“Playing in a Cleaner Neighborhood”

Playing in a Cleaner Neighborhood kicks off with a show performed by Ms. Kathie. The importance of putting trash where it belongs, and problems that occur when trash finds it’s way into our waterways is the focus of this 20-minute interactive theatrical presentation. At the end of the show project games and lessons are distributed. The teachers take the lesson materials back to their classrooms and share them with their classes at a time, during the 5-10 day project week, that suits their schedule.

Kindergarten and 1st & 2nd Grade (ages 4-7) Tom the Tulip & Sally the Sunflower is a comic strip about trash in our parks (15 min). A drama exercise can be combined with this lesson by having students act out the story (20-30 min).

Which Trash Goes Where

This “trash separation” game is one that the class builds together. Pupils are asked to bring in clean trash from home. A mini-recycling center can be created in the classroom in which the trash is separated into. In this way children learn to distinguish between different kinds of trash for recycling purposes

Eco Memory Kindergarten Version

Like the classic Memory card game, but with a recycling theme. The cards are large in size making it easier to play with the entire class. The cards are shown one at a time so that the names of the cards can be learned and practiced. Teaching recycling vocabulary is an important part of the project. Tips for the teacher are included in the letter that accompanies this game. Length: 20-30 min.

Eco Memory 1st & 2nd Grade has the pupils making matches by finding cards that reflect where the trash goes, instead of looking for identical cards. Learning to identify recycling words is also a part of the 2nd grade version of the game. Length: 30 min. It is recommended that the game can be played more than once during the project week. Tips & suggestions can be found in the teacher’s instruction booklet. Short films can be found on Internet to support these lessons.

A “Recycling Old Clothes” theme is also available for the 2nd graders, supported by a worksheet that involves reading and drawing. Recycling Old Clothes Worksheet: 15-20 min.

3rd Grade

Getting creative with trash. A quart sized milk carton can be transformed into a wallet or a bank. Decorating the finished product is a fun way to inspire children to use the “new made from old” recycled items. Saving money to put into the wallet or bank is a starting point; saving Mother Nature’s resources is our goal. This lesson is a first step towards the concept of sustainability, without the big words. Making and decorating a wallet or bank: 50 min. Introduction to the theme and planning the project: 30-40 min.

Worksheet Paper Recycling takes 20-30 min. depending on how much classroom discussion takes place. The puzzles that accompany this lesson enable pupils to practice new vocabulary. Website addresses where short films can be found about paper and paper recycling are included in the teacher’s manual.

4th Grade

Classroom discussion and Recycling Worksheet runs about 30 min. “Dirty Play” is a conventional boxed game where players move around the board trying to be the first one to get their trash into the recycling plant. This game is designed to be played in a way that teaches group dynamics and cooperation skills. “Dirty Play” takes about an hour to play.

The Trash Race is a physical educational game. Through question and answers and running along an obstacle course the information learned in regular lessons can be reinforced. 45 min.

5th Grade: Eco News Show

A play performed as a live news program. There is a script with guidelines and a c.d. is provided with music for in between the scenes. There are also worksheets available to assist students in making posters, show tickets and programs. This activity takes the most time out of all the lessons, between 12-15 hours which includes 2 performances. If this activity is too time consuming, an alternative lesson plan can be created by using elements from the 4th and 6th grade program. This in combination with short films from Internet about trash and recycling makes for a good alternative if performing a play does not fit into the planning.

6th Grade: Trash Detectives

There is a lesson booklet for this level that invite the children to go out and search for trash hot spots. Once they have been detected, they are discussed and analyzed. Ideas may come to mind as to how pupils can help combat trash problems. If this is the case pupils are encouraged and assisted (where possible) to put these ideas in motion. The workbook includes exercises that can be done individually as well as in groups. 6-8 hours.