Author |
Post |
|
|
Hello, I am currently completing my elementary education certificate at UMBC. For my methods of science class we are to design a 10-day unit. I wanted to focus my unit around the question: "What happens beyond the recycling bin?". I want to get students questioning other ways to recycle material and how to create new uses for them. Does anyone know any resources I could use from the Learning Center? Or does anyone have any ideas of activities I could implement to teach students about the many other ways to recycle other than just throwing paper into the recycling bin?
-Thank you!
|
|
|
|
Your question is a good one. It sounds like you want to include the other two R's in addition to recycling--reduce and reuse. Using your example of paper, students could brainstorm what can be done in the classroom (or school or home) to reduce the amount of paper used? What can be done to reuse it? This could be followed by designing a classroom action plan for reducing or reusing materials.
Mary B.
|
|
|
|
Hi Lindsay,
I found this article in the Learning Center:
http://common.nsta.org/resource/default.aspx?id=10.2505%2f4%2fsc00_038_02_30
It discusses how a class turned recycled products into an art project that they displayed in their school. Do you think you could use this as a different way to "recycle?" What other art projects do you think could be done?
Anyone else have experience teaching about recycling?
-Megan
|
|
|
|
Hello Megan,
Thank you so much for responding and providing a great article! I love how the article showed how to incorporate the National Science Education Standards. I also loved how the project grabbed the attention of the whole school. I definitely think students can see how recycling can be a form of art and a way to get creative. I like the idea of having students bring in recycled materials from home. The article reminded me you can recycle clothing as well. Perhaps students can bring in old shirts and sew them to make grocery bags.Or we could take pieces of material to create a large mosaic or collage.
Thank you again, this truly helped me start thinking of ideas.
-Lindsay
|
|
|
|
Have you heard of Steve Trash? He is a magician/musician who travels around the country and does shows for schools on how to use recycled products for other uses. He came to our school last month. The kids loved him. He has a teachers pay teachers site with lots of free resources, videos, and lesson ideas. He also has a website. I'll include both of these here. Perhaps you can get him to come to your school. A school I was at in Washington also had a recycling fair where students made inventions out of recycled products and then invited parents to come around and asked questions. Some were very interesting.
Here are the Steve Trash sources:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Steve-Trash
http://www.stevetrash.com/
|
|
|
|
Brenda,
Thank you so much for the resources. I checked out the sites and they are very helpful! I had not thought about having a guest speaker visit but that is an awesome way to get the students engaged and excited. I love the concept of a school fair. I was trying to think of a way to get parents involved and that is a great idea.
Thank you!
-Lindsay
|
|
|
|
You’re welcome. Our school worked with the city waste management and recycling center to bring Steve Trash to town. You could also ask for a tour of your local recycling center. Many of them have great educational programs too.
|
|
|
|
Hello, I think it is a great idea to expose kids to recycling at an early age. I found an interesting online article on explaining recycling to children. The article also includes a simple game will has the player properly sort recyclable material.
http://www.learningliftoff.com/teaching-kids-recycling/#.WgudQhOPK1t
|
|
|
|
Hi Bianca! Thank you so much for the article. It really was helpful and it is funny because I have been trying to think of ways to teach students how to sort materials. I thought of a race where there would be different bins outside and the students would have to race each other to put the right material in each bin. But, I like the game this article included because it is a great alternative on a rainy day and a great way to include technology. Thanks again.
-Lindsay
|
|