Crafting gets an eco-friendly spin with this easy-peasy activity from the learning experts at CIS
Trying to save the planet is tricky. Even if we’re constantly reducing, recycling and reusing, we still hear news about how we’re still basically destroying the planet – ugh. Which is why it’s important to teach our kids to be the change the environment needs. Although learning how to care for the environment and be sustainable is best started from a young age when kids are at their most impressionable, it’s not as easy as it sounds. How do we even start? The learning experts at CIS say – right in our own homes with fun and simple hands-on activities! The CIS experts show us how to make uber-cute bats using eco-friendly materials with the kids.
Before you start
Look at how much rubbish your family produces at home. Talk about what rubbish is and and how most of the time we throw our waste into the bin without a second thought, while some things we throw out can be recycled. Sort your rubbish into items that can be recycled and items that need to be thrown out. Find a space where your child can store their collected recycled materials. And, of course, encourage your child to use the materials to create something new and fun!
DIY Spooky Bat
Materials needed
- Scissors (parents – you might need to do or supervise the cutting!)
- Egg cartons
- Black non-toxic paint and paintbrushes
- Craft glue
- Small bottle tops or old buttons, coloured paper or plastic scraps for the eyes
- Ribbon
Instructions
- Cut the egg cartons into strips of three cups. This will make up the bat’s body.
- Using the front of the egg cartons, cut out two wing shapes for each bat.
- Paint your bats using toxic-free black paint.
- Once the bats are dry, glue on bottle tops, old buttons, coloured paper or plastic scraps for the eyes.
- Cut an ‘X’ at the top of the bat (parents, you’ll need to do this!) and slip a piece of old ribbon through. Tie a knot on the other side.
- Hang your decoration on your front porch and you’ll have the greenest spooky bat on the block – fang-tastic!
Why DIY activities work
Through arts and crafts, children will learn how to think carefully about what materials they use, where it comes from and where it goes. They become more aware of their actions and how much goes to waste on a daily basis. This means they’ll learn the importance of conserving the earth’s resources and the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle. It also makes them more creative because it encourages them to use their imagination – score!
Learning about sustainability at CIS
At CIS, sustainable education is an important part of every student’s learning journey. The school aims to educate and equip each student with the necessary skills and knowledge to help solve the complex challenges our world faces to create a better, more sustainable future for all. CIS widely embraces the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. They are largely reflected in many aspects of the school’s curriculum across all age groups, the way they look after their campus and connect with their community in Singapore and beyond.
Start ‘em young!
This post is in partnership with CIS.