From Plastic Bags to Eco-Wallets – SCOPES-DF
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Lesson Details

Subjects *
Arts, Technology
Age Ranges *
14-18,
Fab Tools *
Heat Press, Sewing Machine, Classroom Materials, Hand Tools,
Author
Amany Ayman

Author

Amany Ayman
Amany Ayman
Informal educator
I am a dedicated STEM education specialist in Fab Lab Egypt, with a passion for delivering innovative and engaging learning experiences. As a certified Fab Academy graduate, I have a strong foundation in digital fabrication, CAD design, electronics, and programming.… Read More

Summary

Participants explore how everyday choices (like accepting plastic bags at stores) affect our planet. They’ll discover plastic’s journey into oceans and landfills, brainstorm eco-friendly alternatives (e.g., cloth bags), and transform “waste” into value by making recycled plastic wallets using Fab Lab tools (irons/heat presses + sewing). This hands-on session links quick decisions to long-term environmental action through making.

What You'll Need

 

Lesson Materials

Learning Objectives

After this session, the participant will:

  • Describe how plastic bags harm nature (wildlife, water, soil).
  • Identify 1–2 ways to refuse/reduce plastic in daily routines (e.g., reusable bags).
  • Repurpose plastic bags into durable objects (a wallet) using heat fusion and basic sewing.
  • Explain why reusing plastic is better than throwing it away.

 

Reflection

This lesson’s supermarket scenario instantly hooks students—it’s relatable and sparks lively debate about daily choices. The hands-on wallet activity is where engagement peaks: watching ‘trash’ transform into a functional object through heat fusion and sewing creates powerful ‘aha!’ moments about reuse. Students especially connect with the emotional shift from guilt (accumulating plastic) to empowerment (making something useful). In a controlled environment, watching trash become treasure makes sustainability feel tangible and urgent.

 

The Instructions

Plastic’s Hidden Journey (from home to the ocean)

Here, we will gain the students' attention by examining a situation from daily life, then discuss with them the impact of our choices on the environment. Please review the lesson presentation in the Lesson Attachments!

  1. Ask the participants, “Imagine you’re at the checkout with a full cart—fruits, cereal, cleaning supplies. The cashier starts packing them into 10 plastic bags. You’re in a hurry. What do you do?”
  2. Pause for quick participant shout-outs (e.g., “Accept them,” “Say no!”).
  3. Follow up on the story and ask, “You unpack groceries. Where do most plastic bags end up? (Trash? Drawer? Floor?)” Guide toward “thrown away.
  4. Follow up on the story and ask, “What happens AFTER your trash can?”
  5. Ask, “ Where do you think this plastic bag will end up in the future?”
  6. Explain that his bag might travel 1,000 miles to the ocean. Then continue, “What animals could it harm? HOW?”
  7. Highlight that “By 2050, ocean plastic could OUTWEIGH fish.” (Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation)” 
  8. After saying those facts, and knowing this damage, do you think you will change your mind about the supermarket situation? Does this change your 3-second choice?
  9. Take students’ answers, then ask, “What will you use instead? Are there other options?”

 

Trash into treasure Intro

What if there is still plastic? Let's upcycle it to make a wallet!

  1. Ask, “You did everything you could, and your home is plastic bag-free! Yay! But what if plastic bags STILL enter your home? (e.g., gifts, relatives). Is throwing them away the only option?”
  2. With a Superhero attitude, announce that we won’t let that plastic bag reach the ocean! What if we turn TRASH into TREASURE? Let’s make something USEFUL!”
  3. We will now see together how we could turn trash into treasure! We will reuse plastic bags to make a wallet!”

 

Making the wallet

Here are the steps for making the wallet usingthe heat press and then sewing it. First, cut different colors of plastic bags, and gather them casually, or make a drawing

Heat Press

Iron them, or put them inside a heat press (NOTE: Teacher supervision in this step is critical to avoid accidents.)

Wallet template

Cut the plastic sheet using the wallet template

Sewing the wallet!

Final step, sew the wallet together and add the flap!

Wallet

Here is the final wallet! YAY!

Reflection

Here we will wrap-up all the activities and discussions we made today!

  1. Encourage students to reflect on today’s subject by asking:
  2. Plastic bags are just one pollutant. What other single-use items (bottles, wrappers) could we tackle with similar making projects?
  3. How did melting/sewing plastic shift your view of ‘trash’? Could this method work for other plastics (e.g., packaging, broken toys)?
  4. What is one realistic step you can take this week to reduce your plastic consumption? What might make it difficult?

 

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