Recycle Town!
We are all about being frugal and recycling at our house and after a certain someone got a new recycling truck for going potty consistently we decided to make a recycled town for the new truck to drive around. This has been a big hit with my son, and because the store fronts can be changed up, or just taken off the boxes can be used to play store , for another craft or finally make their way into the blue bin at the end of your drive way.
- Gather your materials. You will need some cereal boxes, and smaller boxes ( like mac and cheese, or cracker boxes), scissors, markers, and tape. You will need a box and a half for each building. Don’t forget your recycling truck!
- Start by talking with your child and deciding what to draw, I drew our buildings but if your child wants to , go for it! My son decided on a church, fire station and the aquarium. Make as many or as few buildings as you wish.
- Open up the cereal boxes and draw inside.
- Have your child color the buildings if you drew them.
- While they color, draw some roadway.
- Hand them the road way when they are done with the buildings and let them at it !
- Cut out the buildings and roadway.
- Tape store fronts to the full boxes.
- PLAY!
Song!
My Backyard!
Don’t throw your junk in my backyard,
my backyard,
my backyard ,
Don’t throw your junk in my backyard,
my back yard’s full!
Rocks and trees and butterflies
butterflies,
butterflies,
Rocks and trees and butterflies
Dirt and leaves and bugs!’
Don’t throw your junk in my backyard,
my backyard,
my backyard,
Don’t throw your junk in my backyard ,
my backyard’s full!
Books !
” The Berenstain Bears Don’t Pollute ( anymore) “ by Stan and Jan Berenstain provides an excellent overview of a whole bunch of concerns for our world. It touches on recycling, deforestation, air pollution and more. The text would be far too long for the younger crowd but Pre-K on up would be an appropriate age range.
” The Whole Green World” by Tony Johnston is a celebration of the Earth and it’s beauty. The text is short enough to hold young children’s attention and the illustrations by Elisa Kleven are bright and so detailed you will fall in love! I think it’s important to teach our children to see the beauty of the Earth, especially when we are teaching them to conserve it!
Mike says
Love My Backyard.
Mike
http://somethingaboutparenting.typepad.comTwitter: AboutParenting
Beverly says
so cute!
Valerie says
I love this! I did something similar with my daughter, and she played with her “town” all afternoon. Cute song too!
Melinda says
this is another FAVE
shae points to herself like you do LOL
Jennifer says
Very nice. I want to do something like this to go with our wooden trains.
MaryAnne says
Great idea!
Spring says
I’ve never left a comment on your blog but I wanted to say thanks for all the good ideas! You are such a good mom. I’ve been reading your blog for awhile to get ideas to do with my little ones. So, thanks for sharing your creative juices!
sharon says
Love this idea and cannot wait to try with my grandsons. You have so many great ideas and they are so helpful to educate while having fun! We did the recycling center and they both loved it(ages 2 and 4) and they played all day. The 4 year old came up with some other objects to recycle.
Jennifer says
I have been meaning to do this with my little boy for awhile and started this morning. We also decided to make a car wash out of a yogurt drink box that is open on both ends and cut some construction paper strips to hang inside to “wash” cars driving through. Thanks, as always for your ideas and inspiration!
Anderson's Mommy says
My son and I did this a few months ago and he had a blast! Unfortunately, my husband threw away the stores and roads so we will be starting again! Thanks again for sharing!