Science Fenns K-5Grades K to 5
Three bins on a Texas porch labeled in plain colors, a reusable jar of pencils and a flattened cardboard box.

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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Three small habits with big results.

Lesson 33 of 41

Try this first

Before we start

Today’s story

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

After supper, a family has a full trash can. Cans, boxes, jars, paper. Most of it can be saved.

There are three habits to remember. Reduce means use less. Reuse means use something again. Recycle means turn old things into new ones, like old cans becoming new cans.

Each habit saves resources. Each one keeps trash out of the landfill. Let's learn all three.

See it

Five steps. Every time.

    Hands on

    Trash Can Detective

    30 minutes · Do this with a grown-up nearby

    You need

    • A bag of clean, dry household trash from one day
    • Paper and pencil
    • Three boxes or bins
    • Gloves
    • A marker for labels

    Do this

    1. Put on gloves and spread out the trash.
    2. Label the boxes Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
    3. Sort each item into the best box.
    4. Count how many items are in each box.
    5. Decide what you could stop using.
    6. Plan a change for tomorrow.
    Write or draw: A tally chart with the count in each box.

    Watch for: Notice which box has the most. Notice what you could stop buying.

    Safety: Use clean, dry trash only. No food, no glass and no sharp edges. Wash hands after.

    Same every time

    Three rules

    Rule 1Reduce first.

    The best trash is none at all.

    Rule 2Rinse before you recycle.

    Food on paper and cans causes trouble.

    Rule 3Share what you outgrow.

    Someone else may need it.

    Grandpa Fenn’s notebook

    Say it like a scientist

    reduce
    To use less of something.
    reuse
    To use something again.
    recycle
    To make old things into new things.
    landfill
    A place where trash is buried.

    Poppy’s quiz

    Six questions

    Tap an answer. Green means right. You will see why.

    Talk about it

    Say it out loud

    • How do you know a habit is working? What could you count?
    • What do you and your family already reuse at home?
    Did you know

    Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for a few hours.

    Someone who does this

    A recycling plant worker sorts materials so they can be made into new things.

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