recycling for kids

Created Feb. 7, 2024 by Erin Knepley

This is a problem based learning project of first grade students, the purpose of this project is for young children to know and understand how to recycle and how it effects our everyday life.  Through this projects students will be using their geographic skills, some math, and their imaginations! The first grade Indiana state standard number one for history will be met with this project, that standard states that the "students identify continuity and change in the different environments around them, including school and neighborhood communities, and identify individuals, events and symbols that are important to our country” (Standard 1 — History). 

Driving Question: What is recycling? How does it keep our town clean and protect future generations?

Grabber Activities: 


  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaFpv03hq-4#t=0
  2. http://www.timeforkids.com/news/earth-day/87036
  3. http://www.timetorecycle.org/pdf/EDUCATION/Recycling%20Fun%20Facts.pdf
  4. The final grabber is a hands on activity, this will consist of different stations containing both things that could be categorized as trash, as well as things that could be categorized as recyclable. Next the students will be asked to separate each  different piece into two piles, recyclable and trash.    

Culminating Activity: 

  1. Our first project is identification of a nearby landfill. As a class we will identify the closest landfill. After the class understands where it is, they will be broken off into their assigned project groups. Each group will be given a map of the state and they will place a sticker where the landfill is located and one where their town is. The information each group should give is how far away the landfill is. Next, each group will be asked to give examples of how recycling can help keep the environment keep clean. They will present this information in an imovie trailer, each group will be required to also include an example of how their community participates in recycling. Finally, each group must use their imagination and imagine what our world would be like if everyone recycled and what it would be like if recycling did not exist, this would also be presented in an iMovie. 

Document further explaining the project and its benefits. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iXqr2hJdq9_BHVK4W4VRH9cXqoJgh1EuYLY05ZVxtT4/edit

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