Lesson 1

Recycling

Grade Level

3-5

 

Duration

60 minutes

 

Learning Goals:

1. To help students identify garbage that can be recycled

2. To acquaint students with the cost of handling garbage

3. To illustrate the relationship between recycling and conservation of natural resources

4. To teach students how to recycle

 

Materials:

1. Posters:

   1. Percent of different materials in household trash

   2. Recycling symbol

   3. Show cost to build a new landfill (this information can be obtained from local officials or from state EPD)

2. Bag of miscellaneous trash for sorting-gloves and aprons should also be provided for the students to ensue their safety while handling garbage.

3. Fact sheet (one per student)

4. Recycling containers (various styles)

5. Magnet

6. Markers

7. Poster board

 

Preparation:

 

Define the three R’s: Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse and write them on the poster, or white board

 

Prepare copies of fact sheet. Have or make a sample recycle bin to show the students. Have a bag of trash with a variety of materials

 

What to Do:

 

Step 1

Discussion: 20 minutes

 

1. Start the activity by RECYCLING. Recycling is the collection of recyclable waste materials and the re-manufacture of the collected materials into new products. Hold an open discussion and encourage students to participate giving their understanding of recycling.

2. Pass out fact sheet and discuss some of the information. Use examples to make numbers more dramatic. Write down some of the facts that have a major impact on the environment.

3. Ask students to name some of the benefits of recycling

 

• Saves resources

• Saves energy

• Reduces pollution

• Saves money

Step 2

Sorting trash: 15 minutes

 

1. Use a bag of trash to show students some of the items we typically throw away. Dump this out on the (covered) floor.

2. Use a chart to illustrate the percentage of materials in household trash (the figures below are average, make sure these items are included in your trash bag):

   1. 40% paper

   2. 10% metal

   3. 8% glass

   4. 8% plastic

   5. 7% food scraps

   6. 9% other

3. Ask students where their trash goes. Use this opportunity to give facts about the current landfill. Provide information as to when the current landfill will close, and the cost of constructing a new landfill (total cost divided by total population). Tell students that recycling will reduce the amount of solid waste going to the landfill and thereby save everyone money. (Current figures can be obtained form local officials or the state EPD.)

4. Ask students to sort trash into appropriate piles; for example, paper, plastic, glass, metal, etc.

5. Present information about the different types of items in each pile; for example (paper)- newspaper, office paper, cardboard, etc.

6. Allow students to use a magnet to demonstrate how to separate aluminum cans from steel cans.

 

Step 3

Discussion: 10 minutes

 

1. Select one or two examples of recyclables and give examples of new products that can be made from each. Use this opportunity to teach students the symbol that indicates a recycled product. Encourage them to buy recycled products when possible; show some examples.

2. Select one example (newspaper) and discuss how much raw material is needed to produce the Sunday newspaper (500,000 trees).

3. Show students that if recycled paper were used, these tress could be saved.

 

Step 4

Closing: 15 minutes

 

1. Inform the students that starting a recycling program at home is easy: place containers in a convenient location and you’re ready to go. Show several examples of recycling containers.

2. Give students a list of locations that will accept recyclables.

3. At the end of the program, provide poster board and markers and ask student to design labels to place on their recycling containers at home. Students can continue to work on this throughout the week when given extra time.

 

Outcomes to Look For:

 

Design a pre/post multiple-choice test to give students. Base the questions on the facts provided in the presentation. Example: By weight, which accounts for the largest percentage of your trash? a) glass b) paper c) plastic Comparing pre-test and post-test scores will help assess how much students have learned.