Re-Use
K-12 Lesson Plans
Have students brainstorm items that can be re-used instead using new items
Academic Standards
4.8 Humans and the Environment, 1.5 Quality of Writing
Learning Objectives
At the end of activity students will be able to:
- Identify items used everyday that can be re-used.
- Apply re-use concepts at home
- Write an with focus on the topic of re-use
Lesson Activities
- Create small groups and brainstorm ways to re-use items at home or at school.
- Put students into "re-use teams" of two to three.
- Have students go through the classroom, the lunch room or any other designated areas.
- Have them keep a record of items that could be used reused. Students can use the cube to remind themselves of things to look for (bags, mugs, etc.).
- Extend the project to their homes. Have students go through their own homes to identify the same items.
- Have them write recommendations on how their families can reuse items
Have students develop class presentations with displays based on the re-use side of the cube
Academic Standards
4.8 Humans and the Environment, 1.8 Research, 2.6 Statistics and Data Analysis, 1.6 Speaking and Listening
Learning Objectives
At the end of activity students will be able to:
- Learn how to use the internet and other sources to gather information
- Identify ways to re-use items
- Apply re-use concepts at home
- Participate is small and large group discussions
- Organize and present main ideas
Lesson Activities
- Break the class into project teams.
- Teams are assigned one of the three re-use areas: bags & mugs, buying recycled, donating to charities/Freecyle
- Teams need to need to expand on the tasks provided on the Re-Use side of the cube by gathering information and developing a 10 minute class presentation with appropriate displays on ways individuals and homes impact the Earth's health by recycling.
Have organizations at school (student council, PTO/PTA, etc.) organize drives around clothing, shoes, coats, backpacks, other reusable items
Academic Standards
4.8 Humans and the Environment, 1.8 Research, 1.5 Writing Quality
Learning Objectives
At the end of activity students will be able to:
- Gather information
- Learn about charitable organizations in the community
- Learn ways individuals can help the community through donations
- Learn how to use the internet to gather information
Lesson Activities
- Have students search the internet to find organizations the help the community.
- Have students also generate a list of web links that provide clothes, coats, and other donation programs.
- The PTA or other school organizations contact the organizations to organize a re-use drive.
- Write a theme on ways Re-Using programs can help other
Additional Ideas for Re-Use
- Use reusable mugs (coffee, soda, etc...)
- Use reusable bags instead of plastic
- Pack lunches in reusable containers
- Buy products made from recycled materials
- Print drafts on the back side of used paper
- Use white boards with erasable markers to practice lessons instead of paper
- Make note pads from used paper
- Donate used equipment and furniture
- Compost organic materials
Web links for Additional Re-Use Resources and Activities
