13 Ways to Use a Plastic Grocery Bag
A
lowly plastic grocery sack may not seem like a versatile
tool for the classroom, but don't overlook all the uses
for this free and easy-to-find item. Start with these ideas,
then build on your own brainstorms:
Create Textures
Wrap sacks around toilet paper tubes or paint rollers. Roll over wet paint-covered
paper to create textures.
Paper Mache
Inflate and tie shut, then cover with paper mache for pinatas or replicas
of globes or the solar system.
Weaving
Cut into strips and weave together or braid.
Strength
Test
Use rock or sand to test the strength of the handles or the bag itself.
Measure weight by hanging the bag from a fish scale.
Landfill
Estimation
Estimate the difference of mass of plastic bags and paper sacks when
tossed in the landfill. Calculate for a household per year, and for an
entire city per year.
Ecology Time
Capsule
Try testing the biodegradability of plastic bags over several months.
Bury outdoors and dig up before school lets out for the summer.
Guessing
Game
Put small items in a bag and tie shut. Students guess contents by feel
only.
Substitute
Sack
Leave a gift bag for a substitute teacher with a can of soda (or money
to buy one), snacks and a thank you note. Tie shut with ribbon.
Nature Study
Bags are handy to send home with each student to bring leaves, seeds,
plants or anything else you might need for science projects.
Clean Up
Keep on hand as containers for wet clothes, leaky lunches
or other messes in the classroom.
Rainy Days
A bag easily folds and fits in a pocket on field trips as an emergency
cover for a cell phone, pager or camera. Use two as shoe coverings.
Classroom
Tote
Store mini blackboards or whiteboards and their related supplies, one
per student. Also use for markers and other art supplies.
How to Store
Spread flat and stack, then lay a large book on top of the stack. All
the air will be pushed out and they'll take up nearly no room at all.
