the CEED
THE CENTER FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT DESIGN
Lesson by: Samantha Spencer Brown
Title: Let’s Recycle!
Grade Level
Subject
Kindergarten
Objective(s):
° The student will recognize that some everyday items can
be recycled and/or reused.
° The student will develop an understanding of what types
of materials can typically be recycled.
° The student will sort objects according to whether or not
they can be recycled (recyclables vs. trash items).
° The student will sort recyclable items based on common
characteristics (paper, plastic, metal, etc…)
° The student will create something new out of recyclable
materials.
Science
SOL Addressed:
K.11 a and b:
° The student will investigate and understand that materials
can be reused, recycled, and conserved. Key concepts
include:
a) Materials and objects can be used over and over
again;
b) Everday materials can be recycled
Common Core Standards:
K-ESS3-3. Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact
of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things
in the local environment.
Materials:
° Activeboard connected to a computer for viewing “Gallery Images” of the CEED Building on
the CEED website
°4 Recycling bins for sorting recyclable materials (paper, plastic, metal/cans, and glass)
° 1 Trash bin for sorting/separating non-reusable or recyclable materials from those materials
that can be reused or recycled
° Variety of materials to sort into bins (newspapers, magazines, cardboard boxes, plastic
jugs/bottles, plastic containers, aluminum cans, aluminum foil, etc…)
Materials Needed
Per Class of 30
and
Prior Knowledge

Ways to
differentiate this
lesson plan

Prior Knowledge:
Students will need to be able to describe and/or identify the materials of the presented items
and how they are different from, or similar to each other,(paper, plastic, metal, glass, etc…) to
help them understand the reasoning for why these items are significant to the activity. Along
with describing and/or identifying the materials, students will need to have an understanding
of sorting objects based on similar attributes.
EXTENSION
- Students could draw a picture or write a sentence of other items that they have seen that
could be sorted (show or tell what the item is, along with which bin it would be sorted
into) that are not included in this particular lesson.
- Discussion of real-world objects students have seen or used that they know is made of
recycled or reused materials (“rubber mulch” on some playgrounds made from old tires,
purses/bags made of old jeans, etc…)
MODIFICATIONS
- Allow students to work together in pairs or small groups to sort objects and to make
“something new” form the provided recyclable materials for projects.
- Use pictures of items to sort on an Activeboard flipchart if recyclable materials are not
available for sorting portion of activity.
Ferrum College | The Gereau Center | Franklin County Public Schools | ceed.frco.k12.va.us
Parans Futura – “Preparing for the Future”
CEED
Instructional Activities
Anticipatory Set:
Show students the teacher-collected materials
(trash/non-reusable and reusable/recyclable
materials).
Introduction/
Anticipatory Set
Guided Practice
Questions to ask students:
 “Do any of these items look familiar?”
 “What can I do with these items?”
 “What do you do with these items at
home?”
Introduction:
Vocabulary terms: Reduce, reuse, and recycle
Watch the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” video on
www.brainpopjr.com
Discussion Questions:
 “What is waste?”
 “What does it mean to reuse
something?”
 “What does recycle mean?”
 “Why should we reduce, reuse, and
recycle?”
 “Tell me what you can do to help keep
our planet healthy. How is your idea good
for our Earth?”
Day 1:
1. Put out recycling bins and trash bin for students to see and explain what they are and what
each is to be used for in the classroom. Review types of materials that are considered to be
waste and which are considered to be recyclable, as learned in the video clip. “Who can tell
me what we learned about things that are considered to be waste? How do we know if
something can be recycled or not?” Briefly review and discuss what was learned about
recycling and reusing materials.
2. “We will be using these bins to sort through all of these objects. This bin will be for the plastic
items, this one for paper or cardboard, this one is for glass, and this one will be for metal
objects that we find. This last bin will be for the items that can’t be reused or recycled
because it is waste.” (Point to each bin as it is discussed). Begin going through the teacher
collected materials, one by one, and have students help decide which of the bins the objects
should go in.
3. After modeling how to sort a few of the objects, and discussing the reasoning for sorting the
objects into particular bins, give individuals or groups of students, objects to sort into the bins
themselves. As students are sorting the objects given to them, discuss their decisions and
reasoning for sorting their items with them. For example, “I see that you put the crumpled up
tin foil in the ‘metal recycling bin,’ why did you put it there?” or “Why did you decide to put
the Styrofoam cup into the ‘waste bin’? Continue working with students throughout the
sorting activity, asking questions to understand their thinking for sorting the way they do, and
helping them understand why they objects must be sorted a certain way.
4. When all items have been sorted, glance through the bins and re-sort any objects that may
have ended up in the incorrect bin. Have students help re-sort, if needed, by providing
explanations for why the object may have ended up in the incorrect bin, which bin it belongs
in, and why it belongs there. After all items have been correctly sorted, ask “So now that we
have sorted all of these recycled materials, what happens next?” Allow students to give ideas
on what they think should/will happen next with the items. Explain what will happen to the
materials, “These materials will be taken to a recycling center where they will be made into
new or different things. For example, these cans might be melted down and formed into new
cans, these plastic bottles might be shredded and made into a new rug, etc…”
Ferrum College | The Gereau Center | Franklin County Public Schools | ceed.frco.k12.va.us
Parans Futura – “Preparing for the Future”
CEED
Instructional Activities
Independent
Practice
Closure (Summary
of Lesson)
CEED Building
Application/
Sensor Data
Assessment
Day 2:
1. Review the meaning and importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling with students. Look
at recycling bins and their contents to refresh students memories of the types of things that
can be recycled.
2. Split students into groups of 4 or 5 students. “Today you will be working with your group to
make something new out of the recyclable materials that we have sorted into these bins. You
all may create whatever you want (discuss limits of what is school appropriate and what is not
– no guns, etc…) with your group and you may use any of the items that we have in our bins.”
3. 3. Allow groups to go to recycling bins to gather various materials to brainstorm what it is
they would like to create. Visit with groups to help those having trouble thinking of ideas get
started. “I see that you have one very large metal can and four small ones…what could you
make from that?” For those groups who have ideas on what to create, ask about how they
came up with the idea, why they want to create that particular thing, what could it be used
for when it is finished, etc…
4. The teacher will help groups with assembling newly created items and objects from the
recycled materials (help students with any tape, glue, hot glue, etc…that is necessary for
holding pieces of their projects together.
5. Visit with groups as they are finishing their group projects. “What did you guys create
together? What did you use to make it? What does it do? What is it for?” “What could you
add?” Etc…
6. Help students wrap-up/finish group projects as needed.
Day 1:
Show the class the “Gallery” photos on the CEED website. Point out parts of the building (inside and
outside) that are made from reused or recycled materials. Discuss why reusing and recycling is
important. Brainstorm other items students may have seen that are made from reused and or
recycled materials.
Day 2:
Groups will be given the opportunity to present their projects to the rest of the class. Students will
have the chance to ask questions about other projects, provide comments, and provide suggestions
for adding to/changing current projects. Once all projects have been presented, the class will
participate in a whole group discussion of other project ideas they may have for future projects of
their own made with recyclable materials.
Students will view the “Gallery” photos on the CEED website to see real-life examples of items that
were made into something new from recycled materials.
http://ceed.frco.k12.va.us/gallery
°Observation of students helping to complete sorting recyclable materials activity.
°Observation of students completing group projects and project presentations.
° “Recycling” cut and paste sorting activity sheet. Students will cut out pictures of objects and glue
them into the correct spot (recyclable items vs. non-recyclable items).
Ferrum College | The Gereau Center | Franklin County Public Schools | ceed.frco.k12.va.us
Parans Futura – “Preparing for the Future”