Science Fenns K-5Grades K to 5
Three bins in a school hallway marked recycle, trash and compost, with a child tossing a can.

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Conserve, Recycle, Dispose

What happens to the environment depends on what we do.

Lesson 32 of 40

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Before we start

Today’s story

Conserve, Recycle, Dispose

A can of soda is finished. You can toss it in the trash. Or you can drop it in a bin to be melted and made into a new can.

Conserving means using less. Recycling means turning old things into new ones. Disposal means throwing away. What people choose changes the land, water and air.

A landfill can hold trash for a very long time. Litter can wash into creeks and harm animals. Recycling saves energy and materials. Follow the steps.

See it

Five steps. Every time.

    Hands on

    Trash Audit

    25 minutes · Do this with a grown-up nearby

    You need

    • Clean trash from one day
    • Gloves
    • Newspaper to spread on
    • Paper and pencil

    Do this

    1. Wear gloves with an adult nearby.
    2. Spread newspaper on a table.
    3. Sort the items into recycle, reuse and trash piles.
    4. Count each pile.
    5. Make a bar graph.
    6. Decide which pile could be smaller.
    7. Write one way to cut waste.
    Write or draw: A bar graph of piles and a plan.

    Watch for: More items can be recycled or reused than people expect.

    Safety: Use clean items only and wash hands after.

    Same every time

    Three rules

    Rule 1Use less first.

    The best trash is the trash never made.

    Rule 2Sort carefully.

    Dirty items can spoil a whole batch.

    Rule 3Dispose of dangerous items properly.

    Batteries and paint need special handling.

    Grandpa Fenn’s notebook

    Say it like a scientist

    conserve
    To use less of something.
    recycle
    To turn used things into new ones.
    landfill
    A place where trash is buried.
    pollution
    Harmful stuff in air, water or land.

    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 recycling helps?
    • What does your family recycle or reuse?
    Did you know

    Aluminum can be recycled over and over without losing quality.

    Someone who does this

    A recycling plant worker sorts and processes materials.

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