MADISON, Wis. -- A class of Madison first graders is trying to build their way into the record books.

Julie Fitzpatrick’s students at Elvehjem Elementary are attempting to build a record-breaking structure out of plastic grocery bags.

The idea sparked for Fitzpatrick when one of her reading groups read a story dealing with Guinness’ records around the time Madison’s plastic bag recycling ordinance went into effect.

"I thought, 'How can we put those two together? Is there a record connected with plastic bags?,'" said Fitzpatrick. "So I looked it up online and sure enough there was, and it sounded like something we could do. And since one of the major efforts in first grade is to learn to count, it fit in really well."

Students have to count the bags into 10-bag chains, tie them together and then attach them into 500-bag chains. Those chains get rolled into giant balls that will be used to create a, hopefully, record-breaking labyrinth constructed of chicken wire and more than 18,000 plastic bags.

Fitzpatrick's class will spend the next couple of months creating the balls, and outdoor construction will begin in April. Once the labyrinth is taken down, the city of Madison has already agreed to make sure all the bags get recycled.

The theme for the labyrinth is "Finding Our Way to a More Sustainable World" and will feature a large Earth made of blue and green plastic bags in the center.

The veteran teacher is hoping the lesson will be a great one not just for her class, but the entire community.

“To raise awareness of that new [ordinance] so that people will take the time to recycle their plastic and be aware of how much plastic we use and try to use less,” Fitzpatrick said.

The class has about 3,000 bags, but needs more than 18,000 to complete the project and break the record.

Anyone with extra bags is encouraged to donate them at the Sentry Grocery Store on Cottage Grove Road. Donations of two foot wide chicken wire are also needed and can also be dropped off at the store.