Think Earth 2014/15
First grade
Topic: Recycling and Conservation
“Think Earth” First
Lesson Plan:
Learning Objectives
Students will become
acquainted with
conservation and
recycling, including
harder-to-recycle
materials.
Utah Core Objectives
1. 1st Grade:
Content Core,
Stand III,
Objective 1
Time
40 minutes
Materials Needed:
 Think Earth CD
 DVD
player/screen
 Five bags
complete
w/recyclables
 Landfill book
Spare time activities:
 Garbage BIG
book
 Puzzle
 Posters
Handouts:
 HHWaste flyer
 Recycle Utah
tri-fold
 Lesson review
e-mail from
teacher to
parents
This lesson plan made
possible by a grant from
The Lund Foundations
1. Introduction – What/Where is Recycle Utah? Curbside
bins – why is Recycle bigger? Show landfill book and discuss
the four materials (paper=trees, glass=sand, metal=iron ore
and plastic=oil). Discuss Mother Earth flag and why we care
for her.
(10 minutes).
2. Recycling Lesson - have 40 - 50 recyclable items
scattered in the middle of the floor with four bags for Glass,
Metal, Plastics, Paper and ???. Ask the kids “what is this
mess?” Trash? Get five volunteers – one for each bag. Then
let the kids sort – table by table or randomly select four at a t
ime – each child to select 3 items to put in a bag (including the
??? bag ). Let the Bag volunteers put away the remaining
items. It wasn’t Trash after all! Finish by reviewing contents
including the ??? Harder-to-recycle items. (10-15 minutes)
2. Elaborate on the harder-to-recycle items - many other
items are recyclable beyond what they saw today like
computers and cell phones, sneakers, bike tubes, batteries,
Styrofoam, skis, wood and more. Take them to Recycle Utah!
Explain what some items are made into and why it’s
important to keep them out of the trash. (5 minutes)
3. Show movie “Think Earth” (7 minutes). After the movie,
ask the students for a few of their own ideas of what they
will do to start conserving and recycling more. Recap lesson.
Key Concepts:
a. Recycling Knowledge – learn the categories, harder-torecycle items and Why it’s important to recycle.
b. Conservation – using less of everything: trash, water,
energy, gas/oil, and ‘stuff’ as depicted in movie. We all need
to do our part.
Recycle Utah, 1951 Woodbine Way / PO Box 682998, Park City, UT 84068.
PH: 435.649.9698. Recycling drop open 24/7.
Visit us at www.recycleutah.org