Grade levels: All 

Introduction: 300 million tons of paper is produced every year in the world and out of that, 85 million are wasted.  (RecordNations) The UN's Sustainable Development Goal #12 goal aims for sustainable consumption and production, therefore it is our job to recycle and reuse as much as we can. This activity will teach other ways we can use our recycled paper.

Activity:

• Better done with someone for extra fun!

• Choose one of these activities to do:

  •  snowflakes

  • doll chain

  • penguins   

  • Feel free to look on youtube for more paper crafts

Key Takeaways:

• Encourages children to always find ways to reduce our trash and reuse materials

• Helps explain "One man's trash is another man's treasure" 

Grade levels: All 

Related to: SDG #7, SDG #11, SDG #12, SDG #13

Introduction: One of handmade paper's major advantages is that it is 100 percent recycled and free of wood. The rich texture of handmade paper also makes it ideal for drawing, writing, book binding, rubber stamping and more.

Activity: Watch and follow the tutorial of this video. 

Key Takeaways:

• Promoting the reduction of waste 

• Students better appreciate the sheer value of paper and are encouraged to reuse material

Grade Levels: All

Related SDGs: Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life on Land

Intro: Upcycling is a form of recycling where we transform unwanted products and waste materials into new products with more values. This allows minimizing waste and reduces the needs for production with new materials as the main purpose is to improve the lifespan of resources using creativity. 

Activity: 

1. Select waste or unwanted materials from their households. 

2. Sketch out a design of the reformed products with detailed planning of each steps.

Examples: 

• Pencil Holder

• Plant Pot

• Phone Holder

• Christmas Decoration

3. Makeover from waste to useable products! 

Take Aways: 

• Creative thinking and problem solving

• Learn to reuse and add values to unwanted materials

• Improve lifespan of resources 

Related SDGs: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; Sustainable Cities and Communities; Affordable and Clean Energy

Grade levels: All

Intro: In this activity, students will use their knowledge of environmental problems, science, and creativity to design their own product that can help the world in some way. It may be an appliance, a machine, or a city layout! Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Compost system

• Air freshener

• Grey water irrigation system layout

• Recycled fashion

• Biofuel vehicles (cars, trucks, bikes, or anything you can imagine!)

• Planting/Harvesting machine

• Smart lighting

• Sustainable city blueprint (with labels and details on how the system functions in terms of energy, roads, safety, and education)

Activity:

1.  Students will create a drawing of their own sustainable product. Encourage them to think creatively, and make sure to add color and labels!

2. They may also wish to consider a suitable price for the product and advertising tactics

3. At the end of class, they will present their plans and advertise their product to the rest of the class, explaining how it functions, and what makes it sustainable

Takeaways:

• Creative thinking and problem solving

• Navigating potential solutions to climate change

• Introduction to product design, advertising, and brand purpose

Related SDGs: Sustainable Cities and Communities; Affordable and Clean Energy; Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Grade levels: All

Intro: In this activity, each student will use their knowledge of environmental problems and sustainable energy to design their dream house that is efficient and may reduce carbon emissions. It may be a suburban home, a backyard, a van, a building, or an entire city! 

Example #1

Example #2

Example #3

Example #4

(No need to watch all of them, but students may use them for reference if they so wish.)

Activity:

1.  Students will create a drawing or blueprint of their own sustainable home. Encourage them to think creatively, and make sure to add color and labels! Here are some ideas for facilities to include:

• Solar panels

• Energy efficient air-conditioner replacement

• Grey water system

• Compost system

• Garden 

• Construction material (recycled wood, concrete, eco-bricks, etc)

• They may also wish to consider a suitable price for the product and advertising tactics

2. At the end of class, they will present their plans and advertise their house to the rest of the class, explaining how it functions, and what makes it sustainable

Takeaways:

• Creative thinking and problem solving

• Navigating potential solutions to climate change

• Introduction to product design, advertising, and brand purpose

Related to: *Possibly all SDG goals (depending on how creative you get) 

Intro: Leaders that support sustainability build and restore ecosystems that encourage broad-based quality improvement. They help people adapt and thrive in increasingly dynamic environments by allowing them to benefit from one another's diverse behaviors.

Activity:

1) Make a sketch, painting, digital edit, or sculpture inspired by the individual who inspires you.

2) Include visuals regarding who they are, what they do, how they inspire others, etc. 

3) Share your findings in breakout rooms of three! 

Takeaways:

• Students recognize the importance and value of sustainable leadership 

• Students broaden their horizons by learning about a variety of leaders