The first grade presentation reinforces the previous year’s concepts of the “3 R’s”, but concentrates specifically on paper recycling and the source of that paper – trees. We look at the many gifts that trees bring to our world; food, air quality, habitat for animals, soil retention, shade, wood for human use, and more. The students watch a wonderful video from the IL Department of Natural Resources, “Kids for Trees.” We explore who uses trees and what industries use trees products. The undisputed highlight of the class is making our own recycled paper. Each class gets to keep the paper shape made (choosing between butterflies, hearts, holiday shapes, etc.) as a reminder of the importance of recycling paper and caring for our good friends, the trees. 

Objectives: After reviewing what all things need to survive on earth, we briefly review last year's topic of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  Help students understand that trees are a natural resource that comes from the earth and provides our earth and systems stability and balance.  Students learn the importance of trees and why it is critical to continue recycling items derived from natural resources. 

Vocabulary:

Recycle – to make something we throw away into something new. Things that can be recycled are paper, cans, glass and plastic with a triangle on it.

Reuse – to use something over again. Examples are giving our old clothes and toys to someone else or selling them at a garage sale.

Reduce – try not to buy more than we need.

Recycling Center or Material Reclamation Facility – the place that all of our recyclable things are taken to so they can be made into something new

Habitat - a place where something lives

Pulp-  material to make paper

Natural Resource – something that comes from the earth that is not man made. An example is trees.

IL. Learning standards met by this lesson:
4.A.1a, 12.E.2c, 13.B.1d, 15.B.1, 17.B.1a, 26.A.2e

NGSS Learning standards met by this lesson:  

LS1.A: Structure and Function
All organisms have external parts. Different animals use their body parts in different ways to see, hear, grasp objects, protect themselves, move from place to place, and seek, find, and take in food, water and air. Plants also have different parts (roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits) that help them survive and grow. (1-LS1-1)

LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms
Adult plants and animals can have young. In many kinds of animals, parents and the offspring themselves engage in behaviors that help the offspring to survive. (1-LS1-2)

Connections to Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science Influence of Engineering, Technology, and Science on Society and the Natural World
Every human-made product is designed by applying some knowledge of the natural world and is built by built using materials derived from the natural world.

Videos used during class

IDNR Kids for trees

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9pa9C15Qr8

Products of Trees
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIfoqLM7fsY

Follow-up Activities and Extended Learning

Watch How recycled paper is made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gWv_bkq7UI

1. Discuss examples of reducing, reusing and recycling in the classroom and at home.
2. Have students read stories related to protecting the environment.
3. Have students make paper in class and add seeds when they are making it. When the paper is dry they can plant it with the seeds in it and the seeds will grow.
   • Project Learning Tree Paper Making Lesson Plan - common core /cross discipline 
   • Easy Paper Making Recipe (used in MCSEEP presentation) can be used with above link

     • To make 2 jars of paper slurry you will need to:

       Use 2 mayo jars
       Fill each with 2/3 warm water
       Grab 2 arm lengths of 2 ply toilet paper
       Separate each ply (so you have 2- 2 arm lengths)
       Rip one length of ply into each jar
       Add glitter or food coloring or seeds or dried flower petals
       Shake jar 25 times
       Place cookie cutter on screen with pan underneath
       pour contents of jar into mold
       press excess water out with sponge
       remove mold
       press out the last of the water, place newspaper on top
       flip screen to place new paper shapes on newspaper 

     • – it will take a couple days to dry, depending on where it’s placed (i.e. in the sun, near a breeze, etc.)

   • Check out Screens for Paper Making from the MCSEEP library email request

Letter to Parents - teachers please share via print, email or web with your students' families after our presentation

2 up on a letter page word document

1st grade Lesson - letter to parents