Build Educational Toys with Recycled Materials on International Day of Education
What International Day of Education Really Means for Kids
Every year, January 24 marks the International Day of Education, a global reminder that learning is not defined by walls, classrooms, or expensive tools—it is defined by curiosity, access, and opportunity. For children, education unfolds through exploration, tinkering, experimenting, and playing. This year, instead of focusing on worksheets or screens, we invite families to celebrate education through hands-on making.
In this blog, we will explore how kids can build their own educational toys using recycled materials, transforming everyday objects into powerful learning tools. This approach supports creativity, scientific thinking, sustainability, and problem-solving—skills that will shape their future in a rapidly changing world.
This guide is designed for parents and homeschool families, but the activities can be easily adapted for classrooms, libraries, or community learning spaces.
Why DIY Learning Tools Matter
Before diving into the activities, here’s why building learning tools matters:
It makes learning active instead of passive
When kids build something, they:
- Plan
- Test
- Iterate
- Problem-solve
This is the foundation of STEM thinking.
It teaches resourcefulness
Buying toys teaches consumption.
Making toys teaches innovation.
It builds sustainability awareness
Using recycled materials helps children understand:
- Waste reduction
- Material lifespan
- Environmental responsibility
It democratizes education
Not every family can purchase math manipulatives or STEM kits—but cardboard, caps, and string are accessible to almost everyone.
DIY Activity 1 — Bottle Cap Abacus (Math + Fine Motor Skills)
Recommended Age: 4–9
Subjects Connected: Math, Counting, Patterns, Fine Motor Skills
Materials Needed:
- 10–15 plastic bottle caps
- Cardboard strip (30 cm x 8 cm)
- Straw or chopstick (for the rod)
- Marker
- Tape or hot glue
How to Make It:
- Prepare the base
Cut a piece of cardboard to form a sturdy base. - Attach the rod
Tape or glue a straw/chopstick horizontally across the upper half. - Prepare the caps
Using a marker, number each cap (1–10) or leave them blank for younger kids. - Punch holes
Use a pen or skewer to make a hole through the center of each cap. - String the caps
Slide them onto the straw so they can move freely. - Reinforce if needed
Add more tape if the rod feels loose.
How to Use It:
- Practice counting by sliding caps from left to right
- Practice addition/subtraction (“Slide 3 to the right, now 2 more—how many total?”)
- Make patterns (ABAB, ABBABB, etc.)
Educational Benefits:
- Builds early number sense
- Enhances fine motor control
- Prepares kids for written math
Reflection Prompts:
Ask your child:
- “What patterns can you make?”
- “How could we change this tool to learn multiplication?”
- “What other items could we use instead of bottle caps?”
DIY Activity 2 — Mini Weather Station (Science + Environmental Literacy)
Recommended Age: 6–12
Subjects Connected: Earth Science, Observation, Data Recording, Graphing
Materials Needed:
- Empty plastic cup
- Drinking straw
- Cardboard arrow (cut from cereal box)
- Pencil with eraser
- Push pin
- Index cards or paper
- Tape
- Markers
Build the Wind Vane:
- Create the arrow
Cut cardboard into an arrow shape. - Attach to straw
Tape the arrow to one end of the straw. - Mount the straw
Push a pin through the straw into the pencil eraser—make sure it spins freely. - Install it
Place the pencil into a cup filled with pebbles to keep it upright. - Label directions
On a piece of cardboard, draw N, S, E, W to form a compass rose.
Add Weather Observation:
- Kids observe wind direction, cloud type, and temperature
- Use index cards as weather journaling sheets
Learning Outcomes:
- Kids learn scientific data collection
- Builds early meteorology vocabulary
- Supports graphing and measurement
- Encourages daily observation habits
Extensions:
- Graph wind direction over a week
- Compare results with a weather app
- Discuss how weather affects plants, animals, and humans
DIY Activity 3 — Cardboard Geometry Tiles (Math + Spatial Reasoning)
Recommended Age: 5–10
Subjects Connected: Geometry, Problem-Solving, Art
Materials Needed:
- Scrap cardboard
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Marker
- Zip bag for storage
How to Make It:
- Draw different shapes: squares, triangles, hexagons
- Cut them out
- Trace edges to make more matching pieces
- Store them in a small bag
How to Use Them:
- Build puzzles
- Recreate mosaic patterns
- Learn fractions (e.g., 2 triangles = 1 square)
- Discuss symmetry
Concepts Covered:
- Area & perimeter
- Symmetry & tessellation
- Fraction equivalence
Educational Theory Behind These Activities
Kids learn best when:
They manipulate materials
They make decisions
They test ideas
They solve real problems
This is known as constructivist learning, supported by Piaget & Vygotsky.
DIY projects also align with:
- STEM Education
- Montessori Sensory Materials
- Reggio Emilia Loose Parts Play
- UN SDG Goal 4: Quality Education
So these activities are not just crafts—they are academically aligned learning experiences.
Tips for Parents & Homeschool Families
Let kids lead the design
Avoid correcting “mistakes” too early
Ask open-ended questions like:
- “What do you think will happen if…?”
- “How could we make this stronger?”
- “What else could we build?”
Display finished projects at home
Encourage journaling or labeling
Conclusion
This International Day of Education, we are reminded that learning is not confined to classrooms or textbooks—it lives within creativity, problem solving, observation, and play. By turning recycled materials into meaningful learning tools, children discover that education is not something they receive—it is something they build.
