Everyone has lovely holiday and birthday cards they hate to throw away. At the beginning of the year, send out an alert for parents to save their old holiday and birthday cards. Create postcards by cutting off the side with the picture (if there’s no writing on the back) and using the blank side to create a postcard-like writing area and address area. Sell them at reuse sale at your school or other community gatherings. When you send postcards, you don’t have to use envelopes. This saves paper and energy costs!
Another good reuse project for older kids who can handle scissors and an iron safety is creating a reusable fabric gift bag. Ask parents for scrap materials donations for your classroom. Each child should cut out two 12” by 12” pieces. (Preferably, use borrowed pinking sheers from parents). You can precut the square patterns out of cereal boxes to make it easier for the kids, or challenge their measuring abilities by having them draw it on the fabric themselves. Instead of sewing together the pieces, use glue tape or fusible webbing to iron the seams together (both are available at craft or fabric stores). Iron three sides together. On the open side, punch holes to weave in one long piece of yarn. Pull the two ends of the yarn together around the gift and create a nice bow. This can be reused over and over again.