While enjoying the Peace Corps anniversary celebration on the National Mall last summer, 3rd grade teacher Carolyn Cohen was inspired: “I met a volunteer who had a prototype of a house of water bottles. She had run out of supplies in Guatemala when building a house, and thought about using water bottles to make the final wall. It worked beautifully.” Ms. Cohen asked the volunteer for environmental project ideas for her class, and decided to replicate a project the volunteer sent her photos of, showing a recycling bin made from wood, rods and strung with water bottles.

Next, Ms. Cohen asked Upper School science teacher Dr. B. if his students would be interested in helping. They provided the drilling, cut wood and applied the rods. Third graders collected and then strung the bottles, decorated the top and finished it with tennis balls to protect students from the tops of the metal rods.

Voila! Bullis now has a recycled recycling bin, which will soon find a permanent home on campus.

May 16, 2012