Through teaching children the merits of waste reduction and recycling, we are able to begin to instill an appreciation for our environment. It is also a good way to impart the message to attentive parents. Many children are able to take charge of recycling in the home - therefore information geared to their level of understanding is important.

Teachers are encouraged to incorporate the following activities into classroom work about the environment. More extensive material is also available to teacher; a package (addressed to the principal) was distributed to each school in the Province during Recycling Week. In addition, a kit with posters and a video was distributed to each school board for use by individual schools.

These activities can also be used by children's clubs and after school programs. Most of this material is oriented towards the senior and public grades, although the ideas can be adapted to suit any age level.

Colouring a Picture:

There are 2 pictures that kids can print out and color which are recycling related.
The sites to get the pictures are at:
www.greenvalley.com/coloring/colorme2.html
www.greenvalley.com/coloring/colorme3.html

Complete a Puzzle:

There are also two pretty good recycling puzzles at:
http://xtasy.lib.indiana.edu/dliub5/docs/crossw.html
http://xtasy.lib.indiana.edu/dliub5/docs/dicskills.html

For more educational activities please scroll down...

ACTIVITY #1: To illustrate the extent of our garbage problem.

Each Ontarian throws out 1.1kg of garbage every day. To help visualize just how much garbage this really is, it is helpful to have children compare this volume with something they know. The CN tower (545 metres tall) provides a familiar example. If you squeezed a year's worth of one person's garbage into one garbage can, it would reach 60 metres high. By drawing to scale, the children can compare the height of their garbage in relation to the CN tower. Depending on your age group, you may wish to discuss what scale means. A good analogy is to compare how dolls and toy trucks look real because they are built to scale.

Ask the children to start by drawing the tower - remind them to begin near the bottom of the page. Using the scale of 10m to 1cm, the tower should measure about 54cm high. Encourage them to embellish their drawing with colourful details.

Now have the children draw in one garbage can for each member of their family. Each garbage can should measure 6cm high. The children with the most family members will obviously have the tallest pile.

When the art is completed, encourage the children to show their work to other members of the group. This is a good opportunity to discuss any ideas they might have to reduce waste.

These could include:
  • Reduction - replacing paper towels with cloth towels
  • Reuse - reusing old jars and food containers, using both sides of a sheet of paper.
  • Recycling - recycling old newspapers, bottles and cans.

ACTIVITY #2: Just what is our garbage?

Bring in a "staged" garbage bag for dissection. Have the group decide how some of the waste could be eliminated by placing the items in the various categories: reusable, recyclable or avoidable.

Some ideas for content include:

  • hanger - reuse.
  • magazine - reuse, share with friends.
  • yogurt tub - reuse outgrown clothes - donate to charity.
  • apple core - compost.
  • food wrapper - choose product with least packaging.
  • newspapers, cans, glass - recycle if program available.

ACTIVITY #3: What's right and wrong with garbage?

While much of our garbage serves a useful purpose before it becomes garbage - for example, some food packaging - once it ends up in the trash, it is a problem.

Discuss some of the negative impacts of garbage. Most children will mention that it smells and some may know that it pollutes. It will probably be necessary to explain that it is expensive to collect and dispose of and that it wastes valuable land, resources and energy. After the discussion, have the kids write a poem about three verses long describing what really bothers them about our garbage problem. Encourage them to make the poem rhyme. When finished, have them share their works with the rest of the group.
ACTIVITY #4: Write A Letter

Have the class compose a short letter(s) to the mayor explaining their concern about the negative impacts of garbage and their wish to have recycling programs. Phone your mayor's office (blue pages of the phone book) to get the address. You may want to start this project by phoning us to find out what programs are operating in your community.

ACTIVITY #5: Advertising Recycling

Start with a discussion about what makes a good advertisement - elements like humour, colour, an eye-catching layout, are all valuable. Then ask each child to draw a poster to advertise your local recycling program. Your will probably need to provide them with some important details which they might not know:

  • why recycling is good
  • how people can participate
  • whom they should call for more information

Depending on the group, you may need to start by talking about some of the benefits of recycling. For those willing to part with their art work, it would be terrific promotion if the children post them, for a short time, at their corner store or local shop.

ACTIVITY #6: Making Recycled Paper

This is a fun project that illustrates how old newspapers are recycled back into new newspapers. You'll need a stack of old newspapers, buckets or bowls, water, several hand beaters, and pieces of screen or felt.

For detailed instructions visit this link:
www.wipapercouncil.org/makepaper.htm
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