THINK RESOURCE NOT TRASH
Recycling Paper
OBJECTIVE: students will be able to state why recycling paper is important
MOTIVATOR:
- Students will collect all of the trash they throw away in a tash bag for
one week.
- Students will hypothesize and then observe who throws paper on the
floor more boys or girls.
BACKGROUND: Teacher will review how the 3R's work: Reduce, reuse and recycle.
PROGRAM: Through the local solid waste commission boxes for the classroom (office)
and pick-up by this agency can be provided.
Information about the types of paper that will be recycled will be posted
near or on each box.
- Reduce - start with this first because it means we are using fewer natural resources and
less energy.
- less land is needed for refills.
- reduce by buying goods that use less packaging
- Reuse
- -reusing items over and overkeeps them from becoming waste.
- -use plastic containers to carry lunch instead of wrapping them in plastic.
- Recycle - converting used items back into raw material - conserves valuable natural resources
and reduces waster that has to be placed in landfills.
ACTIVITY: -
- Students will start the day by putting any trash they have in their plastic bag.
- Students will carry the bag around everywhere they go.
- At the end of the week students will weigh their bags and themselves at the
same time. They will next deduct their weight to get the weight of the trash.
- Next student will get the class total for all the paper trash.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- How much trash did you produce in one week compared with other classmates?
- How much would you generate in one month? 10 years? How many tons is this?
(1 ton = 2,000 lbs.)
- What are some alternatives to this type of packaging?
- What kind of resources were used to make these thing (wood/trees)?
- Which of the items can be - Reduced? Reused? Recycled?
NOTE: This process will take time before it can be instilled as a natural way to dispose of
waste paper.
Extension: Other lesson can involve making recycled paper.
PA Standard: 3.5.10. B Explain sources and uses of earth resources.
SITES: http://www.resourcefulschools.org/html/trashbag.html
http://www.lapi.org/paperu/art_class/paperbagfish.hlm
http://www.askeric.org/cgl-bin/lessons.cgi/science
To start a program: "Recycling in Schools", Pennsylvania Resources Council
3606 Providence Road
Newtown Square, PA l9073
610 353-l555