Sustainability focus: Newspaper plant pots for school growing

Help pupils create eco-friendly seedling pots from newspaper to reduce waste and support sustainable gardening.

Newspaper plant pots
Newspaper plant pots
Learning objectives:
  • Learn how to reuse newspapers to create plant pots
  • Understand that newspaper pots are one way of reducing plastic use
Curriculum links:
  • Design & Technology: Properties and uses of everyday materials 
  • Geography: Links between human behaviour and climate change
  • PSHE: Effects of everyday choices on the environment

Jump to

Key vocabulary

Reduce | Reuse | Roll | Seed | Seedlings | Biodegradable | Carbon

Symbolised guide

Use this symbol-based guide to support understanding: 
Download Widgit guide (118kB)

Equipment

  • Newspaper
  • Scissors
  • Cylindrical mould (e.g. a small jar or can)

Step by step

1. Cut a sheet of newspaper into 3 long strips. Lay the mould at one end of a paper strip, with some paper hanging below the edge of the mould

2. Roll the paper around the mould

3. Hold the paper join with one hand and tuck the spare paper over the mould with your other hand

4. Press down on a hard surface to seal the bottom of the pot

5. Remove the mould and voilà!

Top tips

  • Put the pots into a tray before adding peat-free compost. The newspaper can get a bit soggy so this will make them easier to move
  • Newspaper pots can be planted straight into the ground, where they will break down adding structure to the soil

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