Recycling Crriculum for Elementary & Middle Schools

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) has expanded its education and outreach program by creating a 12-week curriculum for elementary and middle school grades. The curriculum is an integrated approach that meets various science, math, language arts, and social studies objectives. The curriculum is free for all teachers to download and use in the classroom.

The recycling curriculum consists of 20 lessons arranged in three modules. Below you can download each module as a separate file or download just one lesson plan at a time. Go here for FAQs about our curriculum and it's development. Our introduction section lists the standards and references associated with each lesson. All the files below were designed to be printed double-sided and therefore have intentionally placed blank pages.

All of the following files are in pdf format.      Download Adobe Acrobat Reader Free


  Module 1 — My Garbage (An Exploration of Solid Waste) — Introduction

Lesson 1 - Just a Dream
Lesson 2 - It's the Old Style
Lesson 3 - My Landfill is Sanitary
Lesson 4 - How Long Does Trash Last?

Lesson 5 - Potato Chip Dilemma
Lesson 6 - Play It Again, Sam
Lesson 7 - Warhol Waste
Lesson 8 - Warhol Waste (Day 2)


  Module 2 — It's Organic, Man! (Recycling at Home) — Introduction

Lesson 9 - Breakin' it Down
Lesson 10 - My Carrots Are Green
Lesson 11 - The Worms Ate My Homework

Lesson 12 - It's My Paper and I Like It
Lesson 13 - Thoreau Think Piece
Lesson 14 - Thoreau Think Piece (Day 2)


  Module 3 — Industrial Strength (Heavy Duty Recycling) — Introduction

Lesson 15 - Pulp Non-Fiction
Lesson 16 - Solid Steel
Lesson 17 - Recycle, For PETE's Sake

Lesson 18 - 2800 Degrees Fahrenheit
Lesson 19 - Socrates Static
Lesson 20 - Socrates Static (Day 2)

  Additional Support Documents

Starting a School Recycling Program Guidance

Attachment 1 — Oregon Green School Tools
Attachment 2 — Go Green Initiative Planning Guide


  Student Public Service Announcement ModuleIntroduction

Lesson 1 - This is your Brain
Lesson 2 - Pen to Paper
Lesson 3 - Pen to Paper to Practice
Lesson 4 - Lights, Camera, Action
Lesson 5 - Lights, Camera, Action - Part 2
Lesson 6 - Oscar

  Student Workbook

Module 1
Module 2
Module 3


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