Health Smart Virginia Sample Lesson Plan Grade 1 – Unit 1

Grade 1 Sample Lesson Plan:

Unit 1 – Reduce, Recycle, Reuse
SOLs
• 1.1.J Identify items and materials that can be reduced, recycled, or reused.
• 1.2.P Explain why it is important to dispose of trash properly, recycle materials,
conserve water, and prevent water pollution.
• 1.3.O Create strategies to keep the environment healthy, to include proper disposal
of trash, recycling or reusing, and water conservation.

Objectives/Goals
• Students will engage in reducing, recycling, and reusing to help the environment.

Materials

• A bowl of water and sponges

• Videos and materials referenced in the PBS lessons (i.e., One large bag of
popcorn • 6 small individual serving-size bags of popcorn • One-gallon jug of
juice in a glass jar •A six pack of juice boxes• Assorted items that can be reused
and recycled (detergent bottles, soda bottles, blankets, glass jars, magazines,
newspapers, paper plates, plastic yogurt cups, paper, plastic water bottles,
cereal boxes, etc.) )
• Computer with Internet access
Procedure

1. Activities: Reduce, Recycle, Reuse

• Tell students about pollution (land (e.g., garbage), air (e.g., smog from cars,
smoke from cigarettes), and water (e.g., oil spills from boats). And then
implement the following lesson:

PBS Kids RECYCLING: REDUCE, RECYCLE, REUSE K-1 Lesson

http://www-tc.pbskids.org/eekoworld/parentsteachers/pdfs/lessonk_1.pdf

Activity One: Reducing Waste

Health Smart Virginia Sample Lesson Plan Grade 1 – Unit 1

Step 1
Tell the students that you are going to show them what it means to reduce waste.
Explain the idea of reducing waste by telling your class that when you avoid making
garbage in the first place, you don't have to worry about disposing of waste or
recycling it later. Show the students the large bag of popcorn and the individual bags
of popcorn and ask them which they think makes more waste. Show the students how
more wrapping is used in the individual bags and tell them that if more paper and
packaging is used to make something, it makes more waste, or garbage. Explain how
packing popcorn in reusable containers will reduce waste because it makes less
garbage. Show the students the gallon jug of juice in a glass jar, and a six-pack of juice
boxes. Ask the students to predict which of these items makes more waste. Tell the
students that it takes more paper and plastic to make the juice boxes.

Step 2
Ask questions to ensure students' understanding of the differences between the
items you have presented to them. Encourage students to think of other examples of
how to reduce waste. Use the
following prompts as guides to stimulate discussion: • If you write on both sides of
paper, how does this reduce waste? • If you buy one big bottle of detergent instead of
three small ones, how does this reduce waste? • If you use a reusable lunch box or
bag instead of paper, how does this reduce waste? • If you use dishes instead of paper
plates, how does this reduce waste? • If you use a reusable mug instead of a paper or
plastic cup, how does this reduce waste? • If you say, "No thanks, I don't need a bag,"
When you buy something that doesn't require a bag, how does this reduce waste?

Activity Two: Recycling

Step 1
Ask students to share what they may know about recycling. Tell the students that
recycle means to use something again. Share the following examples of things that
can be recycled: • Glass bottles •
Plastic water bottles • Detergent bottles • Cereal boxes Newspapers • Magazines •
Plastic yogurt cups. You may also wish to have the class revisit the EekoWorld section
on garbage and recycling which shows what happens to paper, glass and plastic when
it is recycled. (http://pbskids.org/eekoworld/index.html?load=garbage_recycling)

Step 2
Share the recycling symbols with your class. Some of the symbols mean that the item
may be recycled, and some of the symbols mean that the item is made from recycled
materials. Ask the students to look for examples of recycling symbols on the items
you have provided.

Activity Three: Reusing

Health Smart Virginia Sample Lesson Plan Grade 1 – Unit 1

Step 1
Ask the students to tell you what they know about reusing things. You may use the
following questions as prompts: • _Did you ever go to a yard sale? What is a yard
sale? • _Did you ever donate your old toys or clothes to a charity? • _Did you ever give
clothes that no longer fit you to a brother, sister or a cousin? • _Did you ever use an
old glass jar to hold your pencils, pens or paintbrushes? Tell the students that these
are all examples of reusing things.

Step 2
Show the following items to your class and ask how they might be reused: • Gift
wrapping paper
• Paper lunch bags • A toy • An empty peanut butter jar • A cardboard box • A plastic
milk jug • A detergent bottle • An empty plastic soda bottle

Step 3
Ask the students to generate more examples of how one can reuse varied items.
Encourage your students to bring examples into class. Explain to the class how
reusing things instead of throwing them out can help take care of the earth.

Activity Four: The Play

Step 1
Invite students to bring in items that are examples of how to reduce waste, items that are
recycled, and items that are reused. As a class, sort the items into three groups: • Things
that reduce waste • Things that can be recycled. • Things that can be reused. Tell the
students that you will be using these items in a class play.
Step 2
Divide the class into three groups. Assign each group to one of the following categories:
•Reduce • Recycle • Reuse. Have each student in the group present one item. Each student
says the name of the item they have, and how it reduces waste. Place three bins on the
stage. Label each bin with one of the following signs: Reduce, Recycle, Reuse. Select a
narrator to read the one sentence introduction to each category.
Step 3
Present the play using the guidelines below.
Part 1: REDUCE
Narrator: There are three important ways to help take care of the earth. Entire
Class: REDUCE, RECYCLE, REUSE
Narrator: When you reuse things, you can help the earth.
Health Smart Virginia Sample Lesson Plan Grade 1 – Unit 1

Each student in the "reduce" group presents an item. The following are examples of
what students might say: • This is paper. When you use less paper, you reduce
waste. • This is a large bag of dog food. When you buy a big size, you reduce waste.
After the item is presented, each student puts the item in the bin labeled "Reduce."
Part 2: RECYCLE
Narrator: There are three important ways to help take care of the earth. Entire
Class: REDUCE, RECYCLE, REUSE
Narrator: Recycling is using something again. When you recycle things you can help
the earth. Each student in the "recycle" group presents one item that can be recycled
and places it in recycling bin. Use the following examples as a guide: • This is a
detergent bottle. You can recycle this. • This is a plastic water bottle. You can recycle
this.
After the item is presented, each student puts the item in the bin labeled "Recycle."
Part 3: REUSE
Narrator: There are three important ways to help take care of the earth. Entire
Class: REDUCE, RECYCLE, REUSE
Narrator: When you reuse things instead of throwing them out you can help the
earth.
Each student presents one item that can be reused and places it in the bin labeled
"Reuse." Use the following examples as a guide: • This is a reusable lunch box. • This
is a reusable cup.
After the item is presented, each student puts the item in the bin labeled "Reuse."
Part 4: THE END
Entire Class: REDUCE, RECYCLE, REUSE. REDUCE, RECYCLE, REUSE. REDUCE,
RECYCLE, REUSE.
(You may choose to have class clap and stomp a beat as they say these words.)
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
Activity One: Banner Making Ask the class to create a banner with the words
REDUCE, RECYCLE, REUSE and illustrations. Post the banner where others in the
school and community can view it.
2. Natural Resources and Conservation

• Engage in the following guided discussion.

Health Smart Virginia Sample Lesson Plan Grade 1 – Unit 1

PBS Kids Lesson: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lpsc10.sci.life.lp_reduce/reduce-
reuse-recycle/

• Tell students that natural resources are raw materials that we obtain from
the environment and use in many different ways and that they can help
protect Earth's natural resources by reducing the amount of materials they
use, reusing materials when possible, and recycling.
• Have students identify natural resources in their immediate surroundings,
such as cotton in their clothing, wood in the furniture, paper in books, etc.
• Discuss how by weighing their own personal wants and needs, students can
help protect Earth's natural resources. For example, you may ask: What's
wrong with throwing paper away instead of reusing or recycling it?
• Explain that some natural resources, like petroleum (from which most plastic
toys are made), are limited in supply. Other natural resources, like trees, can be
grown and harvested in a responsible way so that the supply does not run out.
• Tell students that they are going to watch an animated video about a boy
named Oliver and a big pile of garbage. Tell them to look for something in
Oliver's garbage that somebody else might want.
• Show the Garbage Video:
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lpsc10.sci.life.
garbage/garbage/

• Ask students to identify ways that they could share or recycle what they no
longer need or want. Write these ideas on the board.
• (Older students could then become involved in a project, such as an ice
skate/soccer cleat swap, or a toy clinic to clean and donate used toys. Discuss
swap meets that are held at local schools or parks.)
• Tell students that they are going to watch another animated video, this time
about a girl named Clementine. Before viewing, ask students if they have a
lot of magazines or catalogues in their house and what they do with them
after they've been read. Tell them that after they watch this video, they may
think of things to do with them.
• Show the Magazines Video:
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lpsc10.sci.lif
e.mag/magazines
• After showing the video, draw three columns on the board (or have
students draw them on a sheet of paper). Label the columns "Reduce,"
"Reuse," and "Recycle."
• Brainstorm ways to reduce consumption, encourage recycling, and create art
or other fun things from reused materials. For example, they can make
cubbyhole decorations, self-portraits, and gift wrap. Food containers that are
clean can be used for storing art materials.

• The following questions can be used as writing or discussion prompts to check

Health Smart Virginia Sample Lesson Plan Grade 1 – Unit 1

for understanding: How could using both sides of a sheet of paper before
recycling it help protect natural resources? How could using old magazines or
catalogues to wrap presents help protect natural resources? What about
donating a teddy bear or some old clothes to a thrift store? How could that
help preserve natural resources? Did watching these videos change how you
think about the things you have? If so, how?

3. Activity: Water Savers Conserve Natural Resources (Water)

• To demonstrate the value of water conservation, set up a bowl of water and

several pieces of sponge, and do the following:.
o Ask student volunteers to come up and identify an activity that they
engage in each day that uses water (e.g., brushing teeth); at the same time
they should dip the sponge in the water and hold it. As each student dips
the sponge, the water level will lower.
o Tell the class that the challenge with using the world’s water is that
eventually it can dry up or become so polluted that it is difficult to use.
We all can stop that by being “Water Savers.”
o Ask each student with a sponge to identify one way that they think they
can save water (e.g., turning off running water while brushing teeth) ; as
each student names this activity, have them squeeze the sponge back
into the water. As each student identifies a water saving measure and
squeezes the water back into the bowl, the water level will increase.
• Conclude by saying that this reflects that even little contributions can improve
the natural environment and encourage the students to be water savers every
day.

Assessment Idea
• Check for understanding as reflected by student participation in discussion and
activities
Health Smart Virginia Sample Lesson Plan Grade 1 – Unit 1

References
• “10 Fun Conservation Activities for Parents, Teachers, and Kids”
http://ecohearth.com/eco-zine/kids-and-family/1309-10-fun-conservation-
activities- for-parents-teachers-kids.html
• Loops and Scoops "Garbage”
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lpsc10.sci.life.garbage/garbage/ "
• Loops and Scoops “Magazines”
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lpsc10.sci.life.mag/magazines
• PBS Kids EekoWorld – Interactive Website on the Environment
http://pbskids.org/eekoworld/
• PBS Kids: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle K-1 http://www-
tc.pbskids.org/eekoworld/parentsteachers/pdfs/lessonk_1.pdf
• PBS Learning Media: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Lesson
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lpsc10.sci.life.lp_reduce/reduce-
reuse- recycle/
• PBS Learning Media: Environment- A Tale of Two Soup Cans
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/msts14.ela.twosoup/environment-a-
tale- of-two-soup-cans
• PBS Learning Media: Landfill-Human Impact on the Physical Environment
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/181216317-human-impact/birds-
flying- over-landfill-human-impact-on-the-physical-environment-geography/