Recycled plastic flowers
Get inventive with recycled plastic and make a bunch of flowers that will last a lifetime with this #WhatsInMyTray activity.
You will need…
- One Shallow (F1) Gratnells tray
- One sheet of Gratnells custom foam
- Recycled yoghurt pots, soda bottles, plastic shot glasses, etc.
- Permanent marker
- Greaseproof paper
- Wooden skewers
- Blue tac
- Ribbon
What to do…
- Wash out any old plastic pots that you have ensuring they are completely clean. Dry thoroughly
- Decorate your plastic pots in different patterns using permanent markers and allow to dry
- Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper and place your plastic pots onto it.
- Pop the baking tray into a warm oven and watch as your plastic pots shrink and curl into smaller shapes. You will only need to leave them in the oven for 30 seconds for the shape to change
- When removing the tray from the oven, be careful as both the tray and the pots will be very hot – please use oven gloves or protective hand gear
- Set the tray aside and allow the pots to cool completely before you touch them
- Once cooled, fix the melted plastic flowers to the end of a wooden skewer using blue tac (or a gluegun)
- Put your Gratnells custom foam into your tray and push your flowers into the foam to create a floral arrangement. You could also tie some smaller bunches together and push them into the foam.
Health and Safety
As with all Gratnells Learning Rooms What’s In My Tray activities you should carry out your own risk assessment prior to undertaking any of the activities with children.
Take special care when using an oven and working with hot plastic. Use oven gloves or protective hand gear when handling the hot items.