Recycling in the Preschool Classroom

Learning About Earth Day: Teaching Recycling in Preschool

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Megan

Are you looking for an easy way to teach recycling to children? Here’s an activity you can do to teach the concepts and language/vocabulary of recycling.

Materials:

• 4 or more clean trash cans or other large containers
• plenty of materials to recycle (plastic bottles, milk jugs, newspapers, glass jars, empty aluminum cans, etc)
• pictures or other labels on the trash cans (depending on the reading level of the children you’re working with

Instructions: After introducing the concept of Earth Day and talking a bit about it, introduce recycling as a way that we can help keep the Earth clean. Have students bring in empty containers, bottles, milk jugs, or other recycling from home and store until ready to use.

Before this activity you can pre-teach vocabulary by having the children cut pictures of recyclable items out of magazines and categorizing them. On the day of the lesson set up four large trash cans with the following labels and/or pictures: paper, glass, cans, plastic. Talk about what materials go into each trash can and let students help you sort a few items.

You can continue letting the children sort items one at a time or you can make it into a fun game by having the children take turns throw the items into the correct trash can. Note: I wouldn’t recommend throwing glass items! 

Feel free to leave the containers out in your classroom for children to get some extra practice in sorting and categorizing objects.

Some suggested vocabulary: recycle, plastic, paper, glass, cans, aluminum, names of specific containers (jugs, bottles, etc), Earth Day, clean, litter, trash

Credit: http://lslteacher.com/learning-about-earth-day-teaching-recycling-in-preschool

(Please be thoughtful of your states child care licensing laws in regards to glass and empty jars in the classroom. Jars will need to have dull edges and soda rings will need to be clipped prior to placing in the bins.)

Holiday Seasons

Holidays and Fairness

The October–December push
The three national holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are the ones that most often appear in early childhood programs. They bring pleasure to many families and staff, as well as to children. However, they also pose a range of challenges for many families. Whether or not to include any of them in your curriculum, and what activities to use if you do, requires thoughtful decision making.


Christmas
In our multicultural society, Christmas, although important to many people, is still not everyone’s holiday. For children and families from other groups—be they Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, pagan, atheist, or anything else—Christmas can be a difficult time. For almost all families, the commercialization of the holiday, with its pressures to buy, decorate, and entertain, adds tremendous complication to already overloaded and busy lives. How can you address Christmas in your program in a way that is supportive and fair to all?



Learning about each other’s December holidays
Begin by finding out from families and staff members which December holiday(s), if any, they celebrate, and what they might like to share about their personal tradition. If the people in your program are culturally diverse, this could mean you will be learning about a number of different December holidays. In a more culturally homogeneous class, it could mean learning about the fascinating variety of ways families all celebrate the same holiday.

Make a plan for how you will teach about the various traditions in your classroom. For example, have a school party with every family sharing a special holiday food, song, or ritual. If family members cannot come into the classroom, ask them for a story or song that you can share with the children yourself. Help the children explore the similarities and differences among family holiday celebrations—whether it is the same holiday or different holidays. The aim is for children to understand that “Families are different. Each family’s way of celebrating works for them.”

If you use this approach, be very sensitive to children who celebrate differently from the majority of the children. Otherwise, it is easy for their holiday to sound like just a variation on the dominant culture’s event. It is the teacher’s responsibility (not the child’s) to clarify the distinctions. For example, in one school, most of the children told stories about their Christmas holiday customs; the one Jewish child talked about Chanukah. Later, several of the children (and some adults) wished the child’s family a “happy Jewish Christmas.”

by Louise Derman-Sparks and Julie Olsen Edwards

Below are a few Seasonal Activities that help celebrate the winter season while keeping a non-biased theme in your classroom setting

Snowman Matching Game
This file folder matching game focuses on color recognition.

Materials: File folder, cut outs of twenty snowmen, twenty colored scarfs for the snowmen and a laminater or clear contact paper.

Description: Teachers cut out the snowmen and scarves then place a different colored scarf on each snowman and place ten of them on the file folder. I use the colors: red, orange, green, yellow, blue, violet, pink, brown, black, and white.  Now, laminate the file folder. Next, take the other snowmen and scarves and laminate them separately.  Cut them out and place them in an envelope on the back  of the file folder for a matching game. 

Comments: You can do this with fire trucks, turkeys, bears, letters, and  different size pumpkins.








Language: What Should I Wear?
Children use weather and clothing vocabulary as they relate clothing choices to weather during this early childhood activity.

Materials: Dress-up clothes for various weather conditions: mittens, winter hats, sunglasses, rain boots, snow boots, sandals, sweater, sun hat, raincoat, winter coat, scarf, bathing suit, etc.

Description: Choose children in turn to be 'dressed up' or dress teacher or a life sized doll.  Teacher describes the weather conditions by saying, "Ooh, I woke up this morning and I looked out the window and it was COLD and SNOWY. What should (child's name) wear?"

Children can call out suggestions and help dress the chosen child in the appropriate outfit.  Children get quite pleased and giggly if they're allowed to 'correct' the teacher's incorrect suggestions too.



                                             

Winter Scenes in Southern Climates
This craft activity provides students an opportunity to create a winter scene that will illustrate a snowy day. 

Materials: Old Christmas cards with outdoor scenes, white glue and iridescent white glitter.

Description: This is especially helpful for students who are not able to experience snow because their part of the county is too warm for snow.  I have the students select, from old Christmas cards, an outdoor scene.  They brush on a water and glue mixture over the whole picture. Then sprinkle the card with the iridescent white glitter.  They are amazed at the results.  You may hear "It's like magic rain."
This craft helps capture the magic!


                                     
                                             

 Sock Snowmen
Older preschool and kindergarten learn about estimation and have fun making a snowman that they can enjoy during this season.

Materials: sand or handmade playdough, white adult socks, colored children's socks, hot glue gun, hot 
glue sticks, rubberbands, jingle bells (optional), toothpicks, black and orange 
paint. various fabric pieces, various colored buttons. The hot glue gun is for adult use only!

Description: Place a white sock in a 8 oz. drinking cup, opening the top of the 
sock and folding it over the rim of the cup.  With a 1 cup measuring cup have 
the children estimate how many cups of sand it will take to fill the sock in order to make a snowman body. Have each child fill their sock about ¼ of the way and put a rubber band around it.
Repeat this process two more times to create the snowman body.
Have each child count how many cups of sand it took to make their snowman.

After making each part of the body, with the rubberbands, hot glue around the rubber band and squish it down. Fold the remainder of the white sock down to create the rim of the hat. Take a children's colored sock, cutting the toe out and cut strips up to where the cuff of the sock begins. Place over the top of the white sock to make a colored hat.

Rubberband the colored hat where the strips end and the cuff of the sock begins to create fringe like strips hanging off of the hat.

Glue under the colored hat to attach it to the white rim part of the hat, leaving some white showing. Have the children paint a face on the front of the snowman, and cut strips of fabric.  Tie the strips around the neck to create a scarf. Then
cut strips at the end of the fabric to create fringe on the scarf.

Have the children color the pointy part of a toothpick orange with an orange marker, and glue on as the nose.  Place 3 buttons down the front of the snowman and add bells if desired.
 


                                                         


Wintertime
Enjoy this action winter poem suggesting that you make up hand movements while listening to nature of waltz type music. 

 Winter Time Poem
  by Mary Ryer  Icy fingers, icy toes, 
 Bright red cheeks and bright red nose. 
 Watch the snowflakes as they fall, 
 Try so hard to count them all. 
 Build a snowman way up high, 
 See if he can touch the sky. 
 Snow forts, snowballs, angels, too, 
 In the snow, so white and new. 
 Slip and slide and skate so fast. 
 Wintertime is here at last.

Websites and Ideas for Recycling Activities- We're On The Eco Move!

"We're On The Eco Move" Training

March/April 2011

The information listed on this post are projects, websites and information shared during our most recent trainings.

Cricket Caps

As shown in training class.

With this last picture, I glued elastic strips to the top so children could put one or two fingers under them

and use as symbols.

This could be used as two different sound instruments.

http://www.enufwaste.com/wastrument.html

Paper Organizer

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/paper-organizer-674392/

      Little Drummer

         Creating a drum for your classroom can be so easy to make.

The drum set above was created by using a small coffee can and a plastic

kitchen spoon. The top is very durable for those "excited drummers"!

For the Drum, decorating the outside was done by using green tape as the stripes

and putting smiley face stickers around the can. I created a handle by super gluing rope to the side.

The spoon was decorated by taping the handle with the same green tape as on the drum

to help make the connection between the two items.

Using the larger coffee cans gives off a more echoed sound. You can use either the plastic or metal cans! 

Lawn Bowling Set

http://www.rethinkrecycling.com/kids/fun-and-games/monthly-recycling-activites/make-your-own-lawn-bowling-set

Alternate for Bowling Activity

As shown in training class.

Use any old and clean soda bottles of any size. 

Decorate the outside with wallpaper, stickers, or colored tape.

You can fill the inside to help balance it on the floor with water (I added food coloring as well, rocks, sand, bells).

I super glued the top shut. You can make 3, 5, or even 8 pins.

Use a soft ball when letting children play the game.

 This is a great outdoor or indoor activity! 

Sorting by Size/Sensory Activity

As shown in training class.

Used: cut up pieces of paper towel roll.

Each piece is cut at alternate ascending heights.

Decorated with assortment of used materials: pipe cleaner, fabric, wallpaper, bandaids & rubberbands.

All items were either taped, glued or stapled in the inside and secured with glue.

Paper and Pencil/Marker Container
As shown in training class.

This is an inexpensive way of creating containers when the plastic ones are just out of the budget.

I used an old Ice Cream Box container, but you can use any thick cardboard box-the large Goldfish boxes are also great!

I simply cut open the top, secured the inside bottom of the box with an extra piece of cardboard, and decorated it with old wallpaper scraps.
 I secured the corners on the inside and out with extra thick tape to help it last.

Just Mine Art Display

As shown in training class.

I made this out of a toilet paper roll by wrapping it in any kind of paper (newspaper, magazine, tissue paper) and secured it inside of the roll.

On the outside, you can either cut a design from wallpaper, cereal boxes or any child favorite picture to place in the front. I taped it to the front of the display.

On the top to secure the artwork in place, I cut small 1- 1/2 inch slits on opposite but equal sides of the roll.

 I wrapped the top and bottom of the display in tape to give it a sturdier finish.

Then simply slide the paper inside the slits and your done!

Alternates: 1. You can display the front by putting the name on a card and taping to the front.

                 2. You can also display the front by different themes so children can choose which theme they would

                      like to have their picture displayed on for that week!

Counting Catepillar

As shown in Training

http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/insects/mcaterpillar3.htm

Alphabet Connections

As shown in training.

Thanks to Mellon Patch Child Care for sharing picture.

Using any container (coffee, cookie, oatmeal, etc), decorate the outside with an upper case letter. You can use construction paper or any thick paper of your choice while securing with contact paper.

Place inside the container, the same letter that's on the outside (either laminating or using contact paper to keep it sturdy) and a toy or item that represents the sound of that letter.

Keep the lids of the container so the items will stay in place when not being used.

Shop Til You Drop Book!

As seen in training.

I created this book for children to use in the Housekeeping/Dramatic play area, but you can create one for each interest area.

You can use an old binder notebook along with used file folders, but you can create these out of old file folders, photo albums or even using cardboard box sides for the front and back covers.

Print out front and back covers for the book and index each section on the covers with different topics such as: kitchen, bathroom, outdoors, food, dog food, toys, laundry items, cleaning supplies and restaurants.

Place paper and writing instruments within the front cover so children can make a list of the items they need from the sale book.

Each section is separated on the inside with the file folder showing the indexed item.

Cut out items representing each section and tape them on the file folder. I like the folder idea as you can add to each section whereas a photo album only has a certain number of pages available.

An extension to this activity would be to have a small storage"shopping center" area that holds actual empty boxes of the items noted in the sale book. Have the children make their list of needed items and bring it to the "shopping center" where you can trade their list for the items they would like to receive. Children would then take these items to the housekeeping area to play with or any other center where you have the books available.

 Adding one to each of your interest areas is so easy. Just think of products, places and businesses that relate specifically to the theme in that area and this will give you guidence on items to add!

"Shake That Bell" Instrument

As shown in training.

Using a peanut can, you can place small bells inside the can and seal the lid with glue.

You can also place sand in the container along with the bells if you would like to lessen the sound or create a more muffled effect. Decorate the outside anyway you would like!

You can also use beans, beads, or coins!

Paper Keeper System!

Move over Trapper Keeper!

As seen in training.

This is a perfect way of keeping those important papers that need to go home from being crumbled in the bottom of the book bag.

I took a paper towel roll, sealed the ends with masking tape and decorated the outside with old fabric and ribbon. I glued all of the fabric and ribbon pieces all over the roll.

Just roll up the paper, slide it into the tube and you are ready to go.

The kids will love to keep their work in good shape and show off not only their masterpiece but also those important information inside.

You may also choose to let children decorate theirs with paint, markers, glitter, etc. I would recommend taping the entire roll first to help it stay sturdy.

Sorting Containers for Everything

As seen in training.

It seems like their are containers of all shapes and sizes we tend to use. They can range from

applesauce cups to dog/cat food.

The cups above happen to be dog food containers and applesauce cups. After a good washing they have been turned into sorting storage for buttons.

This activity gives children opportunities to sort by shape, color, texture, size or number and in an individual or small group setting.

The experiences are endless!

Money Money Money Count!

As seen in training.

The containers above used to hold candle wax cubes.

They have lids that can close to keep whatever items you choose to use safe from falling out.

This are another great way to allow each child to use as individual paint cups, sorting and/or mathematics activities.

The pictures above are shown as being used as math counters.You can use coins, beads, buttons or anything where counting, adding and subtraction can be used. I made these for number recognition, one to one correspondence, addition and subtraction.

Pull Shaker Toy

Thanks to Mellon Patch Child Care for this great idea!

Taking a cleaned out plastic soda bottle, drill a hole on both ends of the bottle and run a piece of yarn or string through one end of the bottle and come out through the other end. Knot the two ends together. The string should be long enough for a child to be able and pull along behind them. I would measure the string from a child's hip to floor before putting in the bottle.
 Fill the inside with an assortment of items-bells, button, crinkled pipe cleaners, sand, or colored cotton balls. Decorate the outside with stickers and colored tape.

Seal the cap with super glue to ensure the bottle will not open.

Then let it roll!

Garden Caddy

Thanks to Mellon Patch Child Care for this great idea!

This is a quick and easy way for all of your children to have their own garden tool box when heading outside to work on their classroom gardens.

Taking a cleaned out milk jug, cut it in half and drill a hole (or hole punch) along the top of each side. Using string or yarn, thread through the holes to create a should handle for the caddy. Decorate the outside of the caddy to represent your classrooms garden theme. The items used inside this caddy included: pencils, paper (which were extra sheets stapled together to form a notepad), garden gloves, sprinkler head, hand shovel, and measuring cup (which is an old, plastic soda bottle cut in half, taped along the top to create a smooth edge and marked with measurement lines along the side to track how much water is used). The measuring cup is also used as the pencil holder. 

 

Additional Links for Extra Recycling Ideas!

http://www.rethinkrecycling.com/kids/links-parents-educators

http://funschool.kaboose.com/globe-rider/earth-day/games/game_michael_recycle.html

http://www.suite101.com/content/preschool-recycling-lesson-plan-a58841

http://www.squidoo.com/Recycling-Crafts



RECYCLE REUSE REDUCE!