Recycling WebQuest
By: Mrs. Allison and Mr. Kelm
Introduction
 What is recycling? You are about to embark on a recycling
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adventure in which you will discover the answer to this and
many other questions! Please follow the outline below as a
guide for your new quest.
Task
Process
Resources
Evaluation
Conclusion
Link for Educators
Task
 The goal of this WebQuest is to aid students in the
exploration of recycling and the recycling process. Upon
completing this WebQuest, students will be able to:
 define what recycling is
 identify which materials can and cannot be recycled
 explain how the recycling process works (collection,
processing, and manufacturing)
 understand why we recycle
 reflect on their own recycling habits and how it impacts the
world around them
Process
 Day One: Watch online video on recycling. Begin class
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discussion on recycling.
Day Two: Conduct online research.
Day Three: Investigate how school recycles. Receive ‘at
home’ recycling investigation.
Day Four: Discuss results of at-home recycling project.
Create home-made paper from recycled materials.
Day Five: Field Trip to local recycling center. Receive
weekend project.
Day Six: Email local companies to find out if they make
products from recycled materials.
Process: Day One
 Online Recycling Video:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzuJR_3DJPY
 Teacher-led class discussion:
 What do you Know about recycling?
 What do you Want to know about recycling?
 Fill out ‘K’ and ‘W’ of the KWL graphic organizer.
Process: Day Two
 Research recycling facts below and add to the “L” portion of
your KWL graphic organizer:
 http://www.benefits-of-recycling.com/recyclingforkids.html
 http://www.livestrong.com/article/173487-recycling-facts-
for-kids/
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G6RjMHKpsg
 Teacher-led discussion:
 What have we Learned about recycling?
 Fill out the ‘L’ part of the graphic organizer.
Process: Day Three
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c5cnM_TdHw
 Investigate how school recycles:
 Class will form 8 small groups, venture into different areas of the
school, and fill-out “Recycling Investigation Worksheet”.
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Group One: Kindergarten Classroom
Group Two: First-grade Classroom
Group Three: Second-grade Classroom
Group Four: Third-grade Classroom
Group Five: Fourth-grade Classroom
Group Six: Fifth-grade Classroom
Group Seven: Office/Library
Office Eight: Lunchroom
 Share results of school investigation with class
 Interview with the Janitor
 Receive at-home recycling investigation
Process: Day Four
 Teacher-led discussion about the results of the at-home
recycling investigation.
 Make home-made paper from recycled paper:
 Teacher-led discussion on the process of paper-making using
this link:
 http://www.edcodisposal.com/kids/recycled-paper.html
 Students will split up into small groups and collect paper from
around the school to use for project.
 With teacher/parent guidance, students will follow papermaking instructions to make their own paper!
Process: Day Five
 Field Trip to local recycling center!
 Receive weekend project:
 http://pbskids.org/eekoworld/index.html?load=garbage_recy
cling
 Investigate a local store for products made from recycled
materials.
 Look for things that have the recycling arrows or say ‘Made from recycled
materials”.
 List one product from this store that is made from recycled
materials
Process: Day Six
 Email local companies to find out if they make products from
recycled materials:
 Work in small groups
 Do an internet search to find a local business
 Find contact information for business
 Research business to find out what products they make
 Compose e-mail to that business asking if they use recycled
materials in any of the products they make.
 Follow-up
 Class discussion about the responses that were received
Resources
 See Word files:
 KWL graphic organizer
 Recycling Investigation Worksheet
 Evaluation Sheet
 Additional Fun Web Links:
 http://www.kidsbegreen.org/
 http://www.kidsrecyclingzone.com/
 http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/
Evaluation
Conclusion
Teacher Page
 State Standards
 Objectives of Learning
 How WebQuest should be managed/implemented
Wisconsin State Standards
 Science, Standard H.4.4: Develop a list of issues that citizens
must make decisions about and describe a strategy for
becoming informed about the science behind these issues.
 Science Performance Standard B.4.1:Use encyclopedias,
source books, texts, computers, teachers, parents, other
adults, journals, popular press, and various other sources, to
help answer science-related questions and plan investigations.
 Social Studies Performance Standard D.4.7:Describe how
personal economic decisions, such as deciding what to buy,
what to recycle, or how much to contribute to people in
need, can affect the lives of people in Wisconsin, the United
States, and the world.
Objectives of Learning
 Upon completing this WebQuest we want students to have
learned:
 What materials can be recycled
 How recycled materials are collected
 What happens to recyclables after they’re collected
 What products are made from recycled materials
 Why recycling is important
 What can be done to improve their own recycling habits
How WebQuest should be
managed/implemented
 This WebQuest is designed to be completed over several
days. A lot of guidance by the teacher (teacher-led
discussions, teacher/parent assisted paper-making project,
teacher planned field trip, teacher arranged interview with
janitor) and will also require the cooperation of other grades
and areas of the school (for the school recycling
investigation).
 For the paper-making project, the teacher will need to have
the frames for draining/drying pre-made and will need to
bring in at least 2 blenders (see link for instructions).