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Recycle It

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From: Aussie Childcare Network

Recycle It Terence Ong

A simple and easy way to teach a child how to sort and recycle plastic cans and paper.

Materials Needed:

  • 3 medium size cardboard boxes (no lid).
  • 3 different animal stickers (or) pictures (e.g. lion, giraffe, hippo).
  • 1 can
  • 1 piece of scrap paper
  • 1 plastic cup

What to do:

  • This game will help your child to learn to sort and recycle at a young age.
  • Place the cardboard box where your child can reach them.
  • Put stickers or pictures of your child’s favourite animals on the front of each of the boxes.
  • Tell the child that we have to keep the characters fed.
  • The lion like cans, the giraffe likes paper and the hippo likes plastic.
  • To reinforce this also next to each of the animal stickers/picture,stick the item to be fed to each of the animals. For e.g stick a piece of paper next to the giraffe etc.
  • Whenever there is an empty can, paper or plastic to be recycled, let your child place it in the corresponding box.
  • This will teach your child to recycle and sort.

Hints and Tips:

  • Instead of using animals on each of the cardboard boxes you can use your child’s favourite Disney characters (or) even your child’s favourite colours.
  • When the recycling get full, show your child which recycling bin you use to empty out the boxes
  • Paint each of the boxes to make it more appealing or cover with re-used wrapping paper.
  • Encourage others to use the same recycling system within the household.

Additional Info

  • Appropriate Age: 2 year+
  • Number of Children: Individual (1), Couple (2), Few (3), Small Group (4)
  • Developmental Milestones:

    Groups objects by category.

    Responds to simple instructions.

    Observe and imitate adult actions.

    Can follow 2 instructions.

    Responds to “what” and “where” questions.

    Points to objects when named.

    Carries an object while walking.

  • Play Based Learning: Exploratory Play
  • Interest Areas: Science and Nature
  • Games Categories: Cognitive Development, Language Development, Learning Games
  • EYLF Outcomes: Learning Outcome 2, Learning Outcome 4
  • Sub Outcomes:

    2.4 Children become socially responsible and show respect for the environment

    4.3 Children transfer and adapt what they have learned from one context to another

    4.4 Children resource their own learning through connecting with people place technologies and natural and processed materials

Printed from AussieChildcareNetwork.com.au