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Hello Naidelyn,
While all three of the Rs are important I find that we really only concentrate recycling. Reducing our use of resources, which in turn reduces energy consumption and waste, is the ideal first step. This involves big commitments to change our habits.
For your young class I recommend that you start with awareness. Identify and quantify the waste in your classroom. This integrates math, observation, measuring and sorting skills. Create displays of the data collected. Students can research how the different items in the trash are produced and how they behave in the environment.
Now that the students have a base line of their waste production brainstorm ideas to reduce the amount. This may include communication to parents on your class’s ideas. Keep on quantifying the waste-production and track their results as they work through the reduction campaign.
Ask the class if there is refuse that could be replaced with reusable items such forks, spoons, water bottles. Keep recording the waste produced and updating your display of data. Now identify the items still being discarded that can be recycled and research how recycling is done.
Once your students are 3R practitioners consider introducing them to advocacy. Create posters, make presentations to other classes, set up an information booth with literature for the other students in the school.
Your 3R program has now become a complete cross-curricular project!
Hope this helps!
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