Recycling

Donna L. Mead                  Bass Elementary School
                               1140 W. 66th Street
                               Chicago IL 60636
                               (773) 535-3279

Objectives:

The third grade student will be able to:
     1. Define recycling.
     2. Identify recyclable materials.
     3. Categorize recyclable materials.
     4. Understand the importance of filtration
     5. Identify the recycle symbols

Materials Needed:
          
chalk                           recyclable paper
blender                         recyclable plastic
window screen                   recyclable aluminum (tin)
plastic bowl                    shoebox with lid 
construction paper              onion
paper towel                     baking soda
tissue paper                    2 Ziploc bags
baking pan                      measuring spoon
newspaper                       saucer
6 plastic cups                  coffee filter
terry cloth                     gauze
water

Strategy:

Introduction: 
     The teacher will ask students to tell the uses of water.  Wait for   
response.  The teacher will then ask students to imagine the world without 
water.  Wait for students to respond.  Students will understand the importance 
of water and know that they can not exist without it.  The teacher will stress 
the importance of clean water and explain to students the natural process of 
filtration. 
    
Activity 1: 
Students will observe an experiment to show how water is filtered using various 
types of filters.  The teacher will have six plastic cups.  The first three will 
be labeled A, B and C.  Each cup will have a tablespoon of soil.  Then fill 
with water (stir the soil and water well).  Cover the second set of three cups 
with a filter.  There are three filters in all (coffee filter, terry cloth, and 
gauze).  Ask students to predict which cup will filter the cleanest water.  Wait 
for responses.  Demonstrate for students by pouring the first cup marked A into 
the cup with the coffee filter.  Then do the same for cup B.  Explain to 
students that the filter with the most soil on top is the one that would have 
the cleaner water.                                                    
 
The teacher will explain to the students how water is recycled by a natural 
process similar to the experiment.  The teacher will generate a discussion on 
recycling.  Students will be able to give a definition on recycling from 
discussion, the teacher will identify for students the symbols for recycling.   

Activity 2:
The teacher will show students various recyclable items.  Some items will bear 
the recycle symbol and some will not.  Ask students to come up and examine the 
items.  The items should include plastics, aluminum (tin), and paper 
(cardboard).  Have students make columns on their notebook paper.  Label each 
column [paper, plastic, and aluminum (tin)].  Ask students to write the items 
that belong to the categories on their paper.  Also, have students mark an 
asterisk next to the items that have the symbol displayed.  Ask students if the 
items that did not have symbol can be recycled?  Tell them yes, because 
sometimes items will not have symbol but will tell you to recycle.   

The teacher will explain to students how their input to recycle will help save 
our planet.  Tell students to go home and look for items with the symbol or the 
word recycle displayed. 

Activity 3:
The teacher will explain to students how paper is recycled in order to be 
reused.  The teacher will pass out one piece of construction paper to every 
student.  Have students tear the paper into tiny pieces.  The teacher will 
choose two or three students at a time to come up and put their pieces into a 
plastic bowl.  The teacher will have  a blender ready for use.  Students will be 
asked to observe while the teacher mixes into the blender.  Twenty percent paper 
and eighty percent water.  The paper should mix until it is pulp like.  Once the 
paper is pulp, the teacher will place a screen into a baking pan, and pour the 
pulp onto the screen.  Students will observe and ask questions if necessary.  
The teacher will spread the pulp evenly and place newspaper on top of the pulp, 
(a sponge can also come in handy for drying).  Lift the screen from the baking 
pan and flip over onto some newspaper for drying purposes.  The teacher can 
remove the screen and cover homemade paper with newspaper.  You have just made 
your very own homemade paper.  Let paper stand to dry.  Students will enjoy 
watching and participating in paper making. 

The teacher will explain to the students the importance of recycling paper.  The 
teacher will emphasize that there aren't enough trees in the world to cut down 
for paper making.  Students will be asked what would happen if all the trees 
were cut down.  Wait for responses.  Explain to students that trees protect us 
from pollution in the air. 

Activity 4:
The teacher will cut an onion the day before the lesson and place into a shoebox 
with a lid.  The shoebox will have a tablespoon of baking soda sprinkled in it.  
It is important that the onion sits in the shoebox overnight with the baking 
soda.  The teacher will have two Ziploc bags marked used and unused.  The unused 
bag will have a tablespoon of baking soda.  The day of the lesson, the teacher 
will have students smell the unused bag, then take a tablespoon of the baking 
soda from the shoebox and place it in the used bag.  Students should smell the 
onion in the used bag and not smell anything in the unused bag.  Students will 
learn that the baking soda absorbed the smell from the onion.  The teacher 
should stress to students how breathing pollutants in the air can have an effect 
on our bodies. 
    
This last activity is an introduction to a lesson on air pollution.

Performance Assessment:

     Have students define recycling orally.  Allow students to explain why it is 
important to recycle.  Ask students to name recyclable items and why are the 
items recyclable.  Students will demonstrate how filtration works by giving 
examples through illustration.