NEW 2015 RESOURCES
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Theme Page
Here are a number of links to Internet sites which contain information and/or other links related to the specific theme of Recycling. Please read our
disclaimer.
Access
Excellence
-
- Ecology
of the Dump Three activities concerning solid waste management. One
lasts one week, another several months, and there is a follow up activity
suitble for both.
- Waste
Management There are four activities in this teaching unit in which
students investigate household trash, biodegradability, packaging, and
recycling.
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Ask
Eric Lesson Plans - Pollution and Recycling
- This lesson focuses on three types of pollution and how students can work
together to cycle..
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Composting
in Schools
- Menu selections include: Why Composting? Teacher's Page (lesson plans,
activities, teacher forum); Ideas for Student Research Projects; Compost Quiz;
Science and Engineering (explaining the science and engineering behind composting;
includes experiments); Composting Indoors; Composting Outdoors; Weird and
Unusual Composting; and, Frequently Asked Questions.
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Hazardous
Waste Disposal Theme Page
- This CLN theme page has resources for both students and teachers on the
topic of hazardous waste disposal. Many of these will provide background information
that will be useful to students researching recycling issues.
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[The]
Imagination Factory
- You'll find creative ways to recycle by engaging your students in art projects/activities
that make use of a ready source of inexpensive art supplies - namely your
trash. Be sure to look in their "Previous Art Activities" for an archive of
their suggestions - organized into 10 categories: Drawing, Sculpture, Painting,
Holidays, Printmaking, Fiber Arts, Collage, Marbling, General Information,
and Crafts.
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Lesson
Plans
- Eleven lesson plans in recycling for students in grades 1-7 from the Texas
Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC). In addition, there are three
lessons on composting from the Texas A&M University.
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Recycle
- Instructions for an educational card game for students aged 8 - 12 in which
they become familiarized with the various recyclable items that are normally
discarded in the garbage.
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Recycling
Lesson Plans
- Eight lesson plans for students in K-12 from the Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection. They illustrate a variety of recycling concepts,
including the creation and collection of waste, developing attitudes against
littering, recycling as an alternative to disposal, and learning about the
costs of disposal.
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Reduce,
Reuse, Recycle
- The main objective of this teaching unit is to change students' personal
behavior through awareness. The lesson plan includes helpful background information,
links to resources, student activities, and lecture notes. Grades 1 - 12.
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RotWeb
- Everything you wanted to know about composting. Check out their "Teacher
Resources" for student handouts, activities, and other resources.
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Smile
Program Biology Index
- Teachers participating in the SMILE (Science and Mathematics Initiative
for Learning Enhancement) summer session programs each create a single concept
lesson plan. This database has a few lessons on recycling in their section
on Environmental Studies and Ecology. Caution: Since there is a wide number
of authors who have contributed to the database, the detail and quality of
the lesson plans will vary.
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Solid
Waste and Recycling
- A five lesson unit plan by Bernita Robinson. There are activities/lessons
focused on litter, paper recycling, solid waste, canned pencils, and plain
plane.
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Throwing
It All Away
- In this lesson plan, grade 6-12 students use a NY Times article as a starting
point to "investigate what happens to commonly used items and products once
they are thrown away or sent to be recycled, analyzing and understanding the
relationship between a product's ingredients and its effects on the environment
and on the health of the living things on Earth."
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To
Recycle or Not To Recycle
- In this webquest, elementary students conduct research on the pros and
cons of a mandatory recycling program and present their views to other members
of a committee.
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SimpleHuman Trash Cans
- Site reviewing the best trash cans you can buy.
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United
States Environmental Protection Agency
- This comprehensive site from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has
resources targeted for both students and teachers.
- [The]
Consumer's Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste Practical steps that
families can take to reduce the amount and toxicity of garbage.
- HAZ-ED:
Classroom Activities for Understanding Hazardous Waste Teacher resources
include downloadable PDF files that offer warm up exercises, activities,
fact flashes, and a glossary.
- Recycle
City Students learn about the three R's by touring various sections
of "Recycle City" and seeing how the various organizations and citizens
reduce, reuse, and recyle. There's also a "Dumptown game" where students
can play the role of a city manager who has been hired to start programs
that encourage Dumptown's citizens and businesses to recycle and reduce
waste all the while remaining within a budget of course. An Activities
section contains suggestions for using the site within the classroom.
- Wastes:
Kids Page Online activities for students.
- Waste
No Words A crossword puzzle activity.
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Water
Recycling
- Learn how waste water in North Carolina is purified by recycling it a natural
way.

Note: The sites listed above will serve as a source of content in Recycling. For other resources in Social Studies - Environment(e.g., curricular content in Biomes, Endangered Species, or Hazardous Waste Disposal), or for lesson plans and theme pages, click the "previous screen" button below. Or, click here if you wish to return directly to the CLN menu which will give you access to educational resources in all of our subjects.