This is a super fun project that any kid would love! The materials are very easy to find, and your students can even bring them in from home. They include empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls, extra paper or construction paper, paper plates and snack containers. The video features four different kinds of DIY musical instruments, and yes, they make cool noises too! ​

Let your students design their very own plant pots or pencil holders by having them bring in aluminum cans from home. The materials needed vary depending on how your students may want to decorate, but this generally requires no more than four materials. All that is needed for this project is a can and some materials to design and decorate like hot glue, paint, string, glitter and/or stickers. ​

This project only requires a few items, which are an empty bag of potato chips, a bottle cap, paper, scissors and a hot glue gun. It involves a lot of simple cuts and gluing, so it can definitely be done by most grade levels. The ending results are beautiful and shiny flowers! These could also be used as decoration in a classroom. ​

Your students will definitely enjoy being creative with these projects. When doing projects with your students, not every single material has to be a reusable household item. Even incorporating one or two reusable items can make a huge difference and teach students to be resourceful. 

Head on over to our resources page for lesson plans, videos, activities and more for inspiration on what you can teach your students about sustainability!

Mrs. Kara Windish is a middle school teacher at Learning Gate Community School in Lutz, Florida and is passionate about teaching sustainability to her students. With her school's focus on sustainability, environmental concepts are infused across the curriculum, even in subjects like Ancient World History! 
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This year, during her class on ancient civilizations, the students were given a challenge in the form of a Sumerian Shark Tank. The objective was to create a service or product that the ancient citizens would use to make their lives easier using the ideas of today. Sounds a lot like the regular Shark Tank, doesn't it? Well it's not! It's even better. During Kara's Shark Tank, students were not only trying to make money. They were trying to make the world a better place. This was a green and gold Shark Tank, where students infused green sustainability practices into their business plans and still were able to see the pot of gold! 

The participants were required to include a sustainability plan. They were asked to find a problem in ancient Sumer that addressed one of the seven characteristics of civilization. From there, they created a product or a business that solved one of life's problems in that time. In addition, they were required to consider the Sustainable Development Goals (or SDGs) when they were creating their businesses. They had to either to create a sustainable product or describe the sustainability practices that their company will adopt.

The sharks go through a rigorous process of training, anywhere from creating their own backstory and bio to discussing current jobs and salaries. Sharks are encouraged to watch several episodes of Shark Tank so they can find their personality. Each shark focuses on a characteristic of civilization so that the entrepreneurs have a shark in mind. In Sumerian Shark Tank, characteristics can include art, religion, farming, and architecture. The entrepreneurs pitch several products that fall into those categories. 

The students are coached on how to make a sixty-second pitch to the sharks. In these sixty seconds, the sharks can decide whether they want to make an offer. So, it is important to have enthusiasm, confidence, and knowledge of your product. Students create original songs, slogans, dances, and outfits to stand out to the sharks and show their business creativity. The pitch laid out the percentage of the company they are willing to part with, as well as the money they are seeking from the sharks. This mathematical part of the activity is created in conjunction with the mathematics teacher, who is teaching percentages as part of their curriculum. 

When the sharks decided if the business was worth their money and time, a deal most likely was made. Most often deals were made when students were well-prepared, gave samples to the sharks, stated their sustainability practices, and of course, for the right price!