Recycling is a simple way to teach children how they can care for the environment. Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and combustion facilities, conserves natural resources, prevents pollution, saves energy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, helps sustain the environment for future generations, and can help create jobs.
Grade Level: 1st-3rd
Topics: Recycling
Process Skills: Problem Solving – Critical Thinking – Communication – Collaboration – Creativity
Nature items - Assorted
Magnifying glasses - Optional
Bins - Optional
Bin labels - Paper – Cardboard – Glass – Aluminum
Recycled objects - Paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum
Go outside for a nature walk. Discuss what you observe/notice. What plants do you see? Can you smell anything? Do you see or hear animals? Use the five senses as question starters.
Find a spot to sit, gather, and play I Spy. Choose a few students to find something to “spy” too.
If you can’t go on a nature walk bring nature objects inside and use magnifying glasses to look at – leaves, sticks, rocks, feathers, shells, etc. You can play “I Spy” with these objects too.
Look at a bin of recyclables.
What do you think we should do with all this trash? What would happen if we left it all over the classroom or if I had left it in the park? What might happen if an animal found this trash or if it got stuck on a plant?
What is recycling? When we recycle, we don’t throw trash away but we send it somewhere to be made into something new. We use it again so it doesn’t get left somewhere and hurt nature.
Sort the recyclables. Set out bins labeled Paper, Cardboard, Plastic, Aluminum, and Glass.
Ask questions as you read, if you wish. Perhaps have students show you a thumbs up if the page discusses an action they can do to help save Earth.
Reflection and Discussion.
To conclude, ask what is one thing I can recycle or one thing they can do to help protect Earth.
What is Earth? What is nature?
Earth is the planet we live on. Nature is the stuff outside – animals, plants, bugs, weather, etc.
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Honoring Fred Rogers, creator of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, "Won't You Be My Neighbor Day" is on March 20th. Neighborhood North will dedicate the full week of March 20-25 to exploring emotions through mask-making in the Maker Space, followed by stage or puppet show performances.
