways such as
saving money by reusing something for a new purpose instead of purchasing
brand new items. At this point transition into completing Project A, the zipper
bottle plastic change holder. When Project A is completed continue discussing
recycling. Talk about how recycled materials can also be decorative. Transition
into completing Project B, the bottle cap fridge magnets. When Project B is
complete and the bottle caps are curing continue talking about the amount of
waste each person generates daily through things such as using paper plates
instead of reusable ceramic plates. Transition into making Project C, recycled tshirt tote bag. After project is finished have participants continue to brainstorm
all the areas in their daily lives they can cut back on waste. Have them write a
list of items they would normally throw away and ideas for how they could reuse
those items in fun, interesting, useful ways. Take pictures of the completed
works. Create a display where other library patrons can see the pictures and
read the lists then add their own ideas for how to reduce, reuse, and recycle
instead of adding to landfills and creating the need for more manufacturing.

Materials needed:
Project A- Zipper Bottle Plastic Change Holder
Materials

Tools

2 Clean, empty 20 ounce soda bottles

per person

Glue gun and glue sticks, tape

1 11-inch zipper per person

Box cutter or craft knife

Optional - Assorted decorations (glitter Scissors

paint, pom poms, googly eyes, etc.)
Project B- Bottle Cap Fridge Magnets
Materials

Tools

Bottle Caps

Scissors

Casting resin

Disposable cups

3/4 Adhesive backed magnetic coins

Stir sticks

Old magazines, comics, wrapping

paper, etc.
Project C- Recycled T-shirt Tote Bag
Materials

Tools

Old heavy weight t-shirt

Sewing machine

Coordinating thread

Straight pins
Scissors
Paper plate, dinner size
Pen or pencil

Planning and teaching responsibilities:

Librarian: collect materials and tools needed, set up the lesson by placing
materials and tools needed for each project (that are not being provided by
participant) on a table central to work areas, demonstrate projects, teach
lessons about recycling before and while projects are being completed
Volunteer: help the younger participants with tasks such as cutting the bottles
for Project A, mixing the resin for Project B, supervising use of sewing machine
for Project C, assist the librarian with setting up the lesson
Lesson activities (state specific details and timeframe):
Project A- Zipper Bottle Plastic Change Holder (Total time: 15-20 minutes)
1. Using the craft knife, make a horizontal cut in both bottles about two
inches from the bottom. Use the scissors in the cut to remove the top
portion of the bottles. Try to make the edges straight and clean. (5
minutes)
2. Wrap the zipper around the cut edge of one bottle and support the zipper
end with a piece of tape. Make sure that the zipper faces out and that the
teeth of the zipper align with the cut edge of the bottle. (5 minutes)
3. With the zipper open, add glue on one side of the fabric of the zipper and
place on the inside of the bottle. Continue until you wrap the zipper
around the bottle. Hold in place until glue cools. Repeat step with other
bottle. (5 minutes)
4. Optional- Use pom poms, googly eyes, glitter, etc. to decorate your plastic
bottle zipper change holder if you want. (5 minutes)
Project B- Bottle Cap Fridge Magnets (Total time: 1 hour, 30 minutes)
1. Affix round magnets to flat side of bottle cap using self-adhesive. (5
minutes)
2. Cut fun pictures out in circles 1 in diameter from old magazines, comics,
wrapping paper, etc. Place a circle in each bottle cap, face up. (15 minutes)

3. Follow the mixing directions on the casting resin package using the
disposable cups and stir sticks. (5 minutes)
4. Pour mixed resin carefully into bottle caps. Use a clean stir stick to push
pictures down if they float to top. (5 minutes)
5. Allow bottle caps to sit undisturbed on a flat surface while resin sets. (1
hour, although resin will not be fully cured for several more hours)
Project C- Recycled T-shirt Tote Bag (Total time: 22 minutes)
1. Lay t-shirt out flat on a table. (1 minute)
2. Using scissors, carefully cut the sleeves off the shirt making sure to leave
the seam attached to the shirt. (5 minutes)
3. Lay the paper dinner plate about halfway down on top of the neck line of
the shirt. Use the pencil to trace the edge of the plate. Cut carefully along
this line with scissors. (5 minutes)
4. Turn the t-shirt inside out and pin it shut along the hem line. (5 minutes)
5. Use the sewing machine to sew the bottom of the shirt closed along the
pin line. (5 minutes)
6. Remove pins and turn shirt right side out. (1 minute)
Assessments (formative and summative):
Formative Assessment:
After completing projects and lessons on reducing, reusing, and recycling have
participants write a list of other ideas for how to reduce waste. The ideas can
range from other easy craft projects to larger scale uses. (Take pictures of the
completed projects and display in the library along with the participant's lists.
Include blank paper in the display and encourage patrons to add their own ideas
for how to reuse materials that would normally be thrown away to the lists.)
Summative Assessment:
The completed projects will be compared to the sample projects to ensure the
correct steps were followed and that recycled (instead of newly purchased)
materials were used. As this is a public library lesson no grade will be assigned.

Works Cited
Braun, L., Hartman, M., Hughes-Hassell, S., Kumasi, K., & Yoke, B. (2014). The
Future of Library Services for and with Teens: A Call to Action. Chicago:
YALSA.