Reimagine Earth Day Indoors

This year, Earth Day symbolizes more than being environmentally conscious. As you look forward to life post-pandemic, consider how to improve your habits to positively impact the planet. This Earth Day, use this activity and get creative. If you’re unable to go outside, think about how you can repurpose household materials to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Repurpose Household Items

One way you can celebrate Earth Day is to finally do something with all those items you’ve been saving in case you can use them someday. Here are some ideas to get you started.

1. Use pasta jars, Mason jars, condiment jars, and other types of containers to hold hair ties, nails, and other small items. If you have items lying around and just don’t know where to put them, try a jar.
   
   Some areas do not recycle glass, so repurposing a glass container reduces waste. Create labels with markers and paper, and use clear packing tape to laminate the label onto the container. Reuse Mason jars as vases for fresh flowers. The possibilities are endless!
   
   
   
   
2. Make doll furniture out of unused scrubbing sponges. Use scissors, hot glue, and sponges to shape your couch or recliner. Have or help your kids create the design, and use hot glue to make the furniture more durable.
   
   
   
   
3. Decorate an aluminum can or baby formula container that includes a plastic lid, and turn it into a piggy bank or pencil and pen holder. Repurpose fabrics and use stickers or pieces of well-loved toys to create flair.

You will need scissors and a glue gun. If you are using a formula container, cut a slit in the plastic lid to easily deposit coins. Be sure to check the inside of the aluminum can or baby formula container. Use some hot glue and pipe cleaners to get rid of any rough edges.

Saving the planet doesn’t have to be dirty or arduous. Begin at home by reusing what you can to decorate, stay organized, and expand creative play. 

Check out our video to learn more about how to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Then, share your organization and decorating hacks in the comment section below.

Nicole Thompson is a contributing writer and editor to the Lincoln Learning blog. She brings more than a decade of experience in education, curriculum, and communications to her blogs. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a Master of Science in Instructional Leadership, with certifications in secondary English and Communications. Nicole is married with four children and has a spunky golden retriever named Cinder and a rescue dog named Annie Banannie.