We start by taking a look at a trash can full of "stuff to throw away".  Then the dissection begins!  Could we reuse it? Could we recycle it (including composting)? Or best yet, could we consider not having it in the first place?  We sort trash and tally our total waste reduction.  Then we take a look at a zero waste lunch option.  Rita Recycle, an entertaining sock puppet, reinforces the idea by leading the class in singing “We Recycle”. Our lesson makes it clear that we all have a responsibility to care for the Earth’s resources. It always proves to be a fun and lively class!   Students are introduced to the garbage man in a whole new way, exploring who takes away your recycling and garbage and what they “do” with it.

Objectives:  Introduce students to the ideas of recycling and reusing to reduce solid waste going into landfills.  Help students identify what can be recycled in their community and the process of recycling

Vocabulary:

Landfill – another name for a garbage dump. “We dig a hole in the land and fill it with garbage.”

Recycle – something we throw away gets made into something new. Things that can be recycled are paper, cans, glass and most plastic. Things we recycle don’t go into the landfill.

Recycle triangle – a triangle on plastic to show that it can be recycled.

Reuse – to use something over again. An example is selling our old clothes at a garage sale.

Reduce – to minimize or lesson the amount

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

Next Generation Science Standards met by this lesson:

NGSS: K-ESS3-3  Interdependent relationships in eco-systems.  Disciplinary Core Ideas: Human Impact on Earth Systems - Things that people do to live comfortably can affect the world around them.  But they can make choices that reduce their impacts on the land, water, air, and other living things. 

Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of humans of the land,water, air,and/or living lings in the local
environments.(clarification statement: examples of human impact on the land could include
cutting trees to produce paper and using resources to produce bottles. Examples of solutions could include reusing paper and recycling cans and bottles.)

Common Core Support:

Mathematics:  Reason abstractly and quantitatively.  Counting and Cardinality

Frontloading Material

Follow the journey of one aluminum can and how every bit we recycle makes a BIG difference!!

 Just One Can - You Tube Video 6:30

Follow-up Activities - Extended Learning Lesson Plans

1.  NGSS standard- communicate solutions with others in oral and/or written forms using models and/or drawings that provide detail about scientific ideas.

Have students learn more about the MRF (material reclamation facility) and how materials are sorted.  Have them construct experiments to separate different materials.  (think about using fans, tubs of water, agitation, magnets)

Have students design new uses for things they would normally throw in the trash or that they might recycle.  Have them sculpt, or draw and share with the class or a small group.  (think about making creative gifts or helpful inventions)

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

Kindergarten Lesson - letter to parents