My thoughts would be to use recycled materials, end result should be enjoyable for the kids, bring awareness to the viewers and "recyle" life for some trees, animals and minds...

An idea:

Salvaged wood and other materials - to make "homes" for animals displaced by overbuilding - and then create a "habitat sanctuary trail" by a county or city river or land or perhaps a school yard. It need not be huge, just a statement, like raising a flag to bring awareness.

Could be birdhouses, then birdfeeders made of recyled plastic bottles, windchimes made of other salvaged pieces (car parts?) etc. Don't know what the needs are for local fauna & flora.

The local chapters of the wildlife organization, national arbor society, garden club, art depts and city hall - may be willing to chip in with ideas on "how and where to"

Also would consider enlisting a local school's art class kids or architectural students to work along with the group.

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Recycled paper:

How many trees do we throw away by paper overuse and how does it affect our envionment, weather and wildlife?

This could be a theme - How to craft an answer?

Maybe origami or paper mache, or maybe recycled paper greeting cards

Making of a statement piece illustrating how many trees it takes to make how much paper and how much per second is being simply thrown out. Perhaps magazine stacks? Possible to get a plastics company to donate shape appropriate "container" to dispay the piece?

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Recycled glass:

pieces of recycled tumbled glass, recycled metal car parts can be embedded in cement and turned into pavers to display at a local park. Each paving stone could have a theme, or the combination of all might tell a story.
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Garbage art: this was in the trash?

Convert what would have been thrown away into alternative use items or art pieces.

For example: Make old CD's into photo frames, or old t-shirts into throw pillows or pet toys and blankets, old greeting cards into new ones etc.

Charge for the show, sell the items, and donate the funds to save some animals used for experiments. This will bring focus to that horrible practice, and also to the recycling issue.

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Make a playhouse at the local park with all recycled materials:

It need not be what everyone thinks of: recruit a local engineer and tap his mind for ideas.

So many people have ingenious ideas and would love to work with you.

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or: can it just be a play or series of?

And donate the ticket proceeds to worthy causes? (double punch)

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Don't know the scope of the project, or the ages of the children. So just put down some thoughts.

I like the play, or series of because it allows for expanding on the issues and props can all help to drive the point home, while the proceeds could help bring other important topics to the forefront.

Here are some links I found:

"
He is doing a service by taking tossed away items and rescueing them for our personal enjoyment. He works extensively with children, volunteering his time to show them how to create art with everyday things. " (see: Mr. Imagination)

http://www.aluminouspublishing.com/recycled_art.html
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here's one in NYC using recycled cans and the proceeds are donated to the food harvest:

http://www.sdanyc.org/canstruction.php

I hope some of these ideas have a spark, it is a great project!

Don't know why but keep thinking water and or chimes should be in there somewhere...

MadArt (ist)

What area do you live in?

By the way....MadArtist is the bomb!!

How about a mural – a collaborative collage of recycled items and the message along with the artists signatures. Once done it could be finished with an acrylic coating to preserve.

Or:

Each kid has a large canvas and can choose a message – and creates his or her own expression and then they can be displayed in a “corridor of thought” or something like that maybe at city hall or a local hub – where many will see the message. Or make it into a travel exhibit so the message is spread?

For example, the local garbage authorithy had a “garbage/Recycling museum” they may be open to work with you:

Here are a couple of links:

http://www.fieldtrip.com/nj/14608300.htm

Meadowlands Environment Center
Two DeKorte Plaza
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
(201) 460-8300

“Operated by the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission, this great facility features, among other things, the famous Trash Museum, and a long network of boardwalks winding through the cattails and salt marsh of the Meadowlands.
Beginning with the main lobby of the building, visitors will find a 30' x 7' diorama depicting an Urban Salt Marsh. The 1,000 gallon brackish creek includes live animals, such as grass shrimp, diamondback terrapin, snapping turtles, fiddler, mud and blue crabs, and others common to these waters. Mounted mammal and bird specimens complete this exhibit which emphasizes the importance of the wetlands.
A Bird Watcher's Bulletin tells about the most recent sightings of area birds. More than 200 species have been sighted in this area, a vital migratory rest stop for thousands of ducks, geese, and shorebirds.
Another main gallery features Creative Displays which involve visitors in understanding environmental problems, particularly the trash crisis. Interactive exhibits include How Far Does Your Trash Travel?, Where Does Garbage Come From?, Products Made From Recycled Materials, and The Ideal Town. A computer station offers learning games about the environment.

A third gallery features a History Exhibit, reflecting on the important events in the growth and development of the Meadowlands.
The glass - enclosed Visitor's Center extends out into the marsh to offer a panoramic view, perfect for viewing wildlife feeding and resting in the water below.”

******** one more:

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tips/getAttraction.php3?tip_AttractionNo==7951

“Stratford, Connecticut - Children's Garbage Museum and 24-ft. long Trashosaurus
The Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority operates a couple of museums to educate the public about solid waste management. See a section of landfill and how plastics are recycled -- understand what happens to all your trash after it leaves your hands. The one ton, 24-ft. long dinosaur in Stratford is assembled from household garbage. [Roadside America Team, 08/03/2003]”

Hope some of these ideas and links are helpful.
MadArt (ist)

Large representation of the earth where all the lands are made in relief using recycled materials, with a paper mache base perhaps? (easy for the kids to work with)

Could be on a mural - like a large map, or a big round "Crying Earth" good for the kids because it is "palpable"

I kind of think in pictures, so your question sparked a few "visuals".... It is just such an exciting project....

MadArt (ist)