Recycled Wishes Jar Craft
This Recycled Wishes Jar Craft is a sweet way to turn a clean jar, a few printable labels, and fluffy dandelion seeds into a magical keepsake. Kids can write down special wishes for family, friends, or themselves, then blow dandelion fluff into the jar and watch their wish drift inside.
This is an easy craft for kids to make at home, in the classroom, or as part of a spring nature activity. It also gives children a fun reason to reuse a small jar instead of throwing it away.
Supplies
- Clean small jar with lid
- Tacky glue or hot glue
- Color printer
- Scissors
- Ribbon
- Small pieces of white paper
- Dandelion seed head
- Printable jar labels
Instructions
- Thoroughly clean a small jar with a lid. A small salsa jar works well, but any similar jar can be used.
- Remove the label and any sticky glue from the outside of the jar so your wishes jar looks neat and pretty.
- Print the jar labels. Choose the label size that best fits your jar lid.
- Cut out the label and glue it to the top of the lid.
- Glue a pretty ribbon around the edge of the lid. Adult help is recommended if using hot glue.
- Write your wish or wishes on small pieces of white paper.
- Place the wishes inside the jar.
- Find a white, fluffy dandelion seed head. Gently blow the dandelion fluff into the jar, close the lid, and wait to see if your wish comes true.
Fun Facts
Dandelions are more than just little yellow flowers in the grass. They can help support biodiversity by attracting native bees, butterflies, moths, and birds. These helpful visitors also pollinate fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other flowers.
Dandelions have been used in stories and traditions as symbols of wishes, hope, and new beginnings. That makes them a perfect part of this recycled wishes jar craft.
Patterns, Templates and Printables
Click on a pattern to open it in a new window and print it in the correct size.
Teacher Friendly Educational Extension
Use this easy craft for kids as part of a spring science, writing, or Earth Day lesson.
Ask students to write one wish for themselves, one wish for a friend, and one wish for the world. This can lead to a thoughtful classroom discussion about kindness, community, and caring for the planet.
For a science connection, talk about how dandelion seeds travel on the wind. Children can observe the shape of the fluffy seeds and discuss why they float so easily.
For a writing activity, have students complete the sentence, “My wish for the world is…” Then display the finished wishes jars with their writing on a classroom bulletin board.
This craft also works well with lessons about recycling, plant life cycles, pollinators, and simple classroom activities for spring.
Supplies
Instructions
Patterns, Templates and Printables
Click on a pattern to open it in a new window
Contributor
These projects are created by Terri, Betty, Jamie or one of the talented staff members at MakingFriends.com. They have been created exclusively for publication on FreeKidsCrafts.com with supplies you'll be able to find around your house.
