Intended End User: Teacher
Age Group: Upper Primary; Lower Secondary
School Curriculum: Science; Social & Environment Science; Arts
Themes and Topics: Behaviour & Lifestyle; Collective Action; Environmental Change; Economics; Food and Agriculture
Duration: 2-4 weeks
Type of Resource: Demonstration, Experiment, Lesson Plans, Project
Keywords:Â Upcycling; Sustainability; Plant Growth; Recycling
Languages: English
Description
This resource presents a hands-on activity for students to explore sustainability and plant biology by creating plantable seed paper. Using shredded recycled paper, students make new sheets embedded with seeds that can later sprout into plants. The activity connects science, art, and environmental education while fostering upcycling and waste reduction. It aligns with STEM and sustainability education goals, encouraging students to think critically about their ecological footprint and the circular economy. The experiment allows students to understand the importance of paper recycling, material decomposition, and plant growth, making it ideal for cross-disciplinary learning.
How to use this resource
This short-term, hands-on project engages students in creating plantable seed paper from recycled materials. Teachers facilitate discussions on sustainability, recycling, and the role of fertilizers in plant growth. Students then conduct experiments to observe how different types of seed paper affect plant development, fostering critical thinking and environmental stewardship.
The resources
The resource can be found here:
Learning Outcomes
- Elicit prior knowledge and further develop knowledge and comprehension of key Sustainability Citizenship key concepts, challenging established worldviews and values.
- Apply a range of suitable tools and frameworks to promote student Sustainability Citizenship
- Collaboratively synthesise the knowledge, tools and frameworks to create educational materials and lessons plans adapted to their own local context
Green Competencies
- Embodying Sustainable Values: Valuing Sustainability
- Embracing Complexity in Sustainability: Problem Framing
- Envisioning Sustainable Futures: Adaptability
- Acting for Sustainability: Collective Action
Creative Commons
“This project is linked to the Science Buddies guide “Upcycle Paper Products into Plantable Seed Paper”, available at Science Buddies. The resource is shared under the terms of the CC BY-NC-ND (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives) License, which allows for non-commercial use but does not permit modifications or derivative works. Proper attribution must be given to the original creators.”
SDGs
