K-3 : Lesson Plan #5
Classroom Recycling Center
Objective: The students will create, organize, and advertise a classroom recycling center.
Materials:
- Chart Paper or Chalkboard
- Large Empty boxes for collection of recyclable items (about 3 boxes)
- Large pieces of construction paper
- Art supplies – paint, markers, crayons, glue, etc.
- Classroom trash can with one day's worth of trash
- Rubber Gloves (for teacher to pick through trash can)
- Letters to be sent home announcing the recycling program.
Procedure:
- Wearing rubber gloves, examine the trash thrown away in the classroom. Have the students observe whether there are any items that could be recycled. Also, have the students think about items that are thrown away at home or in other areas of the school. How could the class help the environment by recycling?
- Brainstorm with the students what would be needed to set up a classroom recycling area. Record these responses on the chalkboard or chart paper. Some suggestions may be; containers to put the items in, a place to take the recyclable items (a local recycling center), recyclable objects, signs to tell people where to put the items, etc.
- Carry out the students' plan for creating a recycling area. Some examples are:
- Label the boxes for the collection of items to be recycled – sample labels may be “scrap paper (to be reused)”, “used paper (to be recycled)”, “printer cartridges and cell phones.”
- Using art supplies, create signs and posters to advertise the recycling area. These signs can be posted around the school. “Bring your used printer cartridges to Room 12 for recycling”. “Bring your old cell phones to Room 12 for recycling! Keep the earth beautiful!” “Bring your used paper to Room 12 for recycling!”
- Send home letters announcing the recycling collection area in the classroom. The letters will encourage families to send in printer cartridges and cell phones to raise money for the school. They will also encourage families to recycle items at home. Sample letters can be downloaded from the link in the materials section.
- Keep the classroom recycling center up and running throughout the school year