Title: Recycling is for Everyone!

Grade Level/Subject: 4th Grade, Environmental Studies

Overview of Lesson:

The teacher will pre-assess the students background knowledge in recycling. The teacher will show the instructional video by Richelle DeFrank. (The video can be found on the Apps and Video tab on this website). The teacher will explain what it means to reduce, reuse, and recycle. 

The student will learn what recycling is and why it is important

The student will learn the negatives if we don't recycle

The student will learn how to get others involved in recycling

The students will work in groups to create presentation

Students will use critical thinking skills

The students will use different technology tools throughout this lesson.

Web Address for Activity Information: http://questgarden.com/196/05/1/170924131415/task.htm

Essential Question: The students will come up with their own Inquiry question to base their research on. The essential questions for teachers are 'Why is recycling important and how can students make a difference with recycling?'

Website for Recycling Game: http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-content/richmedia/1/1143/project/dist/desktop.html
Standards Addressed:

AASL-1.1.1 Follow an inquirybased process in seeking knowledge in curricular subjects, and make the realworld connection for using this process in own life.

AASL-1.1.3 Develop and refi ne a range of questions to frame the search for new understanding

ISTE- Creative Communicator- 6a Students choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.

​

Activity/Tasks: Technology will be used throughout this lessons. Based on the Questgarden website provided above, teachers will be able to use different instructional videos, songs, games, and apps to use during this lesson. First, the teacher will have a class discussion about previous knowledge about recycling. After the discussion, the teacher will tell the students to get into groups for the lesson. Once the students choose their groups, the teacher will show instructional videos on recycling.

Videos include: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_QYsM4Ka6Y&t=3s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OasbYWF4_S8

After the videos are shown, the teacher can read the books on recycling from the tab on this site called "Books for Recycling". The teacher can choose which books and how many are read to the class. 

The teacher will provide a chart that labels- glass, plastic, aluminum, and paper. The students will be able to explore the school and look in the garbage bins. The students will label what kind of glass, plastic, aluminum, and paper they found in the garbage bins. This allows the students to see that not everyone is recycling and how much of recyclable objects are being thrown away and brought to landfills. The students can use their finding in their presentations.

Once the students fill out the worksheet, they will individually browse this site for information on recycling! The students will go with their groups and come up with an inquiry question they want to create their project around. Once the students have their question they will browse this site for information. Other sites that students can browse include:

https://kids.niehs.nih.gov/topics/reduce/reduce-waste/index.htm

https://kids.niehs.nih.gov/topics/reduce/reuse/index.htm

https://kids.niehs.nih.gov/topics/reduce/recycle/index.htm

The students will go to the library and pick 3 nonfiction books. The students will use information from the books in their projects. 

The students will record 10 facts each and share their findings with their group. When the students share their facts with their group members, they will gain a great knowledge on recycling. The students will now get a chance to play the recycling game. The link to the game is listed above. 

After the students had some fun with the game, now is time to get the project started! The team members will put all their facts together and create a presentation of their findings. The presentations can include, creating a website, powerpoint, instructional video, a flyer, etc. The presentation must include three digital tools/apps. With guidance from the teacher and Media Specialist, students are able to get creative with their presentation.

Final product-Once the presentations are completed, the students will be able to present to the class. After presentations, the teacher and media specialist will take the findings of the students and help the class create one poster to hang around the school. Teachers will post the students presentations on class blog. (Only if the teacher has a class blog.) 

Assessment- 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​