Goal/ Student Outcome:

This lesson is consistent with the following National Science Education Standards:

Through lessons about recycling, students will experience the richness and excitement of knowing about and understanding the natural world. Students will also use the appropriate scientific processes and principles in making personal decisions. Students will also be engaged in studying objects and sorting them by their properties.

Objectives:

At the end of an hour-long lesson discussing recycling, students will be able to…

1. Examine pieces of trash and separate them into the appropriate recycling bins.

2. Identify the recycling symbol.

3. Give an example of what can be made from recycled materials.

4. Explain the importance of recycling.

5. Construct an object with recyclable materials.

Resources:

Drake students and Cattell teacher corresponded by e-mail for three to four weeks. A CU SeeMe camera can also be used to facilitate communication.

Book:

• Round and Round Again By: Nancy Van Laan, 1994.

Websites:

• http://www.1800cleanup.org/KidsSection/kidspage.htm
• http://members.aol.com/kidz4peace/earth/earthday.htm
• http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/

* Many other books about recycling can be found at your local public library*

Background Content:

Students are familiar with a variety of recyclable materials but are unaware that they can recycle them. Students have discussed environmental issues but this is the first lesson they have had on recycling.

Safety concerns:

1. Remind students to wear plastic gloves when sorting through the trash.

2. Make students aware that some objects may be sharp (i.e. Pop can tops)

3. Remind students to watch where they are walking so that they do not trip over trash while sorting it.

4. While constructing objects make sure students use scissors properly.

Materials needed:

*Bags of clean trash

*Recycling symbol worksheet (see printable recycle symbol)

*Tarps

*Plastic gloves

*Recycling smocks (see picture of smocks)

*Construction paper

*Glue

*Tape

*Scissors

*Trash Attacker Awards (see printable award)

*Rubber Bands

*Beans

 Motivation:

Students' attention will be grabbed when trash is suddenly dumped in front of them. Students will then be share how they think the trash problem can be solved. The book Round and Round Again will be read which will help students understand what recycling, reusing and reducing is all about.

Procedure for Student Activities: Day One

1. Walk in and throw bags of trash on a tarp located in the front of the room.

• "My gosh look at all this trash that I found! What are we going to do with all of this?" "We can put it in the local landfill, but it is really full and it smells really bad! Hey we could dump it in Jill's backyard…"We really need help, what do you think we should do?"
• Students then give suggestions: write answers on the chalkboard.

2. Read Round and Round Again.

• Discuss the book and ask them what was happening in the story. "Was that a good idea? The lady in the story was doing something called recycling!" Today we are going learn about all recycling so that you can be trash attackers!

3. Introduce the students to reducing, reusing and recycling.

• Give examples: what can be done at home, at school etc.
• Share facts about all three areas.
• Pass out the recycling symbol to the students
• Point out what the arrows mean, they can set up a recycling area in their own house

4. Introduction of trash attackers!

• Explain that we really need their help to keep the earth clean! We have an important mission for them!
• Have students sort the trash that is scattered in front of the room. They each will pick two pieces of trash and sort them into the correct recycling bin.

5. What to do with the sorted recyclable?

• Now that we have sorted it, we have to figure out what to do with all the recycling.
• Have students talk about what they could do with it, or what happens to the trash now?

Closure:

Students gather and we go over the main points of the lesson. Remind students that they can then set up their own recycling area in their own home! Mention reducing, reusing, and recycling again. Remind them that trash attackers work all the time, not just at school. Have students think of things they can make out of recyclable trash to prepare for next class.

 Procedure for Student Activities: Day Two

1. Review reduce, reuse, recycle symbol

• Have students give examples of each term

2. Brainstorm objects that students can make with recyclable materials

• i.e. robots, airplanes, animals, musical instruments

3. Begin construction of objects:

• divide children into small groups of 4-6 kids
• have the children make a plan for an object they will make (what sort of objects will they use etc.)
• children then choose 3 to 4 objects that they want to use from the pile of recyclable
• make available other craft materials for the children to use during construction such as rubber bands, beans, construction paper
• See pictures of students creating.

 4. Teacher ask students questions while they are constructing

• "Tell me about what you are making. Could you add ____?"
• "How would you use this ______ ?"

5. Children discuss objects

• in their small groups children explain what they made and what materials they used to make it.
• objects are displayed throughout the room

Closure:

Trash Attacker graduation: awards are presented

• Each student receives a Trash Attacker Award for their contribution to make the Earth a cleaner place.
• Teacher also reminds students to always recycle, reuse, reduce.

Assessment:

Assessment will take place throughout the two day lesson. Teachers will be able to use a checklist to determine if the students have met the objectives listed.

Objective	+	-
1. Student is able to examine a piece of trash and separate it into the designated bin for that material.
2. Student is able to identify the recycling symbol.
3. Student is able to give an example of something that can be made from recyclable materials.
4. Student is able to explain one aspect of the importance of recycling.
5. Student constructed an object made from recyclable materials.

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