Unit 05: Investigating Natural Resources Through Conservation
8 Days: Begin on Wed., Dec. 1; Finish by Dec. 17. (Week of Dec. 6 is CBA week – use days to review,
administer, and go over CBA’s for math, science, and reading.)
The plans for November 29th and 30th are under the November 29th tab – This is 2 days of the unit
Key Understandings
• The order in which we should conserve resources is: reduce,
reuse, and then recycle.
• Recycling materials can reduce the rate of depletion of resources.
• Some materials are not easily recycled.
• The wasteful or unnecessary use of natural resources can limit
their availability for other purposes.
Performance Indicator:
• Using a variety of recyclable products, including paper, plastics,
and metals, create a new product that could be useful to someone.
(1.1C; 1.3A; 1.7C)
Teacher Background information
There are several ways of implementing the 3R's.
One is certainly to buy products made from
recycled a material which completes the recycling
circle. Another way which is most popular is to
recycle/reuse paper, plastic, glass and other items
through curbside recycling pickup or centers
designated for that purpose. Items can be created
from used items- such as a planter from an old
boot or tennis shoe, a pencil holder from a
vegetable can, a picture frame from puzzle pieces,
tote bags from old T-shirts. Imagination is the key
to re-using items. Repair items like appliances so
that the garbage in landfills will be reduced.
Day
Information
Lessons
Wed., Dec. 1
Engage:
• Examine the contents of the classroom
wastebasket. (You will want to make sure
that you set up the trash that is in the waste
basket to some extent- for example, you will
want to have an empty plastic water bottle, a
rinsed out aluminum can, trash paper, a used
plastic baggie (trash, not recyclable) and
something like an apple core- this will ensure
that you have appropriate materials to sort.)
• Ask the group to identify the various types of
waste materials generated in the classroom.
• Categorize the waste materials as paper
products, glass, metals, plastics, organic
wastes, and “other”.
• Ask students if there are other items that would go into
the categories.
• Record the findings in science notebook or
on chart paper.
Julie is having a coloring
book made for all teachers
about conservation that she
got from CAST 
Students need to know
reduce, reuse and recycle
Thursday,
Dec. 2
Explore:
• Students could work individually, in pairs or
in small groups. Complete a sorting activity
“What can We Recycle?” (A sample is
attached)
Friday, Dec. 3
Explore/Explain:
• Read a story about recycling, such as, “Why
Should I Recycle?” By Jen Green, “The
Three R's: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle” by
Nuria Roca, “Recycle!” By Gail Gibbons,
“Don't Throw That Away!: A Lift-the-Flap
Book about Recycling and Reusing” by Lara
Bergen or “Recycling” by Rhonda Lucas
Donald
Teachers need to go to the
library to get books about
recycling
Week of Dec.
6
REVIEW for and GIVE CBA’s
Monday,
December 13
Explore/Explain:
No new lessons this week. Teachers could do some
review activities.
Have students bring empty
items from home – see list in
next column
• Display a selection of items, such as, but not
limited to soup can (rinsed out), old boot,
cereal boxes, clothing, milk cartons, milk
jugs, egg cartons, puzzles that are missing
pieces.
• Choose one item and as a whole class
brainstorm as many new ways to use the
item as they can.
• Have small groups repeat this activity with
another item. Record ideas in science
notebook.
• Have a class discussion about why reducing,
reusing and recycling is important for the
environment. Make sure to include the
following understandings as part of the
conversation:
� Recycling materials can reduce the
rate of depletion of resources.
� Some materials are not easily
recycled.
� The wasteful or unnecessary use of
natural resources can limit their
availability for other purposes.
Tuesday, Dec
14
Elaborate:
• Now that students have an idea about what
kinds of materials can be recycled (glass,
plastic, paper, aluminum cans), show some
short video clips on how these products are
made from resources that come from the
Earth:
• How glass is made:
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/28024
-some-assembly-required-how-glass-is-madevideo.
htm
• How paper is made:
http://www.forestryvideos.net/videos/international
-paper-company-the-story-of-paper-1
• How aluminum cans are recycled
http://www.flixya.com/video/1399391/How_Alumi
num_Cans_are_made()
• How plastic bottles are made
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xauw2o_recycl
ing-plastic-water-bottles_tech
Wed., Dec. 15
Evaluate:
• Performance Indicator: Using a variety of
recyclable products, including paper,
plastics, and metals, create a new product
that could be useful to someone. (1.1C; 1.3A;
1.7C)
Thurs., Dec.
TEACHER DAY; Early Release
17