Maker Mentors at Rodriguez neighborhood library have been posing sculpture challenges to the young makers.
Each maker gets an envelope that contains a random assortment of objects, including but not limited to pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, pom po poms odds and ends from the collection of single lost earrings, broken toys, and other oddities. Their challenge is to make a sculpture using all or some of the materials in the envelope as well as the basics of glue, scissors, cardboard/paper, and LEDS.
This challenge focuses the critical and creative thinking of the young maker to work with limited resources to creative something unique and interesting. It becomes a great way to build on their 3D skills in hot glue application and cardboard construction.
BEFORE: 
AFTER:
I love the Grab Bags! After construction you could have participants take turns explaining/presenting their sculptures or have others try to guess the meaning of each work. If you’re ambitious you could try to encourage them to create a little fictional story about the scene they created.
This is a great way to get a second use out of scraps and odds and ends from other projects too.