20 Reusable Household Items for the Classroom

You probably didn’t realize that many of the household items and containers you throw away can actually be reused for you and your students. Many items can be used for organizing materials, projects, arts and crafts and more.

Demonstrating these eco-friendly habits to students teaches them to be more environmentally aware, which helps support sustainability efforts in the long term! You can bring these items in yourself or tell your students to bring them in to really place them in a sustainable headspace. Here are 20 creative ways to reuse and recycle everyday items in the classroom.

1. Butter and frosting containers - for holding crayons, markers, colored pencils, and other supplies
2. Yogurt cups - for holding paint during crafty activities
3. Egg cartons - can hold paint and be used for sorting small items like paper clips, googly eyes, beads, or glitter
4. Cardboard containers - material for craft projects
5. Hair dye bottles - for glue containers
6. Paper bags - for making costumes, face masks, and puppets
7. Old jewelry - pretty details on projects and holiday ornaments
8. Magazines and newspapers - cut out the pictures and make collages, inspiration for writing assignments 
9. Wrapping paper - make paper chains, collages, and origami
10. Laundry baskets - store supplies, toys and stuffed animals, and clothes for dressing up
11. Baby wipe containers - perfect for holding markers, crayons, colored pencils, scissors, dice, stones, and much more
12. Cereal boxes - surface for painting, making instruments, or making book covers
13. Water bottle caps - used for game pieces, arts and crafts, and decorations. Encourage students to collect as many as they can, color them, and make a bottle cap tree, earth or flower to be placed in the classroom.
14. Shredded paper - use for special projects to stuff pillows or bears
15. Hangers - hang student projects around the classroom
16. Jars - perfect for organizing items
17. Tires - make a tire swing or a flower bed 
18. Tissue boxes - cut off the top and place materials like colored pencils, markers, glue sticks or paint brushes
19. Glass bottles and cans - use for a class project to make instruments or grow plants
20. Toilet paper rolls - great for class arts and crafts projects

All of these items can easily be found in your home, and it only takes one simple step to make a huge difference in sustainability efforts. By using these in your classroom, you are not only helping the environment but also teaching these good habits to students.

Sustainability Superheroes created a workshop where K-12 teachers turned trash into treasure and learned ideas on sustainable projects and activities they can do with their students. See what they learned and created here. 

If you would like to attend a workshop, you can register here and see what's coming up next!