K-3 : Lesson Plan #2
Difference Between Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Objective: The students will define reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Materials:

A book or web site containing information on the practices of reducing, reusing, and recycling. See the Literature List or Internet Resources for suggestions.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Worksheet for School
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Worksheet for Home
Samples of items which can be reduced (a cloth shopping bag to reduce the use of plastic bags), reused (an empty milk carton to use for a watering can), recycled (a newspaper to be sent to a recycling center and made into new paper).

Procedure:

Share the information from the book or web site highlighting the definitions of reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Pass out the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Worksheet for School.
Have the students complete the worksheet by writing a brief definition of each word. Younger students may copy a simple definition off the chalkboard – i.e. Reduce = use less, Reuse = use again, Recycle = make new.
Brainstorm ways the students can reduce, reuse, and recycle at school. These may be written on the worksheet. Remember to include recycling printer cartridges, cell phones, laptops, and small electronics.
Pass out the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Worksheet for Home. Have the students take the papers home to complete with their families.

GreenSchoolProject