Literacy - Recycling: The 3R's

• Geography
• Literacy
• Primary Education
• Age 9,10

Sustainability

REDUCE

REUSE

RECYCLE

- Explicit teaching slideshow to be played whilst teacher teaches

Have you heard of this words before?

- Quick poll allows teacher to assess students prior knowledge

What do you know about these 4 words?

Reminder of 4 words:

- Sustainability

- Reduce

- Reuse

- Recycle

- mind map also assists teacher with students prior knowledge

Sustainability

What is it?

Sustainability refers to the resources we use and the processes of how we use them in order to maintain resources. This requires us as humans to think about how we interact with resources and the environment so that we can meet our needs and not compromise others and future generations.

How does it relate to the words reduce, reuse and recycle?

The processes of reducing, reusing and recycling allows for resources to be sustainably managed. Energy usage can be reduced to save unnecessary waste, switching to reusable products can remove dependence on resources and recycling can allow resources to be used and waste converted back into new materials.

- Brief written explanation of sustainability that is elaborated by teacher

- Connection to the 3R's

- Video provides a visual explanation to assist with explicit teaching

- Provides examples and scenarios theatre relevant

Reduce

What is it? Minimising the amount of waste we produce.

How do we reduce? Avoid buying things we do not need, throw less things away, limit the usage of products that produce large amounts of waste and think of replacements for products that can used in place  to reuse cost and waste.

Effects? Save energy and water, conserve resources for future, reduce unnecessary waste and pollution and lowers costs.

Examples.

• Bringing own bags instead of buying
  
•  Turning off taps and lights when not in use
  
• Replacing plastic drink bottles and coffee cups with reusable products
  
•  Limiting amount of paper printed; use online
  
• At home; solar panels and water tanks
  
• Compost food scraps
  
• Avoid products with large amounts of packaging 
  
• THINK SMART, buy what you need
  

- Brief written explanation of questions that is elaborated by teacher

- Go through examples, explain and ask relevant questions

What should I do before I throw something away?

1. Nothing, just throw it away
2. See if you can reuse it, if not can it be recycled
3. Do not throw it away, keep it forever
4. Pretend you did not see it and move on

- Reminder of lesson focus and what have learnt

- Correct answer is B

Reuse

What is it? Taking an old product and using it again or using it for a new purpose.

How do we reuse? Taking materials that are in good condition or can be fixed and using them again for the same purpose until you are not able to. Finding new innovative purposes for materials instead of throwing them away. 

Effects? Reduces pollution, conserves resources, saves costs and provides access to readily available substitutes 

Examples.

•  Filling up a plastic water bottle
• Using plastic bags again for shopping or repurposing (e.g., wet/dirty clothes on holidays, picking up pet waste
• Saving gift bags and boxes
• Donating out grown clothing to siblings, friends or charities
• Repurposing glasses/jars and containers for other uses such as storage
• Teachers saving paper and using it for scrap
• Odd craft resources for school projects
•  Old newspaper for wrapping fragile items
• Plastic containers for gardening

- Brief written explanation of questions that is elaborated by teacher

- Go through examples, explain and ask relevant questions

Add 1 image of something you or someone you know has reused

- Students add 1 image of something they have or they have seen someone reuse

- Whether it be for the same reason or a new reason

Recycle

What is it? Collecting and converting waste materials into new products.

How do we recycle? Seperate materials from food scraps and non-recyclable products. Sort through materials in to categories  of likeness, (aluminium cans, plastic, glass etc.) and remove materials that are broken or contaminated. Place recycling into the yellow bin or take to recycling centres.

Effects? Avoids contaminating nature and water ways, used products can be repurposed, demand for natural resources are conserved and waste in landfill is reduced.

Examples.

• Collecting aluminium cans, plastics and glass bottles and taking them to Return n Earn Container Deposit
  
• Take recyclables to recycling depots/centres
  
• Buy products that have been recycled or can be recycled
  
• Create an at home compost
  
• Being cautious with waste and sorting correctly into red, yellow and green bins
  
•  At school, have a bin designated for paper only at back of room
  

- Brief written explanation of questions that is elaborated by teacher

- Go through examples, explain and ask relevant questions

Sort these products into the right bins

- Drag and drop activity

- 1 correct answer for each

- Returns to original place if incorrect

Questions to ask when purchasing or disposing materials? 

Do I really need this? (to buy, to have on)

Should I purchase a reusable cup instead of the disposable?

Does my fruit and veg need to go in a plastic bag?

When did I last wear this?

Do I need to drive there?

Can I save this and use it for something else? What could I make?

Should I throw my plastic bottle away or could I fill it up again?

Who would enjoy/get more use of this?

Can this be found secondhand?

Is there a recyclable version of what I need?

Can this be recycled or composted?

- Elaborate questions with by demonstrating different interpretations and examples of the questions