Curated OER
Dunk It! Don't Junk It!
Third graders explore the concept of sorting recyclables. For this recycling lesson, 3rd graders determine how to separate recyclables from waste and how to sort recyclables into different categories.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Fourth graders discover the differences between: reduce, reuse, and recycle by performing hands on examinations. They list what would happen to the soil if we allowed the earth to wash away and briefly discuss the meaning of erosion.
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What Should I Recycle?
First graders discuss a plan to minimize waste. For this waste management lesson, 1st graders read "Why Should I Recycle," by Jen Green and create a classroom recycling plan.
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Choose Your Own Adventure: Recycling
Students complete a variety of activities designed to encourage them to explore recycling. They complete a quiz and worksheet, sort recyclable items and discuss how recyclable goods are identified.
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Go Fish! Fish or other Sea Creature from Recycled Materials
Students brainstorm what a fish looks like determining the parts from schema and research. They create a unique and interesting 3-d sculpture of fish or underwater creature mostly from recycled materials, then examine the aesthetics of...
Curated OER
Recycling
High schoolers investigate landfills and the problems associated with urban and suburban areas. For this recycling lesson plan, students discuss landfills and the problems associated with landfills. They discuss the amount of waste an...
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Recycling Bingo
Students participate in Texas Recycles Day. They discover the importance of recycling and how it helps the environment. They discover which products are recyclable and which ones are not.
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How Long Does Trash Last
Students work in cooperative groups to estimate how long trash lasts in a landfill. They study environmental consequences of not recycling and use graph-making software to create a graph that illustrates the lifespan of trash items...
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Fashion Recycles
Complete fashion design activities as a part of a study on protecting the environment. In this fashion and environment instructional activity, students discuss global environmental awareness and work in groups to list recyclable products...
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Waste Management
Four different activities focus on the amount of trash generated and how humans can better manage waste. Learners analyze two days' worth of household garbage, test materials for biodegradability, and rate recyclability of various...
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Tissue Paper Dye Painting
Use tissue paper squares to create collage art. Young artists discuss colors as they place and glue each piece of tissue on the paper. Tip: Cut out large basic shapes instead. Have the class create images using the tissue...
Curated OER
Compost Lesson
If you are looking for how to introduce elementary environmentalists to the process of composting, here is a comprehensive outline for making it happen. The plan is to set this up at the beginning of a school year in order to observe the...
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Marine Debris
Now is the time to educate tomorrow's citizens to care for the planet, and here is a lesson to help facilitate the process. Collect some marine debris and bring it into class. Have your class separate it into types and then test each...
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When Electronics Are No Longer Useful to Us: Disposing Responsibly
Students discover ways to recycle electronics. Through discussion and research, they identify ways in which electronics that are improperly disposed can be harmful to the environment. Students explore how to responsibly dispose of...
American Museum of Natural History
Be a Water Saver
Everyone must do their part to make a difference. The lesson link provides an 11-item questionnaire to reflect on conservation practices. Simple and straightforward, the lesson is perfect as a remote learning resource or as a tool for an...
Virginia Department of Education
Owl Family Natural Selection
How do genetic mutations within a population lead to future variations? Provide your class with the resources to answer this question and more upon completing an activity on natural selection. The entire class participates in a...
PBS
Twirling in the Breeze
Blow classes away with a hands-on lesson investigating wind speed. Learners use common materials to design and construct anemometers. They then test their anemometers and collect data on the wind speed created by a fan.
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Save the Trees
In this recycling activity, students conduct a brief investigation regarding the recycling of paper in their classroom and respond to 5 questions that enable them to see the number of trees they are saving.
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Your Trash, My Treasure
Middle schoolers create their own sculpture representing the idea of environmental responsibility and recycling. For this science lesson, students observe Les Constellations des Voisines du Pole by Joseph Cornell, make...
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Don't Forget the Three R's
Students encourage one another in recycling. In this environment and art lesson, students create a new recycling bin that would help people in remembering to recycle.
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Recycling: The Way to Save...Fad or Fact
Students write stories about recycling and illustrate them. They examine various containers and determine whether or not they are recyclable. They make a chart about the containers and visit a recycling center.
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Rooftop Gardens
Second graders investigate how to help a city building remain cooler on the inside. They create a rooftop garden in order to shield the building and lower the internal temperature. The garden is meant to replace the black tar paper that...
Curated OER
Papier-Mâché Globe
Paper mache projects are great for using up paper from the recycle bin. Give your class the chance to create a three-dimensional globe out of paper mache. They'll work to make their globes as accurate as possible, adding proper colors...
Curated OER
Constructions and Creations: Sturdy Structures
Have your class draw the plans and design a structure. Learners discuss and investigate the variables in the stability of a 2D and 3D model. They also consider how to add a circuit to the design. Afterwards, they present their work.