Green Horizons: Environmental Literacy for Kids and Families

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We appreciated the rare opportunity to reach a new audience through the OPB program and the groups who received information and workshops.

Teri Thomas Petersen, SCRAP

Activity: Fabric Bags

Ages 5-11, Time Needed: 1 hour

Reuse scraps of fabric to create a bag that you can use to carry your lunch, groceries, books or as the “wrapping” for a present.

Note: Adults should be present to supervise this activity.

Materials

1. fabric scraps
2. buttons
3. beads
4. scissors
5. glue gun
6. hole punch and yarn, cord or ribbon (optional)

Procedure:

1. Cut two equal-sized squares of fabric. 9" x 12" squares work well. Cut one 1" x 16" length of fabric to use as handles for the bag. (You can also cut two 1" x 8" lengths of fabric and connect them, or use any desired length).
2. Use the glue gun to secure the 2 fabric squares together along the bottom and 2 sides of the “bag,” leaving the top open. (Some children may like to use 3 squares of fabric to create an extra section or pocket inside their bags.)
3. Optional: Instead of using the glue gun, “sew” the fabric squares together. To help children sew, punch holes in the fabric with the hole punch. Kids can use yarn, heavy cord or ribbon as “thread” to sew three sides of the fabric bag together. (Sewing provides you with an opportunity to teach pre-math skills. Young children may not be familiar with the concept of “going in order” to put thread through the holes.)
4. Using the glue gun, secure the handles to the sides of the bag.
5. Using the glue gun, decorate the outside of the bag with yarn, buttons, smaller fabric scraps, beads or whatever you have handy.