Lesson Plan

Where Do Recyclable Materials Go? (Garbology Kids™)

By Sabbithry Persad

Summary Where Do Recyclable Materials Go? (Garbology Kids™) begins with Tiana sharing with her class what she learned about while trying to catch her dog Bubbles, who had chased after the recycle truck. When Tiana, her Mom and her brother set out to find Bubbles, they end up following the recycle truck, just missing it and Bubbles at each pickup stop until they arrive at the MURF—The Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). Along the way, they learn many things about recycling and even end up getting a tour of the MURF where they find out more about where recyclable materials are taken and what happens to them.

Targeted Subject Level: Grades 1 and up, environment, science and literacy and/or Grade- level standard(s) Environmental Education Guidelines Strand 1.0:

Environmental Education Guidelines Strand 3.1, 3.2:

Environmental Education Guidelines Strand 4:

Objectives By the end of the lesson:

 Students will learn how non-sanitary can cause  Students will learn what is in landfills  Students will learn the meaning of recyclable materials  Students will identify what types of materials can be recycled  Students will learn why we recycle  Students will demonstrate the difference between recyclables and garbage  Students will learn that different businesses and institutions recycle different items  Students will demonstrate how to sort recyclable materials into the appropriate color containers  Students will understand where recyclable materials go after they are placed in the recycle bins  Students will learn about MRF’s (Material Recovery Facilities) and will see how MRF’s collect and sort recyclable materials Lesson Plan

Where Do Recyclable Materials Go? (Garbology Kids™)

By Sabbithry Persad

 Students will learn what recyclable materials can be made into  Students will learn about what recycling saves

Materials Needed Book: Where Do Recyclable Materials Go? (Garbology Kids™) by Sabbithry Persad Introduction Teacher reads the title of the story and asks students for predictions:

 What is “recycle?”  What are “recyclable materials?”  Why do Tiana and Peter recycle?  How does Tiana and Peter recycle?  Is recycling good? Why?  Where do recyclable materials go?

Procedures 1) Teacher reads aloud the story. Possible discussion points along the way:

 “Quote here…” When Tiana’s mother explains recycling.  “Quote here…” What can I recycle? Inferences from the pictures.  “Quote here…” When one person does something, other people can follow. Role models, when we recycle, others may copy us.  “Quote here…” Now that all of the recyclables are in the bins, where will it go?  “Quote here…” A boy in the park asks about bottles in the bin. Why is the plastic bottle there?  “Quote here…” Tiana and Peter take a tour of the Murf with their mom. What do they learn?  “Quote here…” Tiana asks the class about recycling. Discuss different ways that people recycle.

2) Teacher asks students what is put in the MRF/recycling center? Prompt students for answers including , cardboard, glass, and cans.

3) Teacher points to blue recycle bin in the classroom (contact your city if you don’t have one!!) and asks what Lesson Plan

Where Do Recyclable Materials Go? (Garbology Kids™)

By Sabbithry Persad

kinds of materials can be recycled here. Prompt students for answers including white paper, colored paper, notebooks, any paper with paint or crayon color, classroom paper towels, cardboard, journals, etc… NOT food, plastic, bottles, or cans.

4) Independent Practice: Students go back to the story and look through all the pages creating a list of things they could recycle. Students also do activities at the back of book.

5) Independent Practice: Students can look around their own school for trash on the ground and recycling at school.

6) Closure: Students will share the lists they created and what they think about recycling at school.

7) Closure: Discuss materials recycling loop and the hierarchy (as explained in the back page of the book)

 Collecting & Sorting  Manufacturing (Processing)  Buying-Recycled

 Reduce…rethink your use and buy in bulk, rethink what you buy and how much waste it will produce.  Reuse…materials like bags, boxes, and bottles.  Recycle and Compost…plastic containers, bottles, glass, cans, paper, and cardboard.  Transform…converting waste to energy.  Treat…treating waste.  Dispose…

Assessment Teachers can have the students respond to the following with “I Recycle!”

 Pop can  Cereal box  Gum  Juice box  Orange peel  Paper Lesson Plan

Where Do Recyclable Materials Go? (Garbology Kids™)

By Sabbithry Persad

 Half-eaten sandwich  Notebook

Extension 1) Students can create a campaign to teach other classes how to recycle.

2) Students can do a waste audit: look at what is in the trashcans around school and see if there are recyclable materials in there.

3) Students can look at what they are doing to recycle at home.

4. Students can create a waste less lunch program to reduce trash they produce as a community.

5) Teacher can visit www.garbologykids.com or call their city to find out more!