Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students brainstorm and share opinions about products that can be reused or recycled after reading the article, "Seattle's Recycling Success Is Being Measured in Scraps." They then investigate, analyze and evaluate articles on recycling...
Lesson Plan
Deliberating in a Democracy

Recycling

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How often have you passed by a recycling container in your school? Scholars research the issue of recycling in the ever-changing global world. Using documentation and video evidence, they form their own opinions on recycling and how it...
Lesson Plan
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WE Charity

High School–Module 2: Circular Economy and Nature

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Everyone's heard the popular slogan reduce, reuse, recycle, but there may be a better way to talk about sustainability. Using the second lesson plan from the five-part WE Are Innovators—High School Modules series, learners explore issues...
Lesson Plan
1
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Curated OER

Magazine Holder

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Learners investigate ways to save our environment by creating a recycled product.  In this sustainable materials lesson, students create a magazine holder by recycling a large cardboard box and gift wrap or wallpaper.  Learners...
Activity
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Happy Earth Day Coloring Book

For Teachers 1st - 5th
From turning off lights when leaving a room, to biking or walking to school, there are many simple habits children can develop to help preserve the earth. Help raise environmental awareness in your class with this activity packet that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fashion Recycles

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Complete fashion design activities as a part of a study on protecting the environment. In this fashion and environment lesson, students discuss global environmental awareness and work in groups to list recyclable products that can be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Race to Reuse

For Teachers K - 6th
Students discover the benefits of recycling by participating in a group activity.  In this environmental care lesson, students analyze trash bins and discover new uses for items to be thrown away.  Students read the book What...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We Recycle!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss and brainstorm the need for recycling. They also learn what materials they use are recyclable. They are to start their own recycling center in their school. They promote recycling by using posters and other graphics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aluminum Can Drive

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders complete a recycling project to clean-up their school. In this service project lesson, 2nd graders assess their campus for litter, set up a recycling project, clean up their campus, and recycle the trash. Students also...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Tree is a Friend

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discover the value of trees in our society.  In this ecosystem instructional activity, 5th graders read the book, A Tree is Nice, and discuss with classmates how trees are essential to our existence due to creating...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Good Litter, Bad Litter

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Which ones can be thrown on the ground? Discover the difference between natural litter and unhealthy trash, helping scholars by using several examples. Use the information here to give them a basic background, but also encourage prior...
Lesson Plan
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Montana State University

Climb into Action!

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Climate change affects even the largest and intimidating of landforms—even Mount Everest! A resource helps teach learners the connection between global climate change and its effects on Earth. Activities include videos, class discussion,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lunchroom Trash

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore the amount of waste produced by humans. In this ecology instructional activity, students predict which lunch bag and its contents will produce the most waste. Leftover material is examined, amounts are recorded, and a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Not In My Backyard: Siting A Resource Recovery Facility

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students role play a town meeting in which a new resource facility could be built. They have time to question each other after all sides have presented.
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

For Teachers 3rd
Activity provides ideas for how to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Activity
Environmental Education for Kids

Eek!: Wee Recyclers and Wee Crafts

For Students Pre-K - 1st
A collection of educational materials - coloring pages, stories, games, lesson plans, activity sheets, etc. - for young children to learn how to recycle and why it is so important.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Kids: Science Rockers: Recycling Paper

For Students 3rd - 8th
Easy recycling experiment through which recycle newspaper, by turning the used paper into pulp and then back to paper.
Interactive
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Dumptown Game

For Students 3rd - 8th
This fun game helps students learn ways to recycle, reduce waste, and compost. You can also create your own Recycle City Scavenger Hunt.
Handout
Other

City of Phoenix: Recyclesaurus Activity Book [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 5th
This activity book teaches about reducing, reusing, and recycling materials. Students can decode words, color, do a word scramble, and learn how to compost. Written in both English and Spanish.
Interactive
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Recycle City

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Explore the four neighborhoods of Recycle City to learn all the ways people there are recycling, reducing, and reusing materials. Take a look also at Dumptown, which is how Recycle City used to look, and see all the waste reduction...
Unit Plan
Next.cc

Next: Recycling

For Students 3rd - 8th
Multiple activities explore and explain the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Click on one of the links provided for further information.
Interactive
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: The Planet Protectors: Activities for Kids

For Students 3rd - 5th
Through this EPA resource, explore your environment and discover the animals, plants, air, and water around you. Learn how to protect the world we live in with fun games.
Lesson Plan
Better Planet Productions

Earth Care: Recycling Survey [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
For this activity, students construct a survey about recycling practices in their school and community, then share the results in class and draw conclusions.
Website
abcteach

Abcteach: Earth Day Activities

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
[Free Registration/Login Required] How can you treat the earth with more respect? Check out this resource featuring links to elementary activities to celebrate Earth Day. You will find word searches, crossword puzzles, reading...