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Board idea and posting with pictures for children

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Board idea and posting with pictures for children

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Making own Recycle Blocks

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Learning Letters with pictures and Story

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Learning Letters with pictures and Story

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Writing what they can reduce, reuse, and recycle

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Writing what they can reduce, reuse, and recycle

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This freebie is a sheet we use during the week of Earth Day. We always have great conversations about "The 3 Rs" and use this sheet to do some summarizing after our discussions. I love to use Brain Pop and You Tube videos to supplement our learning.

I hope you enjoy this freebie!!

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This freebie is a sheet we use during the week of Earth Day. We always have great conversations about "The 3 Rs" and use this sheet to do some summarizing after our discussions. I love to use Brain Pop and You Tube videos to supplement our learning. I hope you enjoy this freebie!!

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How to teach Recycling

Using Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Worksheet, students sort items that can be recycled to cut down on waste.

It is up to us to keep our environment clean and safe by reusing and reducing, as well as recycling. Reducing waste means to fix things instead of throwing them away. Reusing items, instead of tossing them into the trash, can lessen our waste and save resources.

Look at the items pictured below. Then, think about what can be recycled. Finally, cut out the pictures that can be recycled and paste them onto page 2.

Other resources to use with this Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Worksheet

If you are using this worksheet, your students are probably learning about recycling.

Use this Go Green Recycle Activity as an additional resource for your students.

Introduce this worksheet by conducting a discussion about what it means to recycle. Next, have students give examples of different materials that can be recycled. Then, students complete worksheet independently or with a partner. Finally, have students add more materials that can be recycled to the list.

Be sure to check out more Earth Day Worksheets.

Please write a review!

Tell others why you love this resource and how you will use it.

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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Worksheet | Have Fun Teaching

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Using Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Worksheet, students sort items that can be recycled to cut down on waste. It is up to us to keep our environment clean and safe by reusing and reducing, as well as recycling. Reducing waste means to fix things instead of throwing them away.

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Article and Pictures to add to bulletin Board

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Article and Pictures to add to bulletin Board

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The heaping bales of plastic, paper, glass and unidentifiable bits at Berkeley's recycling center on Gilman Street represent a city committed to recycling. But, like municipalities across the country, the city is also caught up in a cycle of consumption that has recently come under an international spotlight.

The New York Times reported last year that China is refusing to accept dirty or low-quality recyclables from the United States, cutting down on roughly 60% of materials it used to accept worldwide. While China's decision has adversely impacted the recycling market in Berkeley and globally, local recycling experts agree the entire system has been due for an overhaul since the United States began pumping out plastics in the mid 1950s.

Consumers carry part of the burden to produce clean recyclables and make thoughtful choices while shopping - avoiding excess packaging, bringing their own containers, refusing low-quality plastics and avoiding "wish-cycling," or recycling low-quality items in the hope that they're processed abroad.

Upstream, manufacturers must focus on creating high-quality, reusable materials that reduce the overall mass that heads to recycling plants, landfills and compost, and transparently share recycling guidelines for their products.

To better understand Berkeley's recycling practices and challenges, Berkeleyside spoke to several experts: John Hanscom and Jeff Bellchamber of Berkeley Recycling/Community Recycling Center, the nonprofit that processes Berkeley's recycling; Heidi Obermeit, the city's Recycling Program Manager; and James Hosley of the Ecology Center, which collects residential curbside recycling.

Our guide covers 10 commonly asked questions about recycling in Berkeley:

1. How clean does my recycling have to be to actually get recycled?

Plastic, glass and all other containers need to be rinsed, cleaned out and dried - virtually free of residual food or liquid - to be processed by Berkeley Recycling. Any contamination could degrade the quality of the entire stock, since bales sit together for months while they're being transported overseas, where they'll eventually be turned into other materials. Leftover water or contaminants could cause mold and decay. Any paper items that have food or oil stains (e.g., a pizza box) should be composted because they will start breaking down during the transportation and storage process.

2. What materials should be composted, instead of recycled?

According to the Alameda County's waste characterization study from last year, less than 7% of all waste in single-family curbside carts is recyclable, but more than 30% is compostable. This includes food scraps, food soiled paper and plant debris.

Butter boxes that have a thin layer of plastic, and the paper around butter and pizza boxes, are examples of paper that can be composted. To go one step above, Hosley suggests cutting out the grease-stained portions of pizza boxes and recycling the clean cardboard. According to Hosley, about 95% of milk and juice cartons are paper with a thin layer of plastic, and should be composted, but it's not always easy to determine a container's materials.

"It's very difficult to understand all these things and it's a real shame, but manufacturers aren't taking responsibility," Hosley said, adding that most items have to be considered on a case-by-case basis. "They often place a recycling symbol on something that can't actually be recycled."

For example, Tetra Pak containers commonly used for juices, milk and drinks cannot be recycled at all, and must be sent to a landfill. Hosley said it's best to clean food and drink out of any items that will be landfilled so they don't produce methane. Methane isn't produced in compost because there is oxygen available.

Hosley said the amount of compostable materials is going way up - and that's a good thing - but the best choice is to avoid plastics and extra packaging altogether.

3. What is the size limit for rigid recyclables, both large and small?

Anything that goes in curbside recycling needs to fit in the curbside bin and be no larger than a five gallon bucket. Larger containers could block the sorting line's conveyer belt and cause operational problems or require manual removal of the blockage, according to Obermeit. Large rigid plastics can be dropped off at Berkeley Recycling, where they will be baled directly.

Small items like coffee cup lids and bottle caps are not valuable in the current market, may not be captured on the sorting line, and commonly end up in a landfill. Metal caps don't pose the same problem, because they get removed with a magnet during the sorting process. Items like aluminum foil are best collected over time and balled up, instead of recycling individual pieces. Small, broken pieces of glass should not be recycled. As a ground rule, Hosley said any loose items smaller than your fist are better suited for landfills, than recycling centers.

4. What about those triangles on packaging that indicate an item can be recycled? Are they accurate?

A triangle on the bottom of your plastic container doesn't actually indicate that an item can be recycled. Depending on the type of symbol, it can mean that the material is created from recycled materials, or in the case of a number inside the triangle - the type of resin coating used on the plastic.

While they do not provide clear guidance for recycling, Hanscom said the numbers can help consumers determine which type of plastics to avoid while shopping. Plastics with a 1, 2 or 5 are more recyclable, and include soda and water bottles, detergent bottles and yogurt tubs. Number 3 plastics, or PVC materials, require separation from other plastics and are typically not recyclable in Berkeley. Number 4 plastics include many thin, film plastics which do not have a viable market, number 6 plastics are essentially Styrofoam and cannot be recycled, and the mixed "other" category, number 7, does not contain recyclable materials.

Constantly changing markets and oftentimes incorrect labels pose a challenge to residents who want to be responsible consumers. As a general rule, rigid plastics are more valuable than soft plastics, and it's best to reuse items when it's impossible to avoid them altogether.

5. Can I recycle plastic bags and other plastic films?

The Ecology Center and Berkeley Recycling don't accept film plastics for recycling. These materials (like plastic wrap, clear windows in envelopes and packaging, spice and condiment packets) are low quality and difficult to sell in the current market. Additionally, they tangle into sorting gears, cause mechanical problems and waste time, Hosley said.

Many grocery stores have stopped taking back plastic bags for recycling as well because low-quality plastic is very difficult to sell. Residents may still be able to find recycling centers at Target, Whole Foods, Safeway, Trader Joe's, Smart & Final and other outlets through this online directory, but it's unclear if they're actually being recycled, according to Hanscom. He said it's better to cut down on these items and keep them, instead of "wish-cycling" and hoping they get processed in Asia.

Every effort should be made to reuse or share plastic bags with friends or neighbors who could use them for pet waste or other purposes. After reuse, they should be placed in municipal waste and sent to a landfill.

6. What about clamshell packaging (like strawberry containers)? Is it allowed in curbside recycling?

Clamshell packaging is allowed, but the typically low-grade plastics are often food-soiled, like clamshell containers from restaurants. The cleaner the clamshells, the better chance they will actually be recycled. Hanscom said they are very labor-intensive in recycling centers because clamshells are often made of different types of plastics, and need to be separated and sorted by hand.

7. What are some items that people forget to recycle or don't recycle properly?

Household batteries and fluorescent light bulbs are considered household hazardous waste (HHW) and must be recycled, but at the City of Berkeley's Transfer Station (1201 Second St.), not in curbside recycling bins. Lithium batteries, especially, should never go in the curbside bins: they could combust or cause fires in the collection truck or at a sorting facility.

People often overlook clean paper products and packaging from bathrooms when recycling, Hanscom said. Don't forget to include those boxes from toothpaste, cosmetics and other products.

The ground rule for recycling glass: If it was used as a container, it can be rinsed out and recycled (e.g., bottles for beer, wine, sauces.) Broken plates, cups, food and beverage service materials (e.g., a PYREX measuring cup) that had an ongoing use have different melting points and cannot be combined in the recycling process.

Wood and concrete cannot be recycled curbside and should be dropped off at the city's Transfer Station to be recycled as construction and demolition material. Small, unpainted, untreated wood, can go into residential compost containers, which are picked up by the city. No stumps beyond one foot in diameter, plywood, paint adhesive or mixed materials are allowed in the green waste bins.

Scrap metal items like pots, pans and shelving are accepted at the city's recycling center.

8. Are mixed-material plastics and papers recyclable?

Many mixed-material papers that cannot be manually separated into 100% paper, such as laminated wrapping paper with foil, microwave food containers, insulated paper containers, and any paper that is wax-coated (liked waxed-paper baking sheets), cannot be recycled. Paper materials are mixed with water and turned into a pulp in recycling facilities, but waxed paper and waxed cardboard do not break down this way.

Laminated sheets have to go into the garbage, as well as sticker backings, plastic-backed paper, tape and paper tape. Only clean, dry, non-mixed paper products can be recycled. Berkeley Recycling accepts mail with plastic windows, plastic attachments or photographs in curbside bins.

Mixed rigid plastics like laundry hampers, buckets, bus tubs and plastic chair can be dropped off at the transfer center. Berkeley Recycling cannot take plastics that integrated with other materials, like a metal frame chair with plastic armrest and backing. Residents can call Berkeley Recycling for questions on specific items.

9. Is it better to use paper than plastic?

After plastic bag bans across California and the introduction of paper bags in grocery stores, many have questioned whether using paper is significantly better than their plastic counterparts. Oregon recently published a study into the environmental implications of each type of product, finding drawbacks in both. Local experts said it's better to avoid disposable materials altogether and focus on reusable and durable items. Berkeley became the first city in the country to ban single-use foodware in January, but the Berkeley Single-Use Foodware and Litter Reduction Ordinance will fully be in effect by 2020. It may produce positive results in reducing the overall amount of recyclables.

10. What is the recycling buyback program, and where can I access it?

A local impact of China's decision has been the closure of buyback centers. Independent centers and grocery stores would previously purchase thin plastic bags and other items from residents because there was a viable recycling market to sell off the items in bulk, but this market has crumbled.

One of the few remaining buyback centers is located at Berkeley Recycling and is open six days a week. The program is subsidized through the California Redemption Value (CRV) program, which was designed to support people at the subsistence level. Individuals can bring CRV items (aluminum, glass and plastic bottles) and sell any CRVs smaller than 24 ounces for five cents and anything 24 ounces or greater for 10 cents. The center also has a donation box where it takes non-CRV plastics, like mouthwash bottles, which can also be placed in curbside bins.

Though many similar programs have shut down, Hanscom said Berkeley Recycling's buyback is doing well and preparing to seek a renewed contract from the city.

Berkeley recycling resources

Berkeley Recycling/Community Recycling Center, 699 Gilman St., (510) 524-0113, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday. The buyback at the same address is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Website: berkeleyrecycling.org.

City of Berkeley's Transfer Station, 1201 Second St. The transfer station also accepts appliances, garden materials, batteries, and others free or charge or for a fee. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Sunday, New Year's Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Website: berkeleyrecycling.org.

Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley, 510-548-2220. The store and resource center is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. Website: ecologycenter.org. Check out this handy "path to zero waste" guide from the Ecology Center.

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Confused about recycling in Berkeley? We answer your top 10 questions - Berkeleyside

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The heaping bales of plastic, paper, glass and unidentifiable bits at Berkeley's recycling center on Gilman Street represent a city committed to recycling. But, like municipalities across the country, the city is also caught up in a cycle of consumption that has recently come under an international spotlight.

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The Field Museum has an on-going commitment to reduce its impact on the environment. With programs in place to compost, recycle and reuse, the Museum has been able to divert hundreds of thousands of pounds of waste each year from ending up in landfills, polluting the environment and casting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This is important as the greenhouse gas methane (CH4) is generated in landfills as waste decomposes, and landfills are a major (the third largest) source of methane emissions in the United States. Additionally, materials that are reused or recycled require less energy than extracting raw materials from the earth, while creating jobs and having a positive economic impact.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

The opportunity to reduce, reuse and recycle is presented to visitors and staff members behind the scenes alike. Bins are located museum-wide for the recycling of paper, cardboard, metal, plastic and glass. As everything from consumable goods to specimens on loan are regularly being shipped to and from the Museum, packing materials are saved and reused whenever possible. There is an institution-wide database for recycling office furniture and a program for responsibly disposing of e-waste. Additionally, staff recycle eyeglasses, cell phones, tyvek, batteries and laserjet ink cartridges.

In an ongoing effort to reduce the demand for bottled water, filters have been installed in all of the drinking fountains.

Air dryers have replaced the need for paper towels in public washrooms, which saves trees and energy. Likewise, in housekeeping, microfiber cleaning clothes have replaced paper towels. To learn more about the Museum's green cleaning practices, check out the Indoor Environmental Air Quality section.

The construction of new exhibits often requires the substantial use of wood, metal, brick and glass. These exhibit materials are reused whenever possible. Permanent exhibits are designed to be modular, owing to the fact that even a "permanent" exhibit may be changed, or at least updated, over time. When new flooring needs to be laid for an exhibit, the Museum favors Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood or reclaimed wood.

The Field Museum's restaurants are reducing their environmental footprint as well. Operating under a ten year sustainability program crafted by Greg Christian of Beyond Green Sustainable Food Partners, they are sourcing an increasing amount of their ingredients and supplies from Chicago and Midwest growers and purveyors. Their sourcing is also done with an eye towards zero waste and almost everything in their supply chain can be reused. Vegetable oil is recycled into biodiesel fuel through a partnership with Chicago Biofuels. Compost waste bins have been installed in the kitchens and throughout the Museum's dining areas. Biodegradable cups and flatware have replaced petroleum based plastics, and reusable containers are available for staff to utilize. The result is that after the first full year of operation, over 70% of the restaurant waste stream was diverted from landfills.

The Siragusa Center

Though the Museum's eateries have had recycling and compost bins since 2013, the Siragusa Center - the Museum's cafeteria space for school groups bringing their own lunches - offered only bins for trash and recycling. In the summer of 2015, the Delta Institute performed a waste audit in order to see how effectively the recycling bins were functioning. They discovered that most of the items being thrown away were not recyclable, but were compostable, and that introducing composting bins into the Siragusa Center could improve the waste diversion rate from its existing 14% to as much as 70%. But in order to reach that 70% potential, kids and chaperones would need to be able to quickly identify which items belong in a compost bin, in addition to the more common practice of separating waste into landfill trash and recycling. As composting is not yet mainstream in the Chicago region, and school groups are used to eating and disposing of their garbage in a very short timeframe, this presented a bit of a challenge.

To ensure that the new waste separation system would be rolled out as effectively as possible, the Delta Institute designed an experiment by which they introduced 6 treatments over 3 days, testing how varying signage and information could minimize contamination and improve waste separation. The results were conclusive and have now been incorporated into the Siragusa Center: a combination of informational handouts for chaperones, simple, clear signage, and customized openings on the bins themselves detailing what lunch items can be composted or recycled (the items were selected based on results from the waste audits). With 80,000 school kids utilizing the Siragusa Center each year, the Museum will improve its own waste diversion efforts, but more importantly, will serve its mission as an educational institution by reinforcing other composting efforts in the region aimed at children, such as the Chicago Public Schools Commercial Composting & Recycling Initiative, which is a partnership between Seven Generations Ahead, CPS, and Lakeshore Recycling Systems. The 14 participating schools in this program have seen an 82% percent diversion rate of all of their cafeteria and kitchen waste, keeping over 2,700 lbs of materials out of landfills every day.

Composting

Removing Organic Material From Our Waste Stream

Although many large institutions like The Field Museum recycle paper, plastic and e-waste in order to reduce their impact on the environment, food waste is often overlooked, even though it is one of the largest components of the waste stream. The Museum's composting program collects and diverts large quantities of organic material produced by Museum staff and visitors every day, and in 2016 kept 112 tons of waste - over 246,000 pounds - out of local landfills.

The Museum began composting waste in 2009 on a small scale, when its Corner Bakery restaurant staff began collecting coffee grounds in reusable pickle buckets, which were then worked into compost and local edible garden operations managed by Growing Power. In 2013, with the guidance of Greg Christian and Beyond Green Sustainable Food Partners, Aramark Parks and Destinations began operating new Museum restaurants, with waste diversion one of the top-level goals in a formal Sustainable Food Operator program. The Museum's composting volume increased dramatically, as it encompassed all restaurant food waste as well as biodegradable packaging and flatware.

Partnering with the Illinois Food Scrap Coalition and Loyola University's Compost Collection Network, the Museum was able to expand on their composting program and selected independently owned Collective Resource to compost all organic waste produced by the new sustainable Field Bistro restaurant. When the Explorer Café opened in 2014, the amount of the Museum's compostable waste stream surpassed all expectations, so Lakeshore Recycling Systems was brought on to handle the ongoing annual volume of 100+ tons of compostable waste. In 2015, a staff composting program was established within the Museum, with compost bins now located near designated staff and volunteer eating areas, as well as in areas easily accessed by custodians. In 2017 the Museum restaurants stopped giving visitors lids and straws. Although they were compostable, the vast majority of single-use straws in use are plastic, and a major source of pollution in rivers, lakes and oceans. The Museum strives to lead by example, and joining an effort by cultural institutions nationally, and here on the Museum Campus locally (" Shedd the Straw"), was the right thing to do.

A November 20, 2015 blog piece from the Delta Institute, Testing Waste Diversion Design Strategies at The Field Museum, describes the scientific approach the Museum is taking as it continues to look for opportunities to expand its composting operations.

Composting Keeps the Soil Healthy and Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Composting is nature's way of recycling organic materials, like fruit and vegetable scraps, into a dark, earthy smelling product that improves the soil. The resulting product is so full of nutrients and beneficial to plants that it is sometimes referred to as black gold.

While recycling as much of our waste as possible reduces the need for more landfills, perhaps an even more compelling reason to compost organic waste is to help in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Many people are aware that anthropogenic or human-caused carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have contributed significantly to our changing climate, but landfilling organic waste instead of composting it produces methane (CH4), a greenhouse gas that is over 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. In the United States, methane is the second most common greenhouse gas. In 2013, methane comprised almost 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, and 18% of those emissions were from landfilled organic waste produced by households and businesses. Learn more about the role of methane in climate change by visiting the EPA's Overview of Greenhouse Gases. As a member of the community and a leader in conservation, we hope this information can help you get started composting your own waste and keeping the planet cool!

Doing Your Part to Reduce Household Food Waste

In the United States, 40% of the food produced and 15-20% of the food that individuals purchase for household use are wasted every year. According to the Natural Resources Defence Council, this is an increase of 50% since the 1970's and 10 times as much food waste as is produced by other countries. By making a few changes in our lives, each person can do their part to reduce food waste and make a significant impact on the environment. Starting at the beginning, source reduction can help each person become smarter about how much food they purchase from stores and order from restaurants. Purchasing only food that you know you will be able to eat and understanding sell by dates can help reduce household food waste. Individuals can help reduce industry food waste by encouraging local stores to join the U.S. Food Waste Challenge and asking stores to carry imperfect produce so that it does not get disposed of before reaching store shelves.

Composting at home is a great way to further reduce food waste and put valuable nutrients back into the soil. When organic waste is left on the ground, the decomposition process can rob the soil of valuable nutrients, but when organic waste is composted it is turned into a well-balanced nutrient rich product. Using a home composting bin can recycle your fruit and vegetable scraps and yard waste into a dark brown and earthy soil builder for your garden.

Supporting restaurants, businesses or institutions that are partners of the We Compost program (The Field Museum restaurants are Founding Members and Gold Partners) and encouraging your favorite restaurant to join the program can also do a lot to reduce food waste in your community. Linking restaurants to food pantries through Zero Percent and starting a Gleaning Program in your community are both great ways to support the donation of surplus food. The EPA's Food Recovery Hierarchy prioritizes actions that individuals and organizations can take to reduce and divert food waste:

1. Source Reduction → Buy the right amount of food

2. Feeding People → Zero Percent or Gleaning Program

3. Feeding Animals → Donating food to wildlife shelters

4. Industrial Use → Anaerobic digestion and biofuels

5. Composting → We Compost and home composting

6. Landfill/Incineration → As a last resort after source reduction, reuse and composting

As the Museum continues to find new ways to conserve the environment that is studied and showcased within its walls, the example it sets forth strives to inspire action, on whatever level, by individuals. Already the Museum is making huge strides. The graph below illustrates multiple changes made to institution-wide operations, with the purple jagged line indicating a steady improvement in the Museum's waste diversion rate, with the red bars showing a steady decrease in the amount of material the Museum is sending to landfill. In 2013, the Field Museum's waste diversion rate was 18%. In 2014, with the addition of composting in late 2013 (the green bars) and the Museum's formal registration for building-wide LEED certification, 36% of potential landfill waste was diverted. The Museum has continued to improve upon this rate, diverting 57% of its waste in 2018.

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The Field Museum has an on-going commitment to reduce its impact on the environment. With programs in place to compost, recycle and reuse, the Museum has been able to divert hundreds of thousands of pounds of waste each year from ending up in landfills, polluting the environment and casting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

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Ideas for sun catcher and hanging on playground

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Ideas for sun catcher and hanging on playground

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I often share activities that could be considered as recycling activities for kids to do, using recyclables once more before they're really recycled.

However, often times, they require something that you still have to get or have on hand that's not recycled. Such as markers, paint, and other craft items that you may not have on hand.

I am partnering with Clorox Greenworks to bring you simple recycling ideas as ways to encourage kids to be green. Being green doesn't mean spending more money, or even more time than you normally do.

I've put together a quick list of some easy recycled activities that are just that, recycled activities and nothing more. They don't cost a penny other than what you're already throwing a way. No other supplies needed, besides a household scissors.

So hold on to those recycling materials!

15 free recycling activities for kids to do:

1. Turn cereal boxes into puzzles for the kids to put together.

2. Use recycled water bottles to blow bubbles! From Projects for Preschoolers.

3. Reuse baby food jars as a fine motor toy, let them open and close them.

4. Recycled cardboard tubes and cereals boxes to make a homemade building set. From Almost Unschoolers.

5. Save the paper cups after a birthday party and build with them, knock them down and so much more. You can sort colors with cups or use cups by themselves and stack them up!

6. Make a sprinkling can from a recycled milk jug. From A Journey to a Dream

7. Reuse any water or pop bottles as bowling pins. Bunch up a newspaper as the bowling ball!

8. A simple sensory bin can be made with torn or shredded newspapers. From Play Create Explore

9. Bottle caps can be recycled for lots of play! Sensory play in the bath would be fun, from Learning 4 Kids

10. Turn a yogurt container into a bucket for sand play. From Creative with Kids

11. Make bookmarks from recycled cereals boxes. Use a twistie tie instead of the ribbon. From Plum Pudding

12. Cut out lots of letters from cereal boxes for lots of learning! From Play Talk Learn

13. Grab a box and some newspaper and have the kids dumpster dive.

14. Reuse newspapers as a basketball for a fun throwing game in the house.

15. Use recyclables in activities and crafts in all shapes and forms. Be sure to hang onto these 34 recyclables to reuse in hands on activities with the kids!

Being green like this can be so easy and not take up any more time or money than you're already spending. Just making the right choices when you do. When you do activities with the kids, think first about what's in your recycling bin and try some of recycling activities.

When you're buying products, think green, such as Clorox Greenworks.

Click here to redeem a coupon to save 20% off Clorox Green Works.

You don't have to compromise on clean to be green.

Each Green Works product contains at least 95 percent naturally-derived ingredients. And, Green Works cleaners work on par with conventional cleaners. Green Works puts the power of nature in every bottle.

Green Works believes that green can be for anyone. Green Works stands for Green For All - they believe in a green that doesn't require extra time, resources or effort. That's why they make plant-based cleaners that stand up to the power of conventional cleaners. Green Works for all!

Disclosure: This post was graciously sponsored by Clorox Green Works which helps support hands on : as we grow to keep sharing activities to do with the kids. Please take a moment to jump on over to Clorox Green Works and redeem your coupon.

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15 Recycling Activities for Kids That Are Completely Free

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I often share activities that could be considered as recycling activities for kids to do, using recyclables once more before they're really recycled. However, often times, they require something that you still have to get or have on hand that's not recycled. Such as markers, paint, and other craft items that you may not have on hand.

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Learning letters with recycling materials

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Learning letters with recycling materials

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Different Recycling Materials to weigh in Math

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Different Recycling Materials to weigh in Math

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One to one Correspondence with Recycling materials

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One to one Correspondence with Recycling materials

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Add recycling words to blocks or pictures on blocks of recycling

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Add recycling words to blocks or pictures on blocks of recycling

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Creating their own stories in the book center

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Creating their own stories in the book center

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Need some song ideas for celebrating Earth Day in your classroom? Using songs and videos can be a great way to engage your little learners and enhance your curriculum for any theme! Earth Day is every April 22.

These are some of my favorite Earth Day and recycling songs for kids; try them out and let me know your favorite in the comments below.

Earth Day Songs for Preschool

Songs for children are more than just fun to sing, they can also help kids learn new concepts, build background knowledge, and develop vocabulary skills.

You can sing an educational song about Earth Day during circle time, transitions, or whenever your kids need to burn off their extra energy!

You can find lots of fun, kid-friendly Earth Day and recycling songs for children on YouTube. These songs are great for use in your preschool classroom, kindergarten classroom, or at home.

Earth Day Songs for Kids

These free, teacher-approved YouTube videos will help you incorporate music and movement into your daily routine! You can rest easy knowing that all of the songs listed below are age-appropriate for young children.

Your little learners will have lots of fun singing and dancing along to these educational Earth Day songs! You can use an LCD projector and computer screen to play these videos in your classroom, or just use the audio if you prefer.

If you don't want to select individual songs, you're invited to follow my Earth Day Songs for Preschool Playlist on YouTube.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Song for Kids by The Kiboomers

If You're a Kid (Earth Day Remix) by Harry Kindergarten

Earth is Our Home by Mother Goose Club

Recycle by Jack Hartmann

How to Recycle? by LingoKids

Clean Up Trash Song by CoCoMelon

Going Green by Harry Kindergarten

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Need some song ideas for celebrating Earth Day in your classroom? Using songs and videos can be a great way to engage your little learners and enhance your curriculum for any theme! Earth Day is every April 22.

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"Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" song to the tune of "The More We Get Together" (With images) | Earth day poems, Earth day activities, Earth day song

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Mar 14, 2012 - "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" song to the tune of "The More We Get Together"

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"reduce, recycle and reuse" song to the tune of "itsy bitsy spider" | Earth day song, Earth day crafts, Songs for toddlers

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Feb 25, 2013 - "reduce, recycle and reuse" song to the tune of "itsy bitsy spider"

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Here are some fun Earth Day songs for kids - get them moving and singing along! Earth Day songs can be hard to find, but here are nine great songs to go along with your Earth Day & Recycling lesson plans. Earth Day is April 22.

This is a curated list of songs from YouTube.

Earth Day Recycling Song, by The Kiboomers

A Beautiful, Beautiful World, by StoryBots

Recycling Song, by Jack Hartmann

Going Green, by Have Fun Teaching

If You're a Kid... Earth Day version, by Harry Kindergarten

Going Green, by Harry Kindergarten

Earth is Our Home, by Mother Goose Club

Save the World, by Jack Hartmann

Mother Earth, by Children Love to Sing

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Here are some fun Earth Day songs for kids - get them moving and singing along! Earth Day songs can be hard to find, but here are nine great songs to go along with your Earth Day & Recycling lesson plans. Earth Day is April 22.

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The songs on this page are compiled from a variety of different artists and albums. We have grouped them together to help you narrow your search.

Recycling is an excelent way to teach about respecting the environment, conservation, nature, green living, and the negative effects of pollution throughout the ecosystems.

Away (First Law of Conservation)- Earth Mama - Joyce Rouse
Be Green- Miss Jenny
Can it! Save the Planet!- Music with Mar.
The Composters- Stan Slaughter
Conservation Nation- J. P. Taylor
Earthworm- Stan Slaughter
Every Day Is Earth Day - Earth Mama - Joyce Rouse
Every Day an Earth Day- Ron Brown
Enough Is As Good As A Feast- Earth Mama - Joyce Rouse
Every Little Drop of Water- Fred Gee
Feed It To the Worms- Stan Slaughter
Garbage Blues- Dennis Westphall
Garage Sale -- Pass It On!- Fran Avni
Green Blues - Earth Mama - Joyce Rouse
Go Green- Pam Minor
The Good Earth- Jack Hartmann
Hey Hey, Don't Throw It Away- Mary Miché
Interdependence Day- J. P. Taylor
I Think You Dropped This - Susan Salidor
Let's Take Care of the Earth- Debbie Clement
Mother Earth- Pam Minor
One World- Lucas Miller
Only Take What You Need - Earth Mama - Joyce Rouse
Pick it Up- Joan Maute, Ed.D.
Plant a Tree for Tomorrow- Dianne Baker
Pollution - Kathleen Wiley
Pollution Patrol - Caroline and Danny
Pretty Paper, Pretty Trees- Bill Oliver
Put It In The Compost- Michael Ryther
Recycle - Jack Hartmann
Recycle - Johnny and the Raindrops
Recycle - Judy Leonard
Recycle - Pam Minor
Recycle - Prue Whoo
Recycle Depot - Jackie Cytrynbaum
Recycle Song - Joyce Paultre
Recycle Song - Vivi Melody & Family
Recycling Blues - Music with Mar.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Bay Song
Reduce Reuse Recycle - Jack Hartmann
Reduce Reuse Recycle - Michael Ryther
Resources (We Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) - Songs for Positive Schools
Save the Earth - Jack Hartmann
Save the Earth!- Dianne Baker
S.O.S.- John "Kinderman" Taylor
Sustainability-Bay Song
The Talking Clean Town- Joan Maute, Ed.D.
Travel Light- Earth Mama - Joyce Rouse
Use It Again- Joan Maute, Ed.D.
Waste Not, Want Not- Two of a Kind
We've Got the Power- J. P. Taylor
We've Got the Whole World in Our Hands - Lorraine Bayes and Danny Deardorff

Full Albums
Around the World- Earth Mama - Joyce Rouse
Go Green with Pam the Kindersinger- Pam the Kindersinger
Grass Roots-Earth Mama - Joyce Rouse
Hug The Earth- Tickle Tune Typhoon
It All Begins With You- J. P. Taylor
Kids of the Earth: Songs for a Green Generation - Michael Ryther
Let's Clean Up Our Act- Joan Maute, Ed.D.
Love Large- Earth Mama - Joyce Rouse
Naturally: Children's Nature Songs- Foster Brown
Our Earth- Dianne Baker
Our World- Two of a Kind
Songs from a Naturalists Notebook- Foster Brown
Spaceship Earth - Bay Song
Tuning into Nature: Songs About the Earth- Fran Avni
Walkin' Wadin' and Wonderin'-Foster Brown
Under the Rainbow- Earth Mama - Joyce Rouse

Musical Plays
Biomes: Animals and Plants in Their Habitats - Bad Wolf Press
Environmental Show- Bad Wolf Press
We've Only Got One Planet!

See more songs for Theme Units.

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Recycling Songs: Songs that Encourage Recycling

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The songs on this page are compiled from a variety of different artists and albums. We have grouped them together to help you narrow your search. Recycling is an excelent way to teach about respecting the environment, conservation, nature, green living, and the negative effects of pollution throughout the ecosystems. Away (First Law of Conservation)- Earth Mama - Joyce Rouse Be Green- Miss Jenny Can it!

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Preschool Reduce Reuse Recycle Worksheets & Teaching Resources | TpT

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Browse preschool reduce reuse recycle resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of teachers for original educational resources.

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This Earth Day Preschool Activities theme page has activities to help your young students learn to reduce, reuse and recycle through art activities, using blocks, through circle time discussions and more!

You'll find more themes to help you with your planning on my preschool themes page.

You'll note that some sections do not have many activities listed yet!

Do you have one? I'd love to add it to this page with your name as well!

Please let me know by clicking here.

(PLEASE, PLEASE be sure to put the theme name EARTH DAY somewhere in your description so that I know which theme page you are submitting the activity for).

Let the Theme planning begin!

You can either scroll down through this page to see all of the preschool activities for your Earth Day Preschool Activities Theme or click the link below to go to specific preschool activity types you are looking for.

Earth Day Preschool Activities Art Theme

Materials Needed: White paper plates, blue and green tissue paper, thinned white school glue, brushes

The children paint the paper plate with glue and then place pieces of tissue paper where they want them to create the Earth

VARIATION: To work on small muscle development, you could draw circles on white paper and have the children cut their own circle shapes out. Also, they can cut--or tear-- the tissue paper for this activity. We have also used construction paper for this activity.

Materials: You know those annoying packing peanuts you get with shipments? Well, most are water soluble now! Place them and a shallow tray of water at the art table with some sturdy cardboard. Encourge the children to dip the peanuts into the water to make them stick together. I have, with our younger ones, added some glue to the water!

I know you can now purchase these very sticky noodles/peanuts at craft stores, but this activity is more about recycling!

Playdough Earth
Provide blue and green modeling clay to make the planet Earth. Provide other colors to create planets as well. GREAT muscle development activity!

Saguaro Cactus Thank you Margaret from in Durham, NC for the following idea!

Have children make tissue paper flowers or other flowers or desert creatures to hang on your classroom Saguaro Cactus!

To make your class Saguaro (adult project only!):

You'll need: packaging Styrofoam; large bucket half full with rocks/stones; green spray paint; toothpicks

Take packaging Styrofoam from boxes and melt them together and form into a giant Saguaro Cactus.

Place in an old bucket stones (from the driveway).

Stab the cactus with multiple toothpicks.

Spray paint the cactus a lovely green.

The kids add tissue paper flowers for a blooming cactus. You can also add smaller creatures that the children make onto the cactus.

Voila! I did this years ago for my son (born in 1985) and he was smiling!

Newspaper Painting Thank you, Lorraine, for this activity idea!

Ball up newspaper and either paint it with blue white and green paint, Water colors of blue and Green and droppers, or wrap with tape of blue, white and green. Great fine motor activity.

Group Planets Thank you, Lisa, for this activity idea!

First I use newspaper. The children and I roll up different size balls for each planet. We use masking tape to hold the balls together.
We research the of colors of each planet and then paint the newspaper balls according to our research for each planet and glue other objects to the planets.
The teacher uses pipe cleaners to connect the planets together.

There are may ways to create planets. One 'traditional' way was to use Styrofoam balls, however, they are not biodegradable and therefore it is contradictory for an Earth Day activity!

Here are some ways preschoolers are creating planets:

Rest the ball on a cup. The children paint their planet Earth. When dry, hang from the ceilings.

Idea from Tiffany: I was thinking of using newspaper balled up and secured with a little masking tape or not.

From Glenda: Planet earth made out of small balloons and newspaper, paper mache.

From Latonya: Modeling clay to use to make planets instead of Styrofoam.

From Kerensa : Replace the Styrofoam ball by using small balloons, old newspaper and glue to form planets to your desired size.

From Diane B: Make paper mache planets!

Earth Day Preschool Activities Block Center Ideas

Materials: Provide recycle boxes such as small and large cereal boxes and packing boxes. The children will make things you never thought of! We've had garages, multi-family homes and puppy houses! Provide scissors at the block area at this time (supervised of course!) so that they can make doors and windows in the boxes.
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Earth Day Preschool Activities Circle Time Ideas

Circle Time is such a great time for children to learn the social skills of being together as a large group AND to learn more about your Space Theme!

Materials: 1 puppet, a few pieces of construction paper and a marker.

Make up your own script for this! The idea is that Wally is making one little mark on a paper and then throwing it away. He then tears a piece in half and goes to throw the other half away. That's when you (or perhaps another puppet!) ask him what he's doing?

This is a great way to encourage the children to think about waste, perhaps start a paper recycle bin for scraps of paper we can use again, etc.

Fix The Earth Thank you Kori Blanchette from Bradley, IL for the following activity!

I have in the past talked with the Pre-k class about how we need to fix the planet we live on. We would share ideas on ways to do this.

Then give each child a print out of the Earth. Instruct them to color their Earth with blue and green.

Give each child tiny sized Band-Aids and have the children peel and stick them onto their Earth.

Hang them with a clever little saying about fixing the planet!

Extension Ideas:

On chart paper, write down the ideas they come up with for fixing the planet and display the chart with their finished projects.

Instead of printing an Earth shape, encourage them to draw their own Earth on the paper.

Earth Day Preschool Activities Cooking/Snack Ideas!

Cooking with children helps develop their math skills and helps them to learn how to follow directions. It also allows for some great conversation! Ask many questions while cooking with your children to encourage conversation! Be sure to ask specific theme questions while making these fun snacks!

Thank you Stacie from Marlton, NJ for submitting the following cooking activity!

Earth Cookies

We have made sugar cookies, then put food coloring in white icing, (blue and green) and have the children decorate the cookie to look like the earth.

Earth Day Preschool Activities To Transform Your Dramatic Play Area

Sorting Area Thank you to Krystal from St. George, Utah for this idea!

Have cardboard boxes or bins labeled with pictures and words for the different kinds of items to be recycled there. have the dramatic play area covered with 'trash' and allow children to sort and put recyclable items in the appropriate bins and throw away trash that can't be recycled.

Earth Day Preschool Activities Theme Ideas For Your Easel--
More Than Just Painting!
Although that is always THE favorite in our classroom!

Handprint Earth
Want MORE themes? Sign up for my FREE Preschool Teacher Tips Email Community!
You'll receive 1 free weekly theme each month that has printables, games and more!
Materials Needed: fingerpaints in blue and green; fingerpaint paper. Let's fingerpaint at the easel today!

Earth Day Preschool Activities Themed Large Group Games To Help Your Preschoolers Build Their Muscles While They Have Fun Together!

Pop Can Smash submitted by Miss Melissa--Thank you so much!

The pop can smash is done after we discuss recycling and we talk about how some people use recycled items to create other things.

First we use empty pop cans to sort with, and discuss their differences.

We pull off the tabs to collage with (along with other recycled items you have).

We then go outside we do our smash. Each child gets one (preferably two or more) empty cans and you show them how to smash them. Either by jumping on them, or twisting them with their hands. They love it and think it's so much fun.

added note from Miss Cheryl: I remember placing cans on the ground lengthwise--and "stomping" my foot into the middle! We did this with both feet and the cans would stay on your shoes--great sounds when walking around with them on your shoes!)

You discuss how to take them to the recycling place (on a field trip if possible) or you can take them there yourself and take pictures to show them later.

I've also "trashed" the room while they're outside playing, and when we come back inside I say "Who made this mess!!" (sometimes the kids say "it wasn't me! I promise!") Then ask questions like "would you like our classroom to always be trashy like this?" we discuss litter outside and the importance of keeping the Earth clean. We also go into keeping the water clean, asking them "what if the water in our lakes and streams were dirty like our classroom?"

We celebrate Earth Day as the Earth's birthday, and sing happy birthday to the Earth as well.

Earth Day Preschool Activities Theme Book Suggestions

(I LOVE Amazon, and if you choose to get yours there, they do send me a few cents--which supports my coffee habit!)

All the Colors of the Earth
Biscuit's Earth Day Celebration by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and David T. Wenzel

The Earth and Iby Frank Asch

Fancy Nancy: Every Day Is Earth Dayby Jane O'Connor

I Can Save the Earth!: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycleam by Alison Inches and Viviana Garofoli

I Love Our Earthby Bill Martin, Jr.

On Earth by G. Brian Karas

Our Earth by Anne Rockwell

Recycle Every Day by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

Earth Day Preschool Activities Theme Ideas To Help Your Preschoolers Develop Their Math Skills AND The Small Muscles in Their Hands!
Milk Cap Activities GALORE!

If you save milk caps or have extra marker caps! Try some sorting and counting activities!

Sort them by color. Place out different colored bowls for the children to sort into.

Counting. Place numbers on plates or cups. The children then count that many caps or covers into that plate or cup.

Lacing. Hole punch the milk caps in the middles and give the children lacing string (or yarn, shoelaces, etc.) to lace--great way to work on patterns and counting!

Patterns: Hot glue some caps onto cardboard strips creating patterns on each one. The children try to duplicate your pattern.

Earth Day Preschool Activities Theme Music & Movement Ideas To Get Your Preschoolers Movin' and Groovin'!

Nature Yoga Thank you Jessica B. for this idea!

Teach your students yoga moves that are earth like. For example teach them the tree pose, rock pose, and I bet there a many more kid poses that they could learn that are about nature.

Earth Day Preschool Activities for Your Sand and Water Table
Nature Indoors

Place grass, flowers, twigs, etc. and outdoor toy animals (birds, cats, etc.) in your sensory table!

Pond Life
What's Outside?

Add dirt or sand and some water for pond water and add toy frogs, fish, etc.!

Earth Day Preschool Activities Themed Science Ideas
For Your Preschool Scientists in Training!

Take a nature walk with the children and collect nature items such as fallen leaves, dandelions, twigs, etc.

Place these items in your science area or in a bin with magnifying glasses and paper and markers for the children to draw their observations or stories on!

Earth Day Preschool Activities Writing Center Ideas

Thank you, Kate K., for these ideas:

#1. The children make Thank You Cards for the Earth. We use paper from the recycle bin and construction paper scraps. Run it through a blender with water and pour it on an old window screen. Spread it a bit, Put another screen on top and have the kids squeeze the water out. Use towels. Let it dry - this is the card. Then let the kids each come up with something they are thankful the earth provides for us.

#2. Have each child Make a paper plate Earth, apply a band aid and let the kids write ( or dictate) what they can do to help the earth. We write it on a speech bubble and attach it to their earth and display.

Go to Preschool Plan It's Home Page
Earth Day Preschool Activities Miscellaneous Ideas

Earth Day Preschool Activities Theme Field Trips
Nature Walk I Spy

Of Course! Take a walk outside with the children. Encourage them to talk about nature items: "I spy up in the sky........"

Talk about what they see: clouds, flowers, grass, etc.

VARIATION: While walking, bring a bag with you for the children to help collect nature items such as fallen leaves, twigs, flowers, etc. Place these items in your science area for investigation (see Science Activitivies Section above) or as a Nature Collage (see Nature Collage Art Activity above in the Art Section)
Earth Day Preschool Activities Theme Classroom Visitors
Some ideas for visitors:

A gardener from a local Nursery or flower shop.

A tree farm owner.

Other Pages You Might Like:

A Tree Is Nice by Janice May Udry

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This Earth Day Preschool Activities theme page has activities to help your young students learn to reduce, reuse and recycle through art activities, using blocks, through circle time discussions and more! You'll find more themes to help you with your planning on my preschool themes page.

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Recycling in your classroom can easily be made a daily activity. Try implementing one or more of these recycling activities into your regular routine, and before you know it, recycling will be second nature to your students. Recycling instills a lifelong habit of creating sustainability, and you can show them that even the smallest actions matter!

1. Start with a recycling quiz

Everyone knows what garbage is. But how much do your students really know about recycling? For example, what percentage of our trash can be recycled? How many years does it take for plastic to decompose? Test their knowledge with this colorful quiz. Then start doing the research.

Learn more: 8 Billion Trees

2. Add recycling lessons to your lesson plans

Wondering how to incorporate the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle into the classroom in order to pass them on to the next generation? Check out these 11 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Lesson Ideas for every subject. These recycling activities can help students explore how to put this phrase to use in many different ways.

Learn more: Project Learning Tree

3. Read books about recycling

Picture books are always a good idea for introducing kids to important topics. Check out the intriguing titles at the link below and get your students amped up about making a difference through recycling.

Learn more: Children's Books About Recycling on Amazon

4. Use recycling writing prompts

Mix up your daily journal or writing activities by giving students recycling-themed writing prompts. Get your free download below to get your students thinking about recycling in completely different ways.

Learn more: Teacher's Notepad

5. Hold a coat or clothing drive

This is a fantastic way for kids to extend the life of their own belongings while helping someone in need. Ask students to bring in gently used items, then hold a garage sale at the school and sell the collected clothing for a very low price, or even offer them for free. Another option is to donate clothing items to a local organization such as a homeless shelter or nonprofit that serves low-income populations.

Learn more: Good Deed Tuesday

6. Hold a recycling contest

Which team can recycle the most in a day, week, or even a month? This is an easy challenge to execute-just get multiple recycling bins and start collecting. How you run the contest is up to you, but here are a few ideas: Divide up your class to form two to four different teams, challenge another classroom in the school, or even have a teachers-versus-students contest.

Learn more: askHRgreen

7. Take a field trip to a recycling facility

If your community has a recycling facility nearby, see if they coordinate tours. Seeing the work in action can have a much greater impact on students than just studying it. And if your field trip budget is already maxed out, try a virtual tour.

Learn more: PBS Learning Media

8. Play recycling games

Recycling games and activities for kids can help them learn about the hazards of pollution and ways of reducing it. Eco-warriors bottle bowling, tumbling towers, or a recycle relay are just a few ideas.

Learn more: Mom Junction

9. Create recycling anchor charts

Anchor charts are a great way to help elementary students learn. They are also a good way to encourage classroom discussion. Remember that anchor charts are meant to be created along with your students. So begin by charting out a main idea or question and then build the chart by getting your students' responses.

Learn more: 15 Fantastic Sustainability and Recycling Anchor Charts

10. Research programs that handle more challenging recyclables

Paper, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles are all items that students can see being recycled every day. But what about items like broken crayons, batteries, or old electronics? Start by dividing the class into several small groups and assign each of them a list of items that are more challenging to recycle. Then have them research to learn how those items can be recycled. As a final activity, they can present their findings to the class.

11. Play bingo and learn as you go

Practice separating recyclable items from trash by following the bingo cards of this printable Recycling Bingo Game! A fun activity for kids that will introduce them to the basic ideas of recycling.

Learn more: Adventure in a Box

12. Create a prize bag of used items

Get your students' parents involved by asking for items to use for the classroom prize bag. Give them suggestions-toys from restaurant kids' meals, little freebies from conferences, and other odds and ends-and you'll be surprised at the items you can collect. Students will love picking a prize from the "reuse" bag when they hit different milestones and goals.

13. Upcycle plastic containers

You can find oodles of plastic containers around the house that make for organizers and more. Challenge your students to look around their homes or in their recycling bins to find something that can be upcycled or reused. For instance, a yogurt container can be used as a crayon holder, a plastic bottle can be quickly transformed into a vase, and baby wipe containers can hold just about any classroom odds and ends.

Learn more: Doodle Craft

14. Hold a recycling poster contest

Hanging kid-made posters can send a strong message. Challenge your students to a create-a-poster contest and let them use their imaginations to inspire others. Ask students for their input about where the posters should go and also talk about what you hope the posters do for the school.

Learn more: WMCSD

15. Create your own infographics to hang in the classroom

Infographics are fun representations of important details. Assign students to small groups and have them research statistics and facts about recycling. Then challenge them to create their own infographic, presenting what they learned in a visual way.

16. Commit to zero waste

Start a committee to encourage your school to aim for zero waste for all school events such as class picnics, field day, assemblies, etc. Talk to representatives at your school district about moving to zero waste in your school cafeteria. Share the guide on zero waste with students to take home to their families.

Learn more: Free Permaculture

17. Start a Green Club

Green Clubs are a great way to bring environmental activism into the spotlight at your school. It might seem daunting to start one of your own, but it doesn't have to be. Start small-the club can be established with just a few engaged students and a single purpose. Check out the link below for 10 super-helpful tips.

Learn more: Mommy Poppins

18. Welcome worms into your classroom!

Worms?! You betcha. Vermicomposting is the method of composting using red wiggler worms. Long story short, the worms eat garbage and turn it into gorgeous, nutrient-rich compost-they are definitely doing a version of recycling. You can get started with this fascinating hobby in a relatively small space, and the kids will love it!

19. Watch videos about how recycling works

Be sure to cover the basics. You might think students have an understanding of how recycling works, but it might not be as clear as you think. Start with two great videos: Life of a Plastic Bottle and Life of an Aluminum Can. Videos are a good way to start the conversation about how recycling works, and they'll help students see that their actions really do matter.

20. Plant a garden or a tree

In general, gardening is an excellent hobby to implement in schools, as it gives back for years and years to come. Plus, you can use your garden for fun recycling activities. Get outside with your students to collect seeds, pods, and even nuts. They can plant the seeds at home in their own backyard or in their neighborhood.

21. Leave no scraps behind

Establish a rule in your classroom that both sides of a piece of paper must always be used. If students have a piece of paper that hasn't been used on the back, have them put it in a designated scrap paper container. The backside is great for notes and artwork.

22. Make your own recycled paper

Now that you've established a method for collecting paper, it's time to do something with it. Learn how to turn scraps into new paper for your classroom. This process can be a bit involved, and it might be best when spread out over a couple of days, but it's a wonderful hands-on lesson for students.

Learn more: The Craftaholic Witch

23. Hold a book or toy swap

Instead of buying new books or toys, why not hold a giant swap meet at school? So many kids have things that are perfectly good but they just no longer use them. Instead of filling up the landfill, why not pass them on to someone who will enjoy them?

24. Make art from recycled materials

Fill an area of your classroom with recyclable objects-cans, bottles, egg cartons, etc. Then have your students use them to create art. Encourage students to be creative and bring in their own items as well. Here's one of our favorite recycling activities, made from bottles.

Learn more: Clean River

25. Produce a PSA about recycling

A PSA (public service announcement) is a fun way to get kids to further research recycling and turn their newfound knowledge into a video. Encourage students to research PSAs and really work on their overall messaging until it's perfect. You can assign different roles, like director, writer, producer, and on-screen talent. Once it's ready, film the PSA, edit it, and then share it with parents and the public.

26. Sponsor a community cleanup day

Make flyers and recruit participants to clean up your community. Collect recyclable materials and make sure they are properly turned in to recycling facilities. Not only will you beautify your neighborhood, but you'll also help the environment.

Learn more: National Cleanup Day

27. Extend the life of everyday items

Instead of heading to the store every time you need materials for the classroom, take a look around at what you already have and see what you can use repeatedly. Have students follow along during lessons on whiteboards instead of paper. Laminate materials you know you will use over and over instead of making fresh copies every time. Show that not everything needs to be tossed after the first use.

28. Make the most of your markers

Is this messy? Yeah, probably. But is it also awesome? Most definitely! Try this activity in your class and turn old stale markers into paint. This activity would work best if you can be outside to experiment.

Learn more: Picklebums

29. Ditch single-use waste

Building on the previous point, ask students to think carefully about the lunches they bring to school. Instead of single-use bags and packaging, encourage them to pack lunches in reusable containers. Enclose sandwiches in reusable wax wraps and include a cloth napkin that can be thrown in the wash when they get home. Let them know they can purchase items like chips and cookies in bulk and pack them in their own containers. In addition, instead of plastic water bottles, encourage students to bring a reusable water bottle to keep at their desks.

30. Recycle crayons

This activity is not only a great lesson on not letting things go to waste, it also results in something new for your students to enjoy! Have your students break used crayons into small pieces then place them into paper cups. Now, this part is for teachers only: Microwave cups for approximately 4 minutes, until the crayons turn to liquid. Carefully pour into silicon molds and set aside. Let molds dry overnight, or if you have a freezer available, pop them in for about 30 minutes and voilà! You have new multi-colored crayons for the classroom.

Learn more: Little Bins for Little Hands

31. Teach a math lesson with a recycling theme

Incorporate recycling activities into your math lessons. In this activity, students will estimate the percentage of various types of trash that they generate (e.g., paper, plastic) and calculate the pounds of each based on the U.S. daily average of 7 pounds per person. Then they will create a pie chart as they consider how they can reduce their waste.

Learn more: PBS Learning Media

32. Make a paper roll bird feeder

Did you know that about 184 million toilet paper rolls get thrown away each year? Why not put them to good use by turning them into bird feeders? Not only will it help our fine feathered friends, it will cut down on a ton of waste.

Learn more: The Resourceful Mama

33. Learn how to sort recycling

So many people have good intentions but have no idea what goes where when it comes to recycling. Kids who learn how to recycle in school are one of the best resources for teaching the adults in their lives. Share this information with your students and help make the world a better place.

Learn more: Clean Green Rush

34. Make a robot from cardboard boxes

Looking for more recycling activities that save materials from the landfill? Building a cardboard box robot is a fun STEAM challenge and a recycling project all rolled into one. This version features silver and black paint and aluminum HVAC duct arms.

Learn more: My Kid List

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34 Ideas, Big and Small, to Bring Recycling Into the Classroom

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Bring more recycling into your classroom with these recycling activities and projects. Get ideas plus links to free printables and resources.

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Childrens Books on Recycling + Study Unit Resources | Recycling for kids, Preschool books, Childrens books

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Childrens books on recycling is a wonderful way to celebrate the Earth! Plus free study unit resources. Earth Day is every day in our house!