During September’s Big Green Week, the D&T department set an upcycling challenge to all Key Stage 3 pupils.
With the upcoming COP26 summit and environmental and sustainability issues being high on the agenda, Bloxham challenged their youngest pupils with an upcycling task. They were asked to ‘Repurpose an old item into a new one’ with the following instructions:
- Identify an old pre-loved item that has come to the end of its useful life.
- Come up with a plan to upcycle and repurpose it into a new product, with a different use.
- Produce a drawing of the new product.
- Make the new product (this part is the extension task but will be required to win the prize).
The D&T department were overwhelmed by the response with over 50 entries. There were some amazing ideas and some great products, with item as diverse as a propelled flotation device made from packaging materials used to move drinks across a hot tub, to a hat made from a bag for life and a pen made from an old straw. After a thorough review of all entries, a shortlist of eight potential winners was identified, and those eight were delighted to attend the Governors’ tea yesterday, where the Chair, Lis Lewis-Jones, awarded prizes to the creators of the top three products.
Those shortlisted were:
- Josie B. – Self watering flower holder from an old lemonade bottle
- Emilia K. – Storage shelves from an old guitar
- Bailey H.-B. – Candles from fizzy drinks cans and old candle wax
- Anna H. – Shoulder bag from old curtains
- Isaac F. – Side table from old hockey sticks and cricket bats
The top three were:
- Daniel M. – Light from his first trumpet and an old cheese board – 1st place
- Lucy D. – Bird house from decking planks and twigs – 2nd place
- Nina B. – Bug house from old tubes and pipes – 3rd place
When asked what an appropriate prize would be, Fairtrade chocolate was preferred to a Headmaster’s Star and so the top three received chocolate; however, the ultimate award was thought to be the chance to walk across the Headmaster’s lawn, therefore the winner was given this privilege!
Daniel M, the overall winner with his trumpet table lamp, was thrilled with his prize and was overheard saying ‘…This is the best thing I have ever won’!
