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Conservation, Disposal and Recycling

Conservation, Disposal and Recycling

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to make informed choices in the conservation, disposal, and recycling of materials.

Essential Understanding

The student conducts classroom and outdoor investigations, following home and school safety procedures and environmentally appropriate and ethical practices.

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
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
Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov

Signature Lesson

In Search of Recyclable Plastic: Wonderville (website) - Students collect and list plastic items from home, learn how to recycle different types of plastic, and become able to make informed choices regarding conservation and proper disposal of recyclable materials.

In Search of Recyclable Plastic
Wonderville, www.wonderville.ca

Supporting Lessons

Recycling: Discovery Education (website) - Students learn what biodegradable materials are, how they compare to man-made materials, and how they are “friendly” to the environment.

Recycling
Discovery Education, www.discoveryeducation.com

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Trash Art: US Environmental Protection Agency (PDF) - Scroll to page 59 for an activity that raises student awareness of the materials they throw away. With assistance from their parents, students collect trash from home, along with images of disposable garbage to create murals that illustrate how much we routinely waste.

Trash Art
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
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

(5.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to demonstrate safe practices and the use of safety equipment as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations.

(5.1B) Recycling/Disposal of Science Materials
The student is expected to make informed choices in the conservation, disposal, and recycling of materials.

(5.2A) Design/Conduct Experiment with One Variable
The student is expected describe, plan, and implement simple experimental investigations testing one variable.

(5.2B) Ask Questions, Formulate a Hypothesis
The student is expected to ask well-defined questions, formulate testable hypotheses, and select and use appropriate equipment and technology.

(5.2C) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect information by detailed observations and accurate measuring.

(5.2D) Analyze Evidence and Explain
The student is expected analyze and interpret information to construct reasonable explanations from direct (observable) and indirect (inferred) evidence.

(5.2F) Communicate Conclusions
The student is expected communicate valid conclusions in both written and verbal forms.

(5.2G) Graphs, Tables, Charts
The student is expected construct appropriate simple graphs, tables, maps, and charts using technology, including computers, to organize, examine, and evaluate information.

Related Math TEKS

5.12B    The student is expected to use experimental results to make predictions.
5.14D    The student is expected to use tools such as real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.
5.15A    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

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