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Conservation, Disposal and Recycling

Conservation, Disposal and Recycling

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to identify and demonstrate how to use, conserve, and dispose of natural resources and materials such as conserving water and reuse or recycling of paper, plastic, and metal.


Essential Understanding

The student conducts classroom and outdoor investigations following home and school safety procedures.

Science Background

Recycling: Environmental Protection Agency (website) – Recycling creates valuable resources from materials that otherwise would become waste. This EPA website outlines the benefits to recycling, and explains the steps involved in the recycling process.

Recycling
US Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov

Reduce & Reuse: US Environmental Protection Agency (website) - By reducing consumption and reusing materials, individuals and industry can save natural resources and lower costs. Navigate this site for information about strategies we all can employ to conserve resources—and the benefits to be gained by doing so.

Reduce & Reuse
US Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov

Signature Lesson

Graphing Trash Materials: Illuminations (website) – Students participate in activities that identify recyclable materials and develop plans to use, conserve, and dispose of natural resources and materials.

Graphing Trash Materials
Illuminations, illuminations.nctm.org

Supporting Lessons

Recycled Materials: Science NetLinks (website) - Students identify materials that can be recycled and find possible uses for recyclable materials.

Recycled Materials
Science NetLinks, www.sciencenetlinks.com

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Thirstin’s Wacky Water Adventures: US Environmental Protection Agency (PDF) - Information about water treatment and water as a natural resource that should be reused, recycled and conserved. Includes water trivia questions to spur conversation, student pages with puzzles, and more.

Thirstin's Wacky Water Adventures
US Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov

Assessment Ideas

Waste Race: US Environmental Protection Agency (PDF) - Scroll to page 201 of this activity guide for instructions on setting up a relay race in which students demonstrate their understanding of the difference between reusable, recyclable, compostable and/or disposable waste.

Waste Race
US Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov

Literature Connections

Why Should I Recycle? Green, Jen (ISBN-13: 978-0764131554)

Temperature: Heating Up and Cooling Down. Stille, Darlene (ISBN-13: 978-1404803459)

The Lorax. Dr. Seuss (ISBN-13: 978-0394823379)

Related Science TEKS

(2.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to identify and demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including wearing safety goggles, washing hands, and using materials appropriately.

(2.1B) Importance of Safe Practices
The student is expected to describe the importance of safe practices.

(2.2A) Ask Questions
The student is expected to ask questions about organisms, objects, and events during observations and investigations.

(2.2B) Plan and Conduct Descriptive Investigations
The student is expected to plan and conduct descriptive investigations such as how organisms grow.

(2.2C) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data from observations using simple equipment such as hand lenses, primary balances, thermometers, and non-standard measurement tools.

(2.2D) Record and Organize Data & Observations
The student is expected to record and organize data using pictures, numbers, and words.

(2.2E) Communicate and Justify Explanations
The student is expected to communicate observations and justify explanations using student-generated data from simple descriptive investigations.

(2.2F) Comparing Results of Investigations
The student is expected to compare results of investigations with what students and scientists know about the world.

(2.3B) Make Predictions
The student is expected to make predictions based on observable patterns.

Related Math TEKS

2.12D    The student is expected to use tools such as real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.

2.13A    The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

Recycling Lessons and Activities for Students: Kitsap County (WA) Public Works (PDF) - Activities, suggested further reading, and vocabulary focusing on recycling/reuse, waste reduction, composting and more.

Recycling Lessons and Activities for Students
Kitsap County (WA) Public Works, www.kitsapgov.com

The Truth About Water: Clark County Soil and Water Conservation District ct (website) - Discuss the careful management and preservation of natural resources and the environment. Scroll down to find interesting “Q&A” facts that can assess your students’ understanding of conserving, recycling and reusing our natural resources.

The Truth About Water
Clark County Soil and Water Conservation District (CT), www.clarkswcd.org

Recycling: Energy Kids (website) - Students learn that different kinds of materials can be recycled, and that it takes less energy to make a product from recycled materials than from new materials.

Recycling
Energy Kids, www.eia.gov

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