Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Background Information & Activities

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Help your children to understand that the conservation of our natural resources is very important. They should understand how their actions can affect an entire planet. By making changes in the way we live, we can help improve and care for our environment. Remind your children about the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling and brainstorm different ways they can reduce waste to maintain and improve our Earth. Guide your children to reflect on how their daily activities impact the environment, and help them make choices that are ecologically conscious to instill "green" habits.

Review with your children that waste is anything thrown out or left behind. Waste can be everything from uneaten food and containers to old clothing and electronic equipment. The average American throws away about 4.4 pounds of trash each day. This adds up to about 1,600 pounds per person per year. More than half our waste ends up in landfills, taking up valuable land. Help your children understand that some waste is biodegradable, and able to break down into the environment naturally. Plant waste, such as dead leaves and cut grass, is biodegradable. While items such as plastic or foam containers eventually break down, it can take hundreds of years. They are considered non-biodegradable. Americans discard enough paper & plastic cups, forks and spoons every year to circle the equator 300 times. Furthermore, the average plastic utensil is used for less than three minutes before it ultimately finds its way into a landfill. Garbage in our landfills leaches toxins and releases poisons into our soil, groundwater, and air, posing a huge threat to our environment. However, there are ways that people can be more ecologically conscious and change their daily living habits to lessen waste overall and improve the quality of our environment. Remind your children of the 3 r's: reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Remind your children that when they reduce, they cut down or make smaller. We can reduce the amount of waste we produce by using less and using only what we need. A simple phrase they can remember is “take what you need and use what you take.” Natural resources are things of value we get from the environment, such as soil, plants, animals, and water. We can conserve, or save, natural resources by reducing what we use and throw away. We should turn off the faucet when we are not using the water and shut off lights when we do not need them. We can conserve energy in heating or cooling our homes by wearing warmer clothes indoors or by opening windows instead of turning on energy-draining air conditioners. We can reduce the amount of gas we use by riding bikes, walking, or taking public transportation. We can also reduce the amount of waste we throw away by purchasing items with less packaging and reusing items.

Review with your children that when they reuse, they use something again and again. Plastic utensils are disposable and often used only once. Reusable metal utensils, however, can be used for a lifetime. Help children find disposable items they use everyday and find a reusable alternative. For example, people can use reusable cloth bags (or bags made out of recycled materials) instead of plastic bags at grocery stores. Unwanted items, such as old clothing, toys, or furniture, can be donated to charity or given to others to be reused. Broken toys can be fixed or they can be taken apart and used for other purposes. Re-purposing old items around the house is a great way to reuse and recycle.

Explain to children that when something is recycled, its materials are used to make new items. Steel cans, aluminum cans, glass, plastic bottles, and paper are just a few items that can be recycled. Steel cans can be recycled to provide steel for buildings, bikes, nails and school buses. Aluminum cans and glass containers can be recycled to make more aluminum cans and glass containers. Paper and cardboard can be recycled into pens, paper and cereal boxes. Plastic bottles can be made into picnic tables, carpet, shoes, clothing or even playground equipment! Rubber tires can be made into bulletin boards or shoe soles. Help your students research on the Internet to learn about different items made from recycled materials. It will surprise everyone!

Guide your children to realize that they have the power to improve the environment and make big changes just by changing their daily habits and being ecologically conscious. Encourage them to find other ways they can reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Teacher Activities – Click Here!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Family Activities – Click Here!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Teacher Activities

© 1999-2010 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Remake

Millions of unwanted or broken toys end up in our landfills each year. Have your child reduce waste by repurposing or fixing an old toy. He or she may want to take a toy apart and make a new toy or fix a favorite broken plaything. This can be a fun art project, so encourage your child to be creative. You may want to provide non-toxic paints or glue to help your child make his or her creations.

Plant a Vegetable Garden

One way to reduce waste is to plant a vegetable garden. Growing your own vegetables is not only fun and rewarding, but also cuts down on fossil fuels used to process and ship vegetables to local grocery stores. Plant a garden together in your backyard or find a community garden where you can participate together.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Family Activities

© 1999-2010 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Recycle Race

Begin a recycling drive with your whole school or with other classes. Since bottles and cans can be returned for a deposit, it is a great way to raise funds and instill ecologically conscious habits. Remind your students that the aluminum and glass containers should be cleaned thoroughly before being brought to the drive. See which class recycles the most!

Trash for a Day

Have each student keep all their trash for a day. Whenever they want to throw something out, they should place it in a bag. Have them continue with their day, but still carry their garbage around. This is a great way to show students how much waste they produce in a day. You can add a math connection by weighing each bag at the end of the day and comparing weights. You may want them to use clear zip-top bags so students can see the garbage and discuss what could have been reused, recycled, or reduced. Have them to do the activity again but challenge them to cut their waste in half.