Trash to Treasure: Using Recyclables in Physical Activity Settings

Abstract

Americans produce approximately 250 million tons of trash every year, and almost 35 percent of those are of recyclable materials. There are over 1,200 landfills in the United States, and many have caused and will potentially cause significant damage to the environment. It is important for the next generation to know that what is perceived as “trash” can be made into something “valuable” and fun. The purpose of the article is to provide physical educators with helpful ideas for using recyclable items in various physical activity settings. Steps for making hoops and agility ladders from newspapers and magazines, dice from cereal boxes, jump ropes from plastic bags, and hand-held stilts from coffee cans are illustrated. Ideas such as balancing a tennis ball on a milk jug and building an obstacle course with cardboard boxes are also demonstrated. Finally, three physical activities using these recyclables are presented.