Recycling Teaching Resources
Encourage students to reduce, reuse and recycle with recycling signs for the classroom, recycling projects for kids and more environmentally-friendly teaching resources created by teachers for teachers!
This teaching resource collection has been carefully reviewed by the teachers of the Teach Starter team to ensure each resource is ready for use in your elementary classroom to encourage students to think green and be kind to our Earth.
Looking for ways be more green in the classroom? Read on for some tips from our teacher team!
Green Tips for Teachers
Recycling might not be an explicit part of your state standards, but everything from signs you hang about the garbage cans to the habits you role model in your classroom can help students learn to be more green in school and out.
Here are a few green tips to make your classroom more sustainable this school year and encourage your students to keep it going long after they've moved on to the next grade!
- Create a green classroom space — Bring potted plants into your classroom to improve air quality and create a more natural learning environment, and make taking care of the plants a rotating classroom helper job to instill the sense of responsibility in your students.
- Turn off the classroom lights as often as you can — According to estimates, heating, cooling, and lighting come together to account for 70 percent of the energy used in schools every day. Role model energy-saving behaviors by flipping the light switch whenever possible.
- Be explicit in your recycling instruction — Don't just hang a recycling sign or set up recycle symbols on your classroom bins. Make it part of your classroom procedures, and practice splitting waste from recyclable materials.
- Use eco-friendly school supplies — When you can, opt for pencils, notebooks, and other classroom supplies that were made from sustainable materials or are recyclable. You can also talk to the custodians about the types of cleaning supplies that are being used in your classroom (as well as bringing your own for those in-between cleanings).
- Go digital — Where possible, use Google Slides (like the ones from Teach Starter!) and other digital teaching resources to cut down on the amount of paper use and printing you're doing.
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Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint – Poster and Worksheet
Explore how to reduce your carbon footprint with this poster and accompanying comprehension worksheet.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Environmental Word Wall
Help your young students learn about recycling and conservation with an illustrated word wall.
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Earth Day Coloring Pages
Give your students these beautiful Earth Day coloring sheets to promote sustainability and conservation.
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Recycling I Spy and Sort Worksheet
Sort different pieces of trash into their appropriate bins with this I Spy worksheet.
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Recycling Writing Prompts - Primary
Show off your procedural writing skills with a pack of recycling writing prompts.
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How is Plastic Recycled? – Recycling Worksheets
Explore the process of recycling plastic with a printable recycling worksheet.
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Recycling Word Search
Build your students’ vocabulary around the topic of recycling with this recycling-themed word search.
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Recycling Craftivity - We Recycle Because...
Write about why we recycle and create this recycling craft to display in the classroom.
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What Can Be Recycled? Poster
A poster showing the products that can be recycled.
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The Recycling Process Poster
Show your students the process materials go through when they are recycled with printable recycling posters.
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How to Reduce Waste - School Lunch Project
Investigate the waste produced from school lunches and create a plan of action to reduce waste with a school lunch waste analysis project.
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Classroom Practices to Promote a Green Future - A Teacher's Guide
Create a more sustainably-friendly classroom with this 18-page teacher's guide.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Brainstorming Sheets
Brainstorm All the Ways to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle with a pack of printable brainstorming worksheets.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Earth Day Foldables
Display different ways to conserve resources with a set of fun recycling–based foldable interactive notebook templates.
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Helping the Earth Flipbook - Primary
Use this printable recycling flipbook with your students to teach them about ways to help Earth.
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Recycling Writing Prompts - Earth Day Worksheets
Differentiate writing instruction in primary grades with informational writing prompts about recycling and conservation.
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Reduce Reuse Recycle! - Printable Earth Day Read-Alouds
Teach your students to reduce, reuse, and recycle with a printable 3 Rs Mini-Book.
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What Can We Recycle? Cut and Paste Worksheet
Remember what to recycle with a cut-and-paste worksheet.
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How to Build an Earthworm House Project
Learn to build an earthworm house with a step-by-step instructional guide.
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Recycling Card Game - SNAP!
Use this card game to reinforce the correct containers to be used for recycling, composting, and discarding waste.
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Trash, Recycle, or Compost Sorting Activity
Learn about recycling, composting, and sustainable practices for waste management with a fun sorting activity.
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Why Should We Compost? Poster
Use this poster set to explain why it is important to compost food scraps.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rethink Posters
Teach the concepts behind reducing, reusing, recycling, and rethinking waste with this set of 4 posters.
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Recycling Labels - Printable Bin Tags
Teach your students how to recycle in the classroom with labeled recycling bins!
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Save the Planet - Earth Words Vocabulary Display
Print and display Earth Day-related terms in your classroom to improve vocabulary and discussion about Earth Day.
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Trash, Recycle, and Compost Posters
Remind your students where to put their waste with these trash, recycling, and compost posters.
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10 Creative Ways to Get Kids to Recycle in Your Classroom + Free Recycling Options for Teachers
How to encourage kids to recycle in your classroom + free recycling programs that earn teachers cash and school supplies!