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Re-Think Activities
An educational Unit for children up to Grade 4
Written by Valerie Thom, B.Ed. and edited by Allard W. van Veen, APR, Fellow, CPRS

This unit has six chapters, each filled with information, ideas and projects. Words in bold and in italics are featured in the glossary which you can reach by clicking here

REUSING AND RECYCLING: ACTIVITY 4   
Is It Reusable, Recyclable, Refillable, Compostable Or…?                                                                    2 – 3

Skills: grouping into subsets, making a mural

Time: one class period

Learning Objective: students will make subsets to define reusable, recyclable, refillable, and compostable.

Materials and Equipment: the "can be used again" garbage group from REUSING AND RECYCLING: ACTIVITY 3 or a selected collection of household garbage.

1. Review REUSING AND RECYCLING: ACTIVITY 3, if done, with the students, showing them the "can be used again" group they made in that Activity OR show the students the household garbage.

2. Put out four sheets of differently coloured paper on the floor.

3. Explain to the students that you will divide the set "can be used again" (OR the household garbage) into four subsets. In front of the students, separate the "can be used again", placing each item on one of the four sheets.

4. Ask students to decide on a name for each group, when all the garbage has been separated, providing the names (recyclable, refillable, reusable, compostable) if necessary.

5. Discuss each term with the students.

6. Divide the class into four (or eight) groups, and assign one term to each group (or to two groups).

7. Have each group decide on a definition for the assigned term and present their definition to the class.

8. Have each group make a mural to illustrate their term. Include the written definition, and drawings and examples to show what can be recycled or refilled, etc., and how this can be done in your community.

Discuss with the students:

Are there some items that could go into more than one subset? (e.g. some glass pop bottles can be recycled or refilled)

How would you decide what to do with these items when you want to discard them? (Responses would be individual, depending on the recycling programs available in your community.)

Click here to return to the Index for Chapter 5 and more activities

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