Create Craft
5 Exciting STEM Projects Using Recycled Materials
I always wanted to try out new science projects when I was a kid. However, I was unaware of how pricey STEM and science kits could be at the time. My mother then began using original ideas in the projects we completed. We started using things from around the house that otherwise would have ended up in the trash or recycling bins instead of going to the store and buying brand-new kits that would be useful for one or two projects.
It’s the ideal opportunity to be inventive with those toilet paper rolls and seeds you would typically just throw now that more kids are staying at home!
STEM Projects Using Recycled Materials
1. Egg Drop Challenge
a well-liked family-friendly experiment that lots of us carried out in our physics and engineering courses in high school and the early years of college. It’s exciting to be creative with because there isn’t a predetermined list of items you can use. The objective is to construct a container that can shield an egg from a high fall, which could occur from a porch, patio, the top of your stairs, or some other unusual point.
This project is particularly fantastic in my opinion since it allows you and your children or classmates to express your creativity. The choices are practically unlimited! Make a parachute out of recycled paper and twine or a base out of sponges and toilet paper rolls! Children will need to cooperate and problem-solve in order to complete this project in groups and prevent the eggs from breaking when they are dropped. Here you can get inspiration and more thorough instructions.
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2. Liquid Fireworks
Have you ever heard of liquid fireworks in a jar? Everyone has heard of the lava lamp in a bottle. Although more entertaining and original, this project adheres to many of the same fundamental guidelines as the DIY lava lamps.
You only need:
- a clean glass jar for sauce
- hot water
- Oil
- the colourant
A small dish should include 3 to 4 teaspoons of oil with several drops of food colouring dispersed throughout. Combine the oil and food dye. Your jar should be around 3/4 full of warm water when you add the oil and food colouring combination. You can now enjoy a safe fireworks display in the comfort of your own home or classroom. You can go here for more thorough instructions and an explanation of the science underlying this project.
3. Recycled Garden
My particular favourite is this one. Your kids will be able to learn about the life cycles of plants, and depending on what you plant, you might end up with some delectable vegetables that you grew yourself. For the pots, I used a variety of recyclable materials. For instance, I’ve made use of used tissue boxes, sauce jars, tin cans, and old egg cartons. Choose your preferred base, add some gravel, pebbles, or marbles to the bottom, and then cover it with dirt. I usually collect the seeds from the fruits and vegetables I already have in my house. Bell pepper seeds make a good place to start because they are so simple. Put your new garden in a sunny location, water it, and then watch the seeds grow.
Even food scraps that would otherwise be thrown away, including eggshells, kitchen scraps, and coffee grounds from the morning cup (or four), can be used to manufacture your own fertiliser. For plants like tomatoes, which thrive in slightly acidic soil, I personally use coffee grounds.
If you have the room and want to grow even more, you can use watermelon or pumpkin seeds to sow in the ground outside. It seems to work best if the seeds are given some time to spread out in a damp paper towel and used plastic bag that is kept open for about a week. Additionally, this gives the kids a clearer view of a plant’s early phases of development.
4. Crystalized Words
Everyone has seen the kits for producing crystals in craft stores, but did you know you can manufacture your own to make the activity even more enjoyable and make your own shapes, letters, and even words? What child wouldn’t want their name encrusted with sparkling stones? Even I desire to have my name engraved.
This project calls for:
tee shirts
- Clean recycled fishing line is preferred!
- wood skewers or used pencils
- large jar of sauce
- the colourant
- Borax
Pipe cleaners will be used to create the forms, which will then be hung in the coloured water-borax mixture from pencils or wooden skewers using fishing line and left to sit overnight. You’ll have your very own gems in the morning!
5. Planting Buddy
Another unrestricted chance awaits you and your children or classmates with this endeavour. The goal is to build a tool that assists with seed planting. You can utilise any items you have lying around that would’ve been thrown out, just as the Egg Drop Challenge project. I enjoy making my device out of used but clean straws, cardboard boxes that I can cut into different shapes, small plastic or paper cups, and used tissue boxes. Unless you and your child are particularly handy and have small motors lying around, it isn’t motorised, but I believe hand power is far more effective. Here is a video to get you started if you need some motivation:
For even more recycled gardening and planting fun, if you’re feeling very adventurous, you may combine this project with the Recycled Garden project.