What is Recycling?

Second Grade, Third Grade Science,

by Ginger Bruster September 25, 2015

What is recycling all about? What can and can't be recycled? What can I do to help others understand the
importance of recycling? This activity helps students answer all of these questions as they learn about saving
planet Earth.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to determine solutions for encouraging recycling in their community.

Materials and preparation Key terms

Class set of What's Recyclable? worksheet compost

Class set of Recycle Worksheet recycling
Poster paper
Pencils
Markers, crayons, or colored pencils

Attachments

What's Recyclable? (PDF)

Recycle Worksheet (PDF)

Introduction (5 minutes)

Ask students what they know about recycling.

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling (5 minutes)

Talk about different ways people can recycle.

Ask students what they recycle at home and at school.
Explain that objects can go into three categories when you need to get rid of them: trash, compost,
objects that can be broken down and used in the soil, and recycling, which is generally glass, plastic,
and paper that can be broken down and made into new items.

Guided Practice (20 minutes)

Pass out the What is Recyclable? worksheet.

Read through the worksheet together as a class.
Allow students to color the worksheet.
Have student cut out the "stickers" on the worksheet and glue them on the correct objects.
Have a class discussion on ways to help people become aware of recycling and how to recycle
appropriately. These ideas may include educating people, putting up posters, coming up with incentives,
and making recycling more convenient.

Independent working time (20 minutes)

Pass out the Recycle Match-Up worksheet and allow students to complete it.
Have students partner up and make an awareness poster about recycling.

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 When students are done with their posters, encourage them to hang them up around the school or in
their community.

Differentiation

Enrichment: Students may make more than one poster, using a different idea for each poster created.

Support: Students may need guidance in what direction to create their poster. Give these students two options
to choose from to use on their poster, such as recycling helps save the earth, or recycling paper in the
classroom.

Assessment (5 minutes)

Students will be assessed by the completion of their worksheets and the effort put into the posters
they've created.

Review and closing (10 minutes)

Have students share their posters with the rest of the class.

Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/

What is recyclable? What is not recyclable?
Aluminum and steel cans Pizza boxes and wax-coated cardboard - The grease and/or
Plastic beverage containers (e.g. water and soda bottles) wax on these boxes interferes with the recycling process.
Clear glass bottles and jars Plastic bags - Recycle at your local grocery store.
Plastic six-pack rings Plastic tubs - Some plastic tubs have the right number on the
bottom, but they are not made the same way as plastic bottles.
Corrugated cardboard
Because of their different chemical characteristics, including
Mixed paper - phone books, brochures; computer, notebook, white melting temperature, they cannot be recycled with bottles.
and colored office papers; envelopes, soft cover booklets, manila
Styrofoam
folders, card stock, glossy magazines, catalogs and newspaper
Tops and lids of plastic and glass bottles and jars.
Plastic utensils - These can be washed and reused.
Plastic oil and pesticide containers
Ceramics, mirrors, window glass and drinking glasses.
Check your city's recycling

Color in
the items at
program for a complete
list of recyclables. 
right. Then cut
out the “stickers” and
glue them to each piece
according to the lists above.


COMPOSTABLE COMPOSTABLE

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 Recycle Match-Up
Color each item and draw a line to match it to the correct bin!
(Hint: Aluminum items are usually silver, shiny, and can be crushed.)

A
SOD

NEWS
DAILY
WAT
ER

PLASTIC
PAPER ALUMINUM
&
GLASS

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