Music is a way for preschoolers to engage in lessons. Help students create their own instruments from recycled materials such as used cardboard and plastic. For example, use an empty tissue box wrapped in rubber bands and insert a paper towel roll into one side to create a guitar. Empty plastic containers filled with dry beans can become maracas, coffee cans can become drums, and paper towel rolls can be painted and cut to make a flute.
Encourage preschoolers to appreciate nature and wildlife with recyclable materials. Make birdhouses and bird feeders from recyclable materials and place outdoors to encourage feathered friends. For example, help students cut out one side of a plastic milk jug to make room for birds to perch. Suspend the jug from a ceiling overhang or branch, or mount to a post. Instead of a plastic milk jug, you can use a milk carton as the birdhouse. Cut a small hole in the side for the bird to enter. Fill with birdseed and a cup of water.
Newspapers are an easy to recycle material that can be used in the classroom in any number of ways. Papier-mache, French for "chewed paper," is an easy class activity that can yield a large amount of class projects. Help preschoolers blow up a balloon and tie the end closed. Dip the newspaper strips in paste made of flour and water. Arrange over the base of the balloon to create the desired sculpture. Once the layers of paper mache are dry, paint or decorate as desired.
Scrap cardboard and aluminum foil can create interesting mobiles for preschoolers to display in their rooms. Help the students cut a piece of cardboard into a desired shape, such as a flower, moon or car. Wrap the cardboard in strips of foil or paint as desired. Tape strips of yarn to the bottom of the shape. Attach beads or pieces of decorative paper to the end of the yarn with tape or glue.