It's Water-Wise Wednesday with Frannie the Fish {Upcycled Conservation Flowers}

Upcycling is a fun way to help protect the environment by reusing items that may have been thrown away instead.  Reusing an item keeps it from ending up in a landfill where it may take millions of years to decompose.  This week Frannie is going to show you how to make upcycled conservation flowers!  Upcycled conservation flowers are made out of plastic water bottles and each petal represents an easy way to help conserve and protect groundwater!

Here's what you'll need:

• Empty plastic water bottle
• 8 different colored acrylic paints
• Paint brush
• Hole punch
• Scissors
• Permanent marker
• Glue
• Sequins, beads, paper, glitter, or gems 
• String or wood stick

Here's what you do:

1.  Clean your plastic water bottle.  Remove any plastic labeling from the outside.

2.  Cut your water bottle in half.  You may need an adult's help with this step. 
Recycle the bottom half of your bottle. 

3.  Cut eight petals by cutting from the middle of the bottle towards the cap, make sure to cut all the way to the edge of the cap.  Round the edges.

4.  Press the petals out and flatten them to make your bottle look like a flower.

5.  Cover the cap with sequins, beads, paper, gems or paint to represent the pistil/stamen.

6.  Paint each petal a different color to represent a different way to protect and conserve groundwater.  Add glitter for fun!  Below is an example of paint colors and their corresponding conservation activity: 

7.  Use a paper hole punch and string to make your flower an ornament or use a wooden stick and glue to create a decorative flower for potted plants.

8.  Use the permanent marker to write down what each color stands for on the unpainted side of each petal.

Display your upcycled conservation flower in your home so you and your family will remember to conserve groundwater!  Share pictures of your projects!