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Mission 4 of 6Ages 5 to 11Draft

Reuse a tub or jar: a reuse activity for kids

A tub or jar that’s still in good shape can do another job before it goes anywhere near a bin. This mission finds it one.

Buddy the wheelie bin holding a clean, empty plastic tub with a blue lid.

In Gullbrae: the community garden

The community garden in Gullbrae. Dry leaves are scattered across the path, two flowerpots have tipped over and a watering can lies on its side by the shed.
The community garden needs help. The pots have tipped over, the watering can is lying on its side, and leaves cover the path.

Do it together

Younger children (about 5 to 7)

  1. Find a clean, empty tub with your grown-up.
  2. Choose its new job: a pencil pot, a toy box or a home for crayons.
  3. Decorate it with stickers or a paper label.
  4. Use it, and show someone its new job.

Older children (about 8 to 11)

  1. Design a new life for an old tub: draw it first, then make it with clean, safe things.
  2. Try growing cress or seeds in a clean tub. Your grown-up makes the holes in the bottom.
  3. Keep a diary of what grows over a week or two.
  4. Think about it: what else in your home could do a second job?

For grown-ups: keep it safe

  • Check each tub or jar is clean and has no cracks or sharp edges.
  • You handle glass jars, and you make any holes.
  • Some things are better recycled than kept: if it won’t be used, it isn’t helping.

When you’ve done it

We did it: put the community garden right
The same garden, tidy again. The path is clear, the two flowerpots stand upright and the watering can is by the shed.
Put right. The pots are upright and ready to use again, the watering can is back by the shed, and the path is clear.
Eddie, Priya, Buddy and Wee Bin waving together.

The crew say thank you. Now stick the community garden on your town poster, and fill in a record sheet if you keep a learning log.

Nothing is saved when you press the button. Your progress lives on your poster.

Read the story

Use it againBefore you throw something away, ask: can it be reused or mended?What can we do todayTurn a big idea into one thing you can do today.The garden over timeGrowing takes time and care.

Draft, 20 October 2026. The words and pictures are waiting for an educator’s review and a fact check. Gullbrae is made up; your own council’s rules are the ones to follow.