3 Rs Focus on Aluminum cans

The 3 Rs - Focus on Aluminum Cans

Grade 4 Earth and Space Science-Rocks, Minerals and Erosion (RM)

Outcome:

RM4.2 Assess how human uses of rocks and minerals impact self, society, and the environment.

Lesson 1: The 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Instructional Procedures:

1. Show the students the “mobius loop” (on PDF sheet or as JPEG image) (the recycling symbol with three arrows in a triangle). Ask students what they know about the symbol (it represents a closed loop for the recycling system.  As materials, such as paper, are manufactured, they enter the loop.  People use the paper and then, for the loop to continue, the paper must be recycled into a new product and people must choose to buy and use that product).
2. Ask the students to name the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle).
3. Ask students to explain what recycling means. When something is recycled it goes through a change in state.  For example, an aluminum can is melted down before it is formed into a new can. 
4. Recycling is important for a variety of reasons. 
   1. It keeps materials out of the landfill.  Many materials put in the landfill break down slowly over time and chemicals leach (drain) from them into the earth and water.  These chemicals can be dangerous to animals, plants and humans.
   2. It allows materials to be reused, instead of harvesting new materials for each new product.
   3. Recycling materials takes less energy and resources than making the items from new material.
5. Everyone knows about recycling, but reducing and reusing are equally important.  These options mean even fewer resources need to be harvested.
6. Have students brainstorm ways that they can reduce and reuse.  One way to reduce is to bring your own shopping bag, thus reducing the number of plastic bags being used.  Can students think of other ways we can reduce (e.g. buy less, choose items with less packaging, better quality, longer lasting)?  Reusing means using an item for other purposes before it is recycled or thrown away (e.g. using an empty chip tube to hold pens and pencils, or reusing old clothing as rags or donating items that can be used by someone else). For additional ideas on how to reduce and reuse items at home or at school, go to:           www.saskwastereduction.ca/wastereductionweek/wrw-index
7. Have students make posters depicting the 3Rs and their meanings.  If your school has a recycling program in place, posters can be used to promote or explain the program.

Lesson 2: Focus on Aluminum Cans

Instructional Procedures:

1. Review the 3Rs with the students. (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)
2. The lesson will involve an investigation of aluminum drink cans.
3. Show the students an aluminum can (on PDF sheet or as JPEG image)and ask them what kind of material they think it is made of.  It is made from a specific metal called aluminum and a thin plastic lining.
4. Ask the students what they do with drink cans at their house, or when the students are away from home, after they are empty.  Some people still do not realize that these containers can be returned for a refund to a SARCAN depot.
5. In SK over 90% of drink cans are recycled.  Most of the un-recycled cans end up in a landfill or as litter.  Drink cans in the landfill do not break down, taking up valuable land. 
6. We are charged an environmental fee for every drink can we buy.  Why do you think the fee is charged? (It is to cover the costs of recycling the item, such as transportation.)
7. We also pay a deposit on each container that we buy, which we get back when we return the cans to SARCAN. (This is to encourage people to recycle the drink cans and continue the “recycling loop”.)
8. What do the students think happens to the drink cans once they reach the recycling depot?  The aluminum is sent to a smelter and processed into huge rolls of aluminum that are used by many factories.  Students may like to discover this on their own at www.sarcsarcan.ca/sarcan/wheredoesitgo or refer to the following chart for a comparison of aluminum mining and aluminum recycling:

9. How can we make a difference in our world concerning drink cans?  List the students’ ideas.  These may include ideas to reduce the use of cans, reuse them in some way or recycle them.  When a person uses a drink can they make a decision – either they are going to recycle the can, helping continue the recycling loop, or they are going to throw the can away, contributing to our landfills or litter.

See the Teacher Reference sheet for more information on the impacts of aluminum mining.

Printable PDF version including pictures and teacher reference sheet

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