Collect recycled materials

What can we use instead of a cereal box lid or glue if those are hard to find?

Use a piece of corrugated cardboard or a large hardcover book as a sturdy base instead of a cereal box lid, and replace missing glue with strong clear tape, a stapler, or a simple flour-and-water paste to attach pieces.

My sculpture keeps falling over or the pieces won't stick—what should I try?

If parts won't hold when you 'attach the largest pieces to the base', strengthen the base by taping multiple pieces of cardboard together or placing a heavy book underneath, make folded cardboard tabs to glue or tape under big elements, and trim or rebalance overhanging pieces to stop tipping.

How can we adapt this project for different ages?

For younger children, skip the cutter step and give them simple jobs like sorting or decorating with pre-cut pieces, while older kids can do detailed planning on the 'draw a quick sketch' step, use a supervised hot glue gun, and add moving or layered parts for complexity.

How can we enhance or personalize the recycled sculpture before sharing it on DIY.org?

Make the sculpture more unique by adding movable parts with brads or straws, small battery LED lights, bold patterns or mixed-media textures when you 'decorate the sculpture with colouring materials', and glue a handwritten nameplate describing your theme and team roles before you share it.