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The “Earring bottle caps” activity is part of the FabConnectHer project, which helps young women get inspired, learn new skills, and find opportunities in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and maths).
In this lesson, students learn how to turn used plastic bottle caps into colourful earrings. They melt the plastic into flat sheets, design shapes, and then cut them out using a laser cutter. At the end, they attach clips to make their earrings ready to wear.
The activity mixes creativity with technology and shows how waste can be given a new life. Students learn about recycling and upcycling while also practising safe use of tools like an oven, heat press, and laser cutter. They build confidence by designing their own ideas and making something unique step by step.
The lesson is made for small groups of students from middle school to college, especially girls and young women aged 11–30 who are interested in art, design, and technology. By the end, each student has their own eco-friendly earrings and a first experience with design and digital making. It is a fun way to see how creativity and sustainability can go together.
Materials Needed:
Safety Precautions & tips:
Preparation
This activity gives students a first experience with turning waste into something new and valuable. By recycling plastic bottle caps into earrings, they see how simple everyday materials can be transformed into creative products. The process combines design, technology, and sustainability, helping students understand both the importance of recycling and the fun of making their own jewellery.
Students practise problem-solving when working with the oven, heat press, and laser cutter, and they learn to handle materials and tools safely. They also gain confidence by seeing their ideas become real, wearable objects. Working in small groups allows them to share ideas, help each other, and celebrate their results together.
In the end, students not only take home a pair of unique, eco-friendly earrings but also leave with new skills and a better understanding of how creativity and technology can work together to protect the environment.
In the introduction, students are welcomed to the lesson and learn what they will be doing: making earrings from recycled plastic. The teacher explains the goal of the activity and why recycling is important. Students see how waste materials, like plastic bottle caps, can be given a second life in creative ways. To inspire them, examples of earrings made from recycled plastic are shown.
Students collect and sort bottle caps, then melt them in the oven to prepare the plastic for shaping.
Students flatten the melted plastic into thin, even sheets using a press or heat tools and let it cool completely.
Alternative using heat press or heat gun to heat up the plastic and press.
Students create or choose designs, transfer them onto the plastic sheets, and cut them out safely using a laser cutter.
Students smooth the edges of their designs and attach clips to finish making wearable earrings.
Students share their finished earrings, reflect on the process, and discuss other creative recycling ideas.
Students clean up their workspace, review what they learned, and reflect on the value of recycling and creative making.
Cleanup (10 minutes)
Conclusion (10 minutes)
Students can extend the activity by exploring new design inspirations, such as nature, and by experimenting with other materials like plexiglass or wood.
Extension activities
The exercise can be repeated with a greater emphasise on design elements. Using nature for example as an inspiration of form and cutting out in plexi or wood, see additional resources for inspiration.
Additional Notes:
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