3Rs- Cereal Box Folders
Eco-Schools Topic:
Consumption and Waste
Grade Level:
Grades 2-8
Standards:
Earth Pattern, Cycles and Change
5.7g human impact
Guiding Question:
How can we reduce, reuse and
recycle our “trash?”
Lesson Objectives:
Students will…
1. Learn the negative
implications of waste.
2. Realize that “trash” can
be repurposed into useful
items.
3. Understand the basic
differences between
reduce, reuse and recycle.
4. Be creative and have fun
Links & Resources:
Prezi Presentation
How to Make A Cereal Box Folder
What can and can’t be recycled in
the county?
http://www.fcps.edu/is/science/
get2green/documents/FCPSRecyc
lesList.pdf
http://www.fcps.edu/fts/facmana
gement/paperglassmetal.shtml
Materials:
o 2 Cereal Boxes
o Thick, sturdy Scotch Tape
o Scissors
Prep:
o Two weeks in advance, ask teacher to ask students to bring in cereal boxes
o One week in advance of lesson, check in with teachers to see how many
there are so that you know how many to collect.
Engaging INTRO
o Pose questions to the students to see what they already know
o Who knows what the 3Rs, are?
o What do we consider to be “trash?”
Exploratory ACTIVITY
o Make A Cereal Box Folder (See instructions below)
o [Or you can use any of the upcycling crafts- keep in mind the material
change]
Expanding the DISCUSSION
Use prezi powerpoint or explain using guide below
o How does making cereal box folders help the environment?
o How can we use “trash” to make something useful?
o What is the difference between reduce, reuse, and recycle? What is the
ideal option?
o Reduce (Best): Choose not to use in use in the first place (buy less)
o Reuse: Buy something once and use it a lot
o Ex. Starbuck’s recyclable $1 Cup
o Reusable water bottle
o Recycle: The end of one item means the beginning of another!
o Ex. Compost, Cereal Boxes  Folders
o Last option: Recycling Bin
o Very last option (Worst): Trash Can
o
What are the problems with trash? What are some of the negative
effects of consumption/waste? Where does trash go?
1. More money (to buy new things)
2. More pollution (trash in landfill/ incinerator)
3. More energy (all the steps to get to trash dump).
o
o
o
What do you do to reduce your waste?
What do you ( K-8 students) do in your community to decrease your waste?
What is a change you will make in your lifestyle to reduce your waste?
Have questions? Contact recycling
coordinator,
Scott.Larson@fcps.edu
703-764-2459
With a little bit of knowledge, we can ESLI make a difference
Cereal Box Folders
Evaluate WHAT’S BEEN LEARNED:
o Assessment: Instructor cuts recycled (preferably colored) paper into fourths, and have each student write
their personal goal to achieve the 3 Rs on the back of their paper. Display student responses in classroom (if
able include a picture of student with their recyclable folder or group photo).
Additional Information:

A drop more simple: Note that adding the fold on each side of these cereal box folders are a little more
complex and therefore aimed for 5th grade and on. However, this activity can very easily be adapted for
younger ages by skipping step15 and just aligning the inside pocket to the same width as the cereal box it is
resting on. Then, you would just use tape to attach each side of the pocket to the cereal box folder instead of
creating side folds.
With a little bit of knowledge, we can ESLI make a difference
How to Make a Cereal Box Folder
Materials
o 1 & 1/2 Cereal Boxes
o Thick, sturdy Scotch Tape
o Scissors
Steps
First Cereal Box- The Outside
1) Take a cereal box
2) Open the tabs on the top and bottom
3) Cut along the long fold to open the cereal box completely so that one side is
cardboard and the other side has the cereal box design
4) Open so the cardboard side is facing up
5) Cut the tabs on the top and bottom in half horizontally
The Inside Pocket
6) Take the other cereal box and open it up like you did with the first so the cardboard
side is facing up
7) Cut the whole cereal box in half horizontally
8) Cut off bottom tabs
9) Align flap onto open cardboard side of folder, so that creases align and this flap can
become the folder pocket
10) Practice opening and closing folder with pocket inside to ensure crease is placed on
right spot
11) Trim the sides of the pocket so that the outside edge can fold on top of the pocket
Back to whole cereal box
12) Cut a ½ inch off the ends of each tab (each four corners), so it looks like you cut off a
1in by 1in square on each of the four corners
13) Fold over top tabs on top of the cardboard side and tape down with clear tape.
14) Do the same with the bottom tab on top of the pocket
15) Fold the side tabs over the cardboard and pocket
o Note: you will have to make these yourself- to do this fold over an inch wide
of the design part on top of the cardboard and pocket
 This is the hardest part for many people because it does not appear
natural- press down hard for a minute
16) Tape these side tabs down
17) Make a cut into the side tabs (where the pocket meets the tab) from the inside
(scissor ends pointing to the outside) to enlarge pockets
18) Put another piece of scotch tap on side tabs above the pocket to secure tabs down
19) Close cereal box folder and put heavy textbooks on it for a few days to flatten
20) Voila- A Cereal Box Folder!
With a little bit of knowledge, we can ESLI make a difference