Have your students bring in empty cereal boxes from home. Collect paper that has only been used on one side from classrooms and staff offices. Pile the paper so that all the sheets are facing the same direction, blank-sides up. Cut the cereal box so that it is about one-half inch longer and one-half inch wider that the paper. Use a three-hole punch on all the pieces. Lay the cereal box pieces picture-side out in line with the stack of paper. Use metal rings from a craft store or even strong yarn or twine to bind all of the pieces together. You can make alterations to this projects by using small cereal boxes and cutting the paper smaller. You can use old album covers or any type of food packaging that is a stiff cardboard or card stock. These notebooks make good sketch pads to take on hikes for drawing pictures of the wonders of nature.
If you have magazines that need organizing in the classroom library, simply cut off the top of the cereal box with an angle down the side (a la the magazine organizers you by at the store). Voila! Organized.