Environmental awareness and environmental responsibility are key values in education. Through our Maker class we are trying to guide our students away from the mindset of our "disposable" society to a mindset of sustainability.  

Maker activities fit these values very well.  A great majority of classroom Maker projects can be done by repurposing or reusing everyday items easily found around most schools and homes, items which might otherwise go directly to a landfill.   

 

When a project is completed, our Makers have the responsibility to salvage any reusable materials, and to recycle whatever they can of what remains.  This not only keeps the cost of projects under control, but also lends itself to discussions about sustainability and environmental responsibility. 

 

Our Makers also spend time dissecting  (under close supervision) "dead" household electronics and small appliances.  Many useful parts for other projects can be harvested from otherwise unusable devices, again reducing the number of items going to landfills.