# Lesson 198: Recycling for a cleaner world

🟡 SOCIAL STUDIES (40 Lessons) • 🟠 E. Projects

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## Objective

I can tell what recycling means, sort simple items into rubbish and recycling with an adult, and say one way recycling helps keep the Earth cleaner.

## Materials

- Clean, empty items for sorting (for example: paper, small cardboard, plastic bottle, metal can)
- Two boxes or bags labelled "Rubbish" and "Recycling" (adult prepares)
- Paper and crayons or colored pencils
- Notebook page for planning and sentence ideas

## Mini-lesson — What is recycling?

Every day, people throw things away. We call this rubbish or trash.

Rubbish and bins

- Rubbish goes into a bin so it does not make the ground dirty.
- Some things are just rubbish and cannot be used again.
- Some things can be recycled and used again in a new way.

What is recycling?

- Recycling means taking old things like paper or plastic and turning them into new things.
- It helps us use fewer new resources, like trees and metals.
- It helps keep the Earth cleaner, with less rubbish.

Things that can often be recycled

- Paper and cardboard (like clean boxes and sheets)
- Some plastics (like clean bottles)
- Metal cans (like clean drink cans)
- Glass bottles and jars (adult handles glass)

Staying safe

- A grown-up decides what can be recycled in your area.
- Children never touch sharp glass or dirty items.
- We wash our hands after helping with recycling.

In this lesson, we learn the idea of recycling and practice sorting simple, clean items with an adult.

Picture strip: Sorting into bins

## Guided Practice — Plan a simple recycling chart

You will plan a recycling chart that shows what goes in rubbish and what goes in recycling.

1. On a notebook page, draw a table with two big columns. At the top of the left column write or trace "Rubbish". At the top of the right column write or trace "Recycling".
2. With an adult, look at some clean items at home, like paper, a plastic bottle, a metal can, or soft plastic that cannot be recycled.
3. Decide together where each item belongs in your area. Remember: the adult decides the correct bin.
4. Draw a small picture of each item in the right column and write or trace its name next to it. For example, "paper" in the recycling column.
5. At the top of the page, write or trace the title: "My recycling chart".
6. Read your chart aloud to an adult. Point to each picture and say, "This goes in rubbish" or "This goes in recycling".

Tracing Pad
Lines
Trace
Pen

## Practice — Make a recycling poster

Use your recycling chart to make a poster that reminds people to put things in the right bin.

1. On a clean sheet of paper, write or trace a big title at the top: "Recycling for a cleaner world".
2. Draw two big bins or boxes. Label one "Rubbish" and one "Recycling".
3. Inside or near each bin, draw pictures of items from your chart. Show at least three items for rubbish and three for recycling.
4. Under the picture, write or trace a simple sentence, such as "Put paper in recycling." or "Rubbish goes in the bin."
5. Add a small Earth picture, stars, or leaves around the edge of your poster to show that you are caring for the planet.
6. Share your poster with an adult. Read the sentences aloud and talk about one recycling habit you can practise at home.

## Quick Check — Recycling for a cleaner world

Answer each question about rubbish, recycling, and caring for the Earth. These questions check simple ideas only.

1) What does recycling mean?

Throwing everything away. Using materials again instead of throwing them away. Hiding rubbish under a bed.
Recycling means using materials again instead of throwing them away.

2) Which item can often be recycled?

A clean paper box. Leftover food on a plate. A muddy tissue.
Clean paper and cardboard can often be recycled.

3) Who decides what can be recycled in your area?

Only children in the class. A cartoon character on TV. A grown-up who knows the local recycling rules.
Adults know the local recycling rules and decide what can be recycled.

4) Why does recycling help the Earth?

It makes more rubbish. It reduces rubbish and uses fewer new resources. It makes the bins disappear.
Recycling means less rubbish and fewer new resources taken from the Earth.

5) Where should rubbish go?

In a bin or rubbish container. On the ground in the park. In the middle of the road.
Rubbish belongs in a bin, not on the ground.

6) Which sentence is true?

Children should touch sharp glass to help. Children should pick up dirty rubbish with bare hands. Children can help sort clean items while adults do the unsafe jobs.
Adults handle unsafe items. Children help with safe, clean ones.

7) Which action helps recycling?

Throwing a plastic bottle on the ground. Putting a clean bottle into the recycling bin. Hiding rubbish behind a tree.
Putting clean recyclables into the recycling bin helps.

8) What should you do after helping with recycling?

Wash your hands. Put your hands in your mouth. Wipe your hands on the sofa.
We wash our hands after helping with recycling or rubbish.

9) What makes your recycling poster clear?

Scribbles that do not match any bins. Pictures with no labels or meaning. Neat bins, pictures of items, and short sentences that match.
Neat pictures and clear sentences show how to use the bins.

10) What is one goal of this lesson?

To throw rubbish anywhere. To learn what recycling is and how it helps keep the Earth cleaner. To fill every bin until it falls over.
The goal is to understand recycling and help keep the Earth cleaner.

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Student can say in simple words what recycling means. Student can name at least one material that can often be recycled (for example, paper or plastic) in their area. Student can sort pictures or clean items into rubbish and recycling with adult support. Student created a clear recycling chart and/or poster with matching pictures and sentences. Student can say one way recycling helps keep the Earth cleaner.

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can explain recycling and help sort simple items. 🙂 I know some ideas about recycling, but I want more practice. 😅 Recycling still feels a bit tricky to me.

#### Next time I will practise…

Putting rubbish and recycling in the right bins Naming at least one item that can be recycled Using kind words about caring for the Earth
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