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Activity Guides

Activity guides provide concise classroom lessons on reuse, waste reduction and recycling.

A Year of Reuse Activities and Ideas (Grades 1-6) (PDF, 230 K)
Get ideas for reusing and reducing waste throughout the year.

Be a Garbage Gumshoe (Grades 3-6) (PDF, 82 K)
Students conduct a garbage and recyclables audit as a first step in improving recycling habits.

Composting: Worm Recycling (Grades K-12) (PDF, 90 K)
Students build and maintain a worm bin and learn about nature's version of recycling.

Cut Down Paper Waste, Not Trees (Grades 3-6) (PDF, 69 K)
Students characterize the volume of paper that the class throws away.

Grocery Store Scavenger Hunt (Grades 3-6) (PDF, 65 K)
Students discover how they and their families can make buying choices that help reduce the waste stream.

How to Improve Your School's Waste Reduction and Recycling Program (Grades K-6) (PDF, 54 K)
Students learn how to incorporate waste reduction and recycling into the classroom.

Plan a Waste-Free Lunch (Grades 1-6) (PDF, 67 K)
Students learn about the types of waste produced from lunch packaging and plan a lunch that yields less waste.

Set Up Your Classroom to Encourage Reuse (Grades K-6) (PDF, 52 K)
Students learn how to incorporate reuse practices into the classroom.

Worm Works (Grades 1-6) (PDF, 454 K)
Use this monthly calendar to do activities related to your classroom worm bin.

Templates for Paper Reuse Projects (All ages)

• Envelope Pattern (PDF, 175 K)
• Twig Booklet and Self-mailing Sleeve (PDF, 196 K)

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