Our Natural Surroundings

Kindergarten Earth and Space Science

Outcome: Analyze physical characteristics of natural surroundings including rocks, soil, water and weather conditions (temperature, precipitation and wind) as well as natural and human-caused changes to those surroundings.

Indicator:  Suggest ways in which humans cause changes to their natural surroundings (building houses, mowing lawns, cutting down trees, planting gardens, damming streams and digging ditches).

Objectives:

• Students will learn about the different materials in our natural surroundings that are turned into products we use.
• Students will discuss the importance of recycling
  • a) how we use more resources when we don’t recycle
  • b) how we can save resources when we do recycle
• Students will discuss the effects landfills have on our natural surroundings

Materials Needed:

• Recycling bin
• Story book: “Why Should I Recycle” by Jen Green

Instructional Procedures:

1. Show the students a recycling bin.  Ask what it is used for and what they know about recycling at home and at school.
2. Read the story “Why Should I Recycle” by Jen Green.
3. Discuss the different types of items recycled in this book.
4. List the common categories for recycling bins (beverage containers, paper, glass, metal, cardboard, plastic).  You may choose to have a category for giving to charity, as many items are still useful, but are unwanted.
5. There are many recyclable items in our homes that we may not see recycle bins for (tires, used motor oil, electronics, unused paints)
6. Have students search the room for items that could be recycled and pile them in the front of the room.
7. Gather the students together and sort the items the students collected, as a group.  This will involve deciding what material the item is made of, where the material came from in our natural surroundings, and deciding which recycling group it belongs in. See the attached Teacher Reference Sheet.
8. Why is it important for people to recycle un-needed items?  Open discussion.
9. What would happen to all these items if, when they were not useful anymore, they were not recycled? 
   Allow for open discussion, but guide the discussion to the idea of the harmfulness of waste to the environment. Discuss the difference between the effects of garbage on the environment versus the effects of recycling on the environment. You may choose to collect your classroom garbage and recyclables for a couple of days to demonstrate the types of waste created.
10. You may also show pictures of landfills or visit a local facility to help get the point across.
11.  If your classroom does not recycle, this would be a good time to start.  Set up one or two recycling bins in the classroom.  It is easy to start with beverage containers that can be taken to SARCAN and possibly paper that can be dropped off in local recycling bins. These items are easily identified by young students and most communities have recycling facilities for them.
12. Teach the students a short recycling song.  Many songs can be found on the internet.  Here is one from  http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/earth/rrr.htm

    (Sung to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”)

    We Recycle what we use,
    Separate things and you should too! 
    Glass and paper, plastic, tin
    Go in your recycling bin!
    We must start now, we can’t wait,
    Quick, or it will be too late!

 Printable PDF version including teacher reference sheet

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