Silk Purse

Course Description

Turning Waste into Worth: Sustainable Furniture Design (STEAM Project)

In this STEAM unit, students take on the challenge of proving the saying “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear” wrong. They begin by exploring questions about waste, sustainability, and how design can change the way we value materials. Through inquiry, students research recycling practices, investigate the properties of discarded materials, and experiment with creative ways to repurpose them. Working collaboratively, they design and build furniture that gives new life to what others consider waste. The project culminates in a school exhibition, where students proudly present their upcycled pieces and reflect on how thoughtful design can turn waste into something meaningful and beautiful.

Combining Plastic with Off-cuts

Students designed and built creative furniture pieces using recycled materials like plastic bottles and wood offcuts at The Foundry, transforming everyday waste into functional art. The project celebrated sustainability and challenged the idea of “trash,” proving that innovation and care can turn discarded materials into something truly valuable.

PET plastic bottles collected throughout the first term of the school year from Grove and Garden Campus

Offcut and scrap wood from The Foundry.

Students working on joining pieces of wood together using plastic bottles and a heat gun.

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