News

Reusing with imagination! Children learn about recycling

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Shen-Chia Chu
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Team Dover children of all ages received a special guest, a puppeteer and storyteller that performed the 'Magic Pots and Recycled Bottles' program Aug. 3 at the Base Library.

Kathleen Jacobs, a former art teacher, came to act out her original play of comical multicultural tales.

"This was a great event for the children because it's entertaining as well as educational about the importance of recycling, they really enjoyed this event," said Richard Krueger, 436th FSS Base Library Director. "Our Summer Library Reading Program helped to make this event possible through the collaborating of the local Delaware libraries, who believe in helping children maintain their reading skills through the summer season."

Using the positive values of recycling, reading, writing and creativity, Ms. Jacobs creates the story about a wacky clean-up lady who begins to play with newly found trash treasures. She is inspired to recycle old trash into puppets and 'recycle' old folktales into a script.

The clean-up lady uses household objects and discards to build an ingenious set. Trash cans and recycling bins become hills and valleys, brushes and brooms become trees in the forest and feather dusters fill a garden. Plastic bottles pulled from the recycling bin transform into puppets. These imaginative characters are created from plastic bottle containers.

"This event is a great idea, I've never seen a puppet show made out of recycled items. Not only is it eco-friendly, the kids learned ways to make their own toys for free out of re-usable materials," said Libby Hoard, 436th FSS Base Library Aide.

Ms. Jacobs performed the following stories along with the children:

THE GOAT IN THE CHILE PATCH - A Hispanic story. The mean 'Bully' Goat jumps out of the recycling bin and creates havoc in the chile patch. Who has a plan to drive him back? Can he be recycled into someone nicer?

THE MAGIC RECYCLING POT- An inspired story by European narratives. Minute Maid the good fairy provides a magic recycling pot that produces the most wonderful food to eat. A hilarious mishap results when the magic words are forgotten. Volunteers recruited from the audience help to save the day.

TWO OF EVERYTHING - A story told in China, Japan and Korea. Behold the magic recycling pot that makes two of everything! What good fortune...or is it? It all depends on what falls or jumps inside.

She also demonstrated how to make an original and environmentally friendly puppet to the children, just like the ones in her show.

The program was offered as part of this year's Summer Library Reading Program with the theme, 'Make a Splash - READ.'