Making a Mr Greedy from Junk

This week in our homeschool, we explored the wonderfully hungry character of Mr Greedy, and what better way to bring him to life than by Making Mr Greedy from Junk?

As part of our Mr Greedy Book Unit, I wanted something fun, interactive, and, most importantly, quick and free to make. What we ended up with was a simple DIY game that my children absolutely loved.

And the best part? It took less than five minutes and cost nothing.

Why Making Mr Greedy from Junk Is Perfect for Homeschool

One of the joys of homeschooling is creating meaningful learning experiences without needing expensive resources.

Making Mr Greedy from Junk is:

• Budget-friendly (completely free!)
• Quick to set up
• Highly engaging
• Perfect for hands-on learners

It also fits beautifully into a Mr Greedy Book Unit, turning a story into something children can see, touch, and play with.

What You’ll Need

You likely already have everything at home:

• A shoe box
• A plastic bag (black or any colour)
• Old stuffing (from a cushion or duvet)
• Wrapping paper (pink works perfectly!)
• Tape
• Paint, pen, or even nail varnish for features
• Toy or pretend food

This is a brilliant opportunity to teach children about reusing materials and being creative with what you already have.

How to Make Mr Greedy (In Minutes!)

Step 1: Create the Mouth

Cut half the lid off your shoe box and tape the remaining half down. This creates an opening where “food” can be thrown in and collected.

Step 2: Build the Body

Fill a plastic bag with stuffing and shape it into a round “body.”

Attach the shoe box to the top using tape, this forms the centre of Mr Greedy.

Step 3: Add a Head

Stuff another bag and tape it above the box so the opening sits roughly where a mouth would be.

Step 4: Cover and Decorate

Wrap the whole structure in pink paper and secure it.

Add:

• Eyes
• A mouth outline
• Any extra details your children like

Don’t worry about perfection, young children care far more about fun than accuracy!

The Game: Feed Mr Greedy!

Originally, I considered making bean bags, but instead, we used toy food from our play kitchen.

Honestly? It worked even better.

The children:

• Chose foods Mr Greedy might like
• Took turns throwing them into his mouth
• Retrieved them and played again

This simple activity builds:

• Hand-eye coordination
• Turn-taking skills
• Imaginative play

And, of course, lots of giggles!

How This Fits Into a Mr Greedy Book Unit

In a Mr Greedy Book Unit, activities like this help children:

• Connect deeply with the story
• Understand character traits (like greed and appetite!)
• Engage physically with learning

You can also extend this into discussions about:

• Healthy eating
• Moderation
• Feelings and choices

Learning Through Play: Why It Works

This activity may look simple—but it’s packed with learning opportunities:

✔ Physical Development

Throwing and aiming builds coordination and control

✔ Creative Thinking

Children imagine what Mr Greedy might eat

✔ Language Development

Talk about foods, preferences, and storytelling

✔ Emotional Learning

Discuss themes like “too much” and making good choices

Reflection Questions

For Your Child:

• What food did Mr Greedy like the most?
• How did you feel when feeding Mr Greedy?
• What would happen if Mr Greedy ate too much?

For You (the Parent):

• Did your child engage more with the story after the activity?
• What skills did you notice them using during play?
• How could you extend this activity next time?

Hands-On Activity Ideas to Extend Learning

Want to build on your Mr Greedy Book Unit? Try these:

🍎 Healthy vs Treat Sorting

Sort foods into “everyday” and “sometimes” categories.

🎯 Target Practice Game

Assign points to different foods and turn feeding Mr Greedy into a scoring game.

🧺 Sensory Food Bin

Create a sensory bin with pretend or real food items.

📖 Story Retelling

Use your Mr Greedy model to act out the story.

🎨 Design a New Character

What would a “Mr Healthy” or “Mr Fussy” look like?

Final Thoughts

Making Mr Greedy from Junk reminded me that the simplest ideas are often the most effective.

It didn’t take time, money, or perfection, just a little creativity and a willingness to have fun.

And the result?
Happy, engaged children who learned through play and laughter.

That’s exactly what our Mr Greedy Book Unit was all about.

Next in our homeschool adventure… another character, another story, and another opportunity to learn through play.