teaching kids to recyle

Subject: Recycle Spare Clothes Buttons and yarn scraps

Hi Fellow "Tree Huggers", Over the years I've asked my friends to donate their old holiday cards (the ones they usually toss in the garbage after the holiday). I use them in my classroom with my first grade students. We keep the image and toss the portions written on in the recycle bin. Lots of folks responded and I am thankful.

Now I have another idea. I would like to know if anyone would like to donate spare clothes buttons and unused yarn scraps. These items are fun and safe for kids to work with. In the past we have used them to make frames, planters, holiday decoration. I've even incorporated them in my science and math lessons. So if you have a bunch of stuff gathering dust in a box, please let use help you put it to good use. All sizes and shapes are welcomed. If you are interested in making a donation, please contact me at: Working together we can begin to teach kids that recycle in fun and good for our planet.

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com

Reply to
bagitup
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As a part of our US history -- buttons always went into a button box! A button box was a real treasure to the women, who used and reused buttons. My grandmother and mother, and now I, wouldn't consider purchasing a button until sifting through the button box and being absolutely certain that the "right" button wasn't lurking inside just waiting to be used again. Anytime I have a worn out piece of clothing to be thrown away or torn into rags for the rag bag, I always cut off the buttons and add them to the button box! Grandma's button box was a wooden box with a hinged lid, about the size of a small shoe box, and Mama's button box was the same one Grandma had had, plus Grandma's buttons. My sister now has the box and buttons, and I started my own button box, which is a hinged tin.

As to yarn scraps, any that are large enough to knit a couple of square inches are saved, and later used as color accents in knitting projects. When I occasionally go on a clean-out frenzy I toss all extra skeins and balls into a large bag and donate them to the local senior citizens center, where they are turned into hats, scarves, and mittens for needy children. (There are many members there who love working with yarns but can't afford them, so they enjoy designing and making things for needy folks.) Wee little scraps of just a few inches of yarn are things I cut into pieces about 1" long, tuck into a bag, and then toss out in the yard for the birds during nesting season.

Reply to
Mary

It's not just US history!

Nor would I - but more often than not there's not exactly the right colour, the right size or sufficient of one design :-(

I had to buy eight buttons for my waistcoat, There were only six suitable ones in my store and it needed seven.

Mary

Reply to
Mary Fisher

That always happens to me, too. However, the button tin is always great if I lose ONE button from a blouse.

Higs, Katherine

Reply to
Katherine

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