Design for Learning

Instructor: Lauren Hughes

Lesson Title: Recycle That!
Curriculum Area: Science

Grade Level/Cooperating Teacher: 3rd

Date: December 7, 2015
Estimated Time: 1 day

Standards Connection:
6.) Identify and plan possible solutions (e.g., reducing, reusing, recycling) to lessen the human impact on
the local environment.
Learning Objective(s):
When given a worksheet, students will organize objects into the correct recycling categories (paper,
plastic, and aluminum) with 89% accuracy.
Learning Objective(s) stated in kid-friendly language:
You will learn to organize objects into their correct recycling category.
Evaluation of Learning Objective(s):
The teacher will present the students with a recycling worksheet. The worksheet has three columns:
paper, plastic, and aluminum. The teacher will also present the students with nine pictures of objects
which include lotion, aluminum pan, brown paper sack, aluminum soup can, cardboard box, plastic cup,
newspaper, soda can, and a water bottle. The students will independently cut the pictures individually and
glue them into the correct recycling category. All students must correctly categorize at least 8 out of the 9
objects which is 89% accuracy. The students who do this will be considered proficient and in the green
range. The students who correctly categorize 7 or 6 out of the 9 objects will be considered in the yellow
range and will receive additional practice. Those who correctly categorize less than 6 out of the 9 objects
will be considered in the red range and will need further remediation.
Engagement:
The teacher will have the students sit in a circle on the carpet. She will use real objects in order for
students to feel recycled material. The students will pass the objects around the circle and record
observations in their science journals. The teacher will then ask the students questions about the objects
and see if they observed anything that the objects have in common. Okay class, when I call your table
please come to the carpet quickly and quietly. Bring your science journal, clipboard, and pencil with
you. Today we are going to sit in a large circle on the carpet. Remember to be respectful of everyones
personal space please. The teacher will call students by table to the carpet. Is everyone ready to start the
number talk for today? Do I have all eyes on me and all ears listening? Today I have some objects with
me. I want you to pass these items around the circle and record some observations in your science
journal. Remember we are making short observations like scientist. Do not hold the object for a long
period of time. Keep passing it around the circle. The teacher allows students time to complete this task
while actively observing. Okay, eyes on me. You all did very well with that. I like the way that you
stayed quiet and efficiently made observations. Now we are going to share some of our observations.
Who know what item 1 is? Very good, its a water bottle. Riley, what can you tell us about our water
bottle? Awesome! It is clear. What about item 2, our newspaper? Good job, it has multiple pages and
writing all over it. Lets do one more. Who can tell me about item 3, our pie pan? Yes, it is shiny and
feels different. Well, does everyone remember when we built our Halloween spider out of toilet paper
rolls, paper towel rolls, soda cans, and cardboard boxes? Where did that material come from? Correct,
it came from your houses! You all brought used objects in and we created something new out of them.
You brought those items from home just like I brought the items that we have today from home. Think for

a minute and give me a thumbs up when you remember what that is called. Teacher allows students time
to think. Yes, Micah, what did we call this? Awesome job! It is called recycling. We mentioned that
word when we built out spider, but today we are going to learn more about recycling. Today you will
learn how to organize objects into recycling categories.
Learning Design:

I. Teaching:
The teacher will explain the objective to the students again. She will use literature, Michael
Recycle, written by Ellie Bethel as well as the Smart Board to project the graphic organizer that
the students will fill out. It is titled Recyclable or Non-Recyclable? Student Tracking Sheet.
The teacher will use Michael Recycle to explain that recycling superheroes must know the
recycling categories so that they can make a difference by recycling objects daily. At the end of
the reading, the teacher and students will complete the recycling graphic organizer together. This
teacher will do this on the Smart Board while the students make the chart in their science
journals. This will allow the teacher to model how to correctly organize objects into categories.
This will also allow the students a chance to help her make decisions on which objects are
recyclable and which ones are non-recyclable. The three items that we talked about earlier:
water bottle, newspaper, and pie pan fit into three different recycling categories: plastic, paper,
and aluminum. The water bottle is plastic, the newspaper is paper, and the pie pan is aluminum.
Since these items can be recycled we call them recyclable items. Today, you will learn how to
organize objects into recycling categories. There are many recycling categories, but today we
will focus on three of them: plastic, paper, and aluminum. Teacher introduces the book. To help
us do this, we are going to meet a new friend named Michael Recycle. Today I am going to read
you this book called Michael Recycle. This story is by Ellie Bethel. Look at this cover. What do
you notice about the pictures? Turn and talk with your elbow partner and make a prediction
about this story based on what you see on the cover page. Teacher allows time for students to
discuss with their elbow partner while actively listening. Okay, eyes on me. Who would like to
share what their partner predicted? Steve, what did Omar say that the story would be about?
Okay, maybe the town needs a recycling superhero. Mackenzie, what did Victoria predict about
the story? Okay, so she thinks that the town is dirty and they get in trouble by Michael Recycle.
Lets hear one more. Braylon, what was Kingstons prediction? Maybe Michael will clean the
town in one day. Those are all great predictions! Well have to see which ones are correct. The
teacher will start reading Michael Recycle. She will ask questions throughout the reading. What
are wrong with the town? Very good, they had trash everyone. Why did they have trash
everyone? Good job, they were too lazy to pick it up. Who do you think came to town? Okay,
maybe Michael Recycle. Youre right. What do you think he is going to say to the town? Okay,
they need to clean up the town. Well have to see. What did Michael say to the people in the
town? Yes, that they needed to clean up and recycle before it got worse. What items did the
people recycle? Correct their paper, plastic, and cans. Those are the three recycling categories
that we talked about earlier. Remember paper like the newspaper, plastic like the water bottle,
and cans are aluminum like the pie pan. What does littering mean? Yes, it means to throw trash
on the ground. Good job! The teacher will transition into THINK PAIR SHARE time. Okay,
boys and girls, we completed a turn and talk earlier, but now we are going to do a think pair
share. Remember that this is a little different than turn and talk. We did a think pair share
yesterday in math. The best part about this strategy is the part about thinking. If you give
yourself a minute to think about what we just read and then you share, then there are two people

sharing a lot of information. You can sit elbow, elbow, knee, knee and turn to somebody near
you. I am going to ask you a question and I want you to give yourself thinking time before
talking to your partner. How did the town change from the beginning to the end of this book? I
want you to compare the town in the beginning to the town at the end in your mind. You can
close your eyes if you need to. Teacher allows for thinking time. Now I want you to turn and
talk to someone near you. Teacher allows for students to talk to each other while monitoring and
supporting different groups. Okay, eyes on me. I am going to call on some groups to share.
Laken, can you share with the group please? Very good, the town was dirty at the beginning and
it was clean at the end. Jamie, what can you add to Lakens answer? Youre right! The town
did not recycle at the beginning and they did at the end. Very good! You all very well with think
pair share today. Im proud of you. Now, I want you to get out your science journal, clip board,
and pencil again. Teacher introduces the GRAPHIC ORGANIZER. Look at the Smart Board. I
have a graphic organizer up there called Recyclable or Non-Recyclable? Student Tracker Sheet.
I want you to draw a chart in your science journal like the one you see on the board. Teacher
allows students time to draw the chart. Okay, eyes on me. Now, we are going to fill this chart
out together. I am going to say some items out loud and we are going to decide if they are
recyclable or non-recyclable. Does anyone have any questions? Teacher waits for student
questions. Okay, water bottles? Very good, recyclable. Teacher writes water bottles in the
recyclable column and instructs students to do the same. Make sure your chart looks like my
chart. Next item is grass. Is that recyclable? No! Very good, grass is not recyclable, so it goes
in the non-recyclable column. How about card board boxes? Yes, youre right. They are
recyclable because they fall in the paper category. Teacher continues to list items for each
column. The items in our recyclable column all fall in the categories of paper, plastic, or
aluminum. The newspaper and cardboard box is paper. The water bottle and lotion bottle is
plastic. And the soda can and pie pan is aluminum. Teacher transitions into practice section of
lesson.
II. Opportunity for Practice:
The teacher transitions into the opportunity for practice part of the lesson plan. Alright, now you
are going to get a chance to practice organizing objects by playing a matching game with a
partner. I have chosen the partner pairs. Each partner pair will get 12 cards. Six of the cards
are recycling categories. There are two aluminum, two paper, and two plastic. The other six
cards are objects that can be recycled. You will work together with your groups to place the
object words with the recycling category. We have played this game before, so you all know how
it works. Remember that we talked about thinking win-win on Monday. How can you think winwin during this time? Very good! You can think win-win by letting every group member have a
turn. As I call your group, come get your supplies from me and find a spot somewhere around
the room. The teacher calls each group and distributes supplies. Each group gets 12 cards. You
may start once you find your spot in the room. Work through the game until you have matched
all of the objects with the correct recycling category. The teacher walks around the classroom
observing how each group is doing. The teacher assists when she sees that it is necessary.
Everyone is doing such a great job! Once your group finishes, place the cards on my teacher
table. Sit down at your table and review your science journal. Correct anything that you need
to from today in order to be the best scientist that you can be.

III. Assessment
The teacher will present the students with a recycling worksheet. The worksheet has three
columns: paper, plastic, and aluminum. The teacher will also present the students with nine
pictures of objects which include lotion, aluminum pan, brown paper sack, aluminum soup can,
cardboard box, plastic cup, newspaper, soda can, and a water bottle. The students will
independently cut the pictures individually and glue them into the correct recycling category. All
students must correctly categorize at least 8 out of the 9 objects which is 89% accuracy. The
students who do this will be considered proficient and in the green range. The students who
correctly categorize 7 or 6 out of the 9 objects will be considered in the yellow range and will
receive additional practice. Those who correctly categorize less than 6 out of the 9 objects will
be considered in the red range and will need further remediation.
Okay, eyes on me. I am going to pass out a two recycling worksheets. The first worksheet has
nine pictures of recyclable materials. The second has three columns. Column one says paper,
column two says plastic, and column three says aluminum. Your job is to cut the pictures out
individually and glue them under the correct category. For example, if I cut out the aluminum
pan, I would glue it under the word aluminum in column three. Make sure that you take your
time and do this without talking to your neighbor. The teacher will pass out the worksheet to
each student. The students are sitting at their seats. When you are finished, place your work in
the complete tray and work on your science center for the day. Once everyone is finished the
teacher will instruct them to come back to the carpet.
IV. Closure:
The teacher will instruct everyone to come back to the carpet. Okay, eyes on me. Leave your
science centers at your table and come back and sit on the carpet please. Bring your science
journals, clip board, and pencil. Remember to do this quietly. I want you to write one sentence
in your science journal about what you learned today. The teacher allows time for students to
write. Wow! I am seeing some great responses. Who wants to share? Okay, Joseph. What is
one thing that you learned today? Awesome! Joseph learned the recycling is easy to do. Who
else wants to share what they learned today? Great job! Adelina learned that three recycling
categories are paper, plastic, and aluminum. Awesome job today! When you go home today I
want you to look for objects that are recyclable. See if you can find some that fit into the
categories that we talked about today.
Materials and Resources:
Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel
Water bottle
Newspaper
Empty Soda Can
Aluminum Pie Pan
Toilet Paper Role
Recycle That! Assessment Worksheet
Recycling Categories Worksheet
Recycling Matching Cards

Differentiation Strategies (including plans for individual learners):

High End Learners They will complete practice section by choosing a recycling task using the BINGO
strategy. These could include finding pictures of recyclable items for each category on their iPad and
creating their own chart.
Low End Learners They will complete the practice section and assessment with assistance (ELL teacher
if applicable). They will have two pictures in each category instead of three. Once they match those
pictures, then the third will be added.

Samford University
Design for Learning