Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

 

It is important for students to learn the necessity of taking care of the Earth. Students will come to realize that the very easy and simple tasks can have a tremendous impact on our Earth. In this unit, students will learn about reducing, reusing, and recycling and its impact on our Earth. 

 

I would start off teaching the "Three R's" with the book You Are Stardust by Elin Kelsey. This book makes a close connection between humans and nature. There are many things we have in common with nature and the animals that surround us. After reading this book, I would want to highlight that since we are closely connected with nature, we should take good care of it because it is a part of us. We can help nature grow and flourish, or we can hinder it by not taking care of it. Students can write a response to the book by answering the writing prompts: In what ways do you feel like you are connected with the Earth and nature around us?  Before the students work independently on the writing response, I would lead a group discussion on different ways we are connected to nature. 

 

Next, I would use the book 10 Things I Can Do To Help My World by Melanie Walsh. This book highlights the simple yet effective ways at showcasing the little things we can all do to better our planet for ourselves and for our future. To get the students thinking about ways they can reduce the amount of waste they produce in their world, I would present the group with questions to think about:

• If you write on both sides of the paper, how does this reduce waste?

• If you buy one big bottle of detergent instead of three small ones, how does this reduce waste?

• If you use a reusable lunch box instead of paper, how does this reduce waste?

• If you use dishes instead of paper plates, how does this reduce waste? 

These questions will get them thinking about ways they can help the Earth by reducing or reusing. At this time, I will also show the students some of the non-print resources, such as the video on the family that does not know that they are wasting a ton of energy in their house. 

 

By this point, the students should become aware of the importance of taking care of their Earth, as well as some easy and simple tasks to reduce the amount of waste and reuse objects in their environment. After reading some of the fun fiction books, like Micheal Recycle by Ellie Bethel and Awesome Dawson by Chris Gall, it would be a perfect time to introduce some objects that students can recycle and use to create new objects or toys. Some of the questions that I would highlight during this activity are the following: 

• What items can we recycle? 

• What can we do with the recycled items? 

• Can we reuse them to make something else?

• What else can we make with them? 

​In the two books, the kids used recycle items, such as plastic water bottles and broken items around the house or in the garbage, to make brand new toys and inventions. I would have the students bring some things from home or I would provide the class with these items (plastic water bottles, detergent bottles, cereal boxes, newspapers, magazines, etc.) and have the students identify which items can be recycled or reused or both. Then I would have students invent new toys or tools with these items. When they are finished making their item, they will write a little bit of information about their item, such as what it could be used for. The students will share with their peers their new invention/toy. 

 

As a final activity for the students, I would have them do a Reader's Theater or a little skit to go over all that they have learned about the "Three R's." Here is an example of a skit that I thought would be a good overview of everything that they have learned:

 

**THE CLASS WILL BE SPLIT INTO THREE GROUPS**

Part 1: Reduce

Narrator: There are three important ways to help take care of the Earth.

Entire Class: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!

Narrator: When you reuse things, you can help the Earth. 

*Then each student in the "reduce" group presents an item. Here is an example of what the students might say:

"This is paper. When you use less paper, you reduce waste." 

*Then they would place the paper in the bin labeled "Reduce". 

 

Part 2: Reuse

Narrator: There are three important ways to help take care of the Earth.

Entire Class: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!

Narrator: When you reuse things instead of throwing them out, you can help the Earth.

*Then each student in the "reuse" group presents an item. Here is an example of what the students might say:

"This is a reusable lunch box."

*Then they would place the lunch box in the bin labeled "Reuse". 

 

Part 3: Recycle

Narrator: There are three important ways to help take care of the Earth.

Entire Class: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!

Narrator: Recycling is using something again. When you recycle things you can help the Earth. 

*Then each student in the "recycle" group presents an item. Here is an example of what the students might say:

"This is a plastic water bottle. You can recycle this." 

*Then they would place the plastic water bottle in the bin labeled "Recycle". 

 

There are several other books and resources teachers can use to teach students the importance of practicing the "Three R's" in their everyday lives. I personally think this is a wonderful unit for students to learn about. The Earth is where we live and we need to take care of it in order to lead happy and healthy lives!