7-12 : Lesson Plan #1
Recycling Program

Objective: The students will develop, plan, implement, and market a recycling program for their school.

Materials:

  • Chart paper or chalkboard
  • Art supplies (for the creation of posters)
  • Paper and copier (to create letters to go home and for businesses)
  • Internet or phone book access to find where collected items may be recycled

Procedure:

  1. Brainstorm with the students items which can be recycled at school – paper, aluminum, printer cartridges, cell phones, etc. Work together to make a general outline of what would be required to implement a recycling program at school.
  2. Instruct the students to break into groups and assign each group an aspect of the program to assume responsibility for. Some examples of these assignments may be – 1) Gathering containers and labeling them for the collection of items. Decide where the containers should be placed for maximum use. Create signs for the boxes describing what may be collected. The students must also research where the items can be taken or sent for recycling. 2) Making posters to announce and market the recycling program 3) Creating letters to go home and out to businesses to announce the program and gain cooperation from the community. (Sample letters for cartridge and cell phone collection may be found at The School-Home Connection area. However, the students will benefit more from the lesson by developing their own letters.)
  3. Have the groups complete their assigned tasks in order to implement a recycling program.
  4. Keep the program up and running throughout the year. The students may keep records of items collected, the amount of money earned, the weight of garbage that was kept out of landfills, etc.