Recycling Science Projects For Kids

You will be thrilled to know that there are tons of STEM activities you CAN do with recycled materials! Whether you call it eco-friendly, frugal, inexpensive, or cheap, it is possible that all kids can have an awesome STEM experience with very little out of pocket costs. Gather your resources, I mean your recycling bins, and let’s get started!

RECYCLING ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS FOR KIDS!

RECYCLING SCIENCE PROJECTS

What kinds of recyclables are perfect for these recycling activities below? Almost anything! Plastic bottles, tin cans, cardboard tubes and boxes, newspapers, old technology like computers and old CDs, and any odds or ends that look cool.

There are also many items like styrofoam and packaging materials that can be saved from the trash bin and upcycled into cool recycling projects.

MORE STEM RESOURCES

I like to keep a bin of supplies on-hand such as tape, glue, paper clips, string, scissors, markers, paper, rubber bands, and anything else you think your kids can use to build or engineer their recycling projects.

Looking for easy to print activities, and inexpensive problem-based challenges?

We have you covered…

Click below to get your quick and easy STEM challenges.

RECYCLING ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Check out the 20 recycling activities below by clicking on the links. I would also like to add that you can use your trash and recycling items to build boats to float, cars to go, and planes to fly. You can also look around and see what you already have to build structures for a quick STEM idea.

PAPER BAG STEM CHALLENGES

Check out these 7 STEM activities you can do with a few simple household items. Fill a paper bag or two with recyclables for these fun STEM challenges.

BUILD A CARDBOARD MARBLE RUN

Turn all your leftover cardboard tubes into something fun and useful with this marble run STEM activity.

BUILD A HAND CRANK WINCH

This is a great Earth Day STEM activity to make use of your collection of recyclables. Make a simple machine for kids with this hand crank winch project.

MAKE A DIY KALEIDOSCOPE

Design and create a DIY kaleidoscope for kids using recyclable materials for a simple recycling activity.

BUILD A DROID

A few recyclable materials and some imagination is all it takes to build a fun droid or robot with this cool recycling project.

CARDBOARD ROCKET SHIP

Make your own super fun rocket ship box from a large cardboard box.

TAKE APART A COMPUTER

Do you have kids who love to take things apart, broken or not broken? Why not let them take apart a computer, with a bit of assistance. My son thought this was the coolest recycling activity ever!

PLASTIC EGG CARTON CRAFT

RECYCLE CRAYONS

CARDBOARD TUBE BIRD FEEDER

MORE AWESOME RECYCLING IDEAS FOR KIDS

RECYCLED PLASTIC FLOWERS CRAFT Left Brian Craft Brain

SHRINKING PLASTIC CUP EXPERIMENT Left Brian Craft Brain

BUILDING WITH NEWSPAPERS Modern Parents Messy Kids

DIY RUBBERBAND RACE CAR Your Modern Dad

MAKE A BUBBLE SNAKE WITH A PLASTIC BOTTLE The Mum In The Mad House

RECYCLED SPINNING TOPS Artsy Momma

RECYCLED BALLOON POWERED CAR Hello Wonderful

BUILD A BRIDGE Inspiration Laboratories

I hope these recycling activities and projects are just what you need to fuel your kids’ passions for all things STEM or STEAM. I bet you will stumble onto more great ideas along the way!

I even bet you will create some awesome challenges of your own. All of these recycled STEM activities are a great springboard for your own creativity!