Upcycling Plastic Bags

Design Challenge

Engineering

Art

STE(A)M

Use the Applied Design Cycle and Art skills to engineer a new way of using a plastic bag. Begin by demonstrating an art activity where students use plastic bags to weave mats.

Concepts at a Glance

Learn about sustainability and think of ways to reduce, reuse,recycle in classrooms and at home.
Use the engineering design process and inquiry-based learning to create ways to repurpose single-use plastic bags
looking at skills that can be gained from the arts and using them in other fields

Curriculum Connections

Art 3-6Exploring and creating

Creative expression is a means to explore and share one's identity within a community.
Develop and refine ideas, processes, and technical skills in a variety of art forms to improve the quality of artistic creations.
Connect knowledge and skills from other areas of learning in planning, creating, interpreting, and analyzing works for art.
Adapt learned skills, understandings, and processes for use in new contexts and for different purposes and audiences.

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ADST 3-6

Applied Design

Skills are developed through practice, effort,and action.

Designs can be improved with prototyping and testing.

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Core Competencies

Social Responsibility

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Materials

● Scissors

● Plastic Bags

● Duct Tape

● “One Plastic Bag” book by Miranda Paul (recommended)

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Additional materials for older grades:

● Irons + Ironing boards or iron safe surface

● Parchment paper

● Velcro

● Hot glue

Activity Instructions

After teaching about sustainability and the importance ofupcycling materials to prevent them from going into thelandfill, try some art with plastic bags!

● Grades 2-4: Have students make plastic bag bracelets. Thiscan be done by cutting the bags into strips. Create some“plarn” (plastic yarn) and then either braiding them orweaving them, and finally taping or tying them to finish. How to make plarn video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQwTcizA7Oo

● Grades 5-8: Instead of bracelets, have older students createfused plastic sandwich wraps.

Worksheets

Engineering Design Challenge Worksheets

Lesson Plan

Download Lesson Plan