Browse the lesson plans below to find different ways to educate your students on recycling, composting, reducing, and reusing and why these are important practices in our daily lives. All lesson plans indicate what age groups they are appropriate for and include Minnesota Teaching Standards.
Recycling Lesson Plans
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle! (PDF)
Students will classify garbage items into 3 piles: reduce, reuse and recycle. This lesson plan teaches students about how and why practicing all three in their daily lives is so important.
Grades: K-2
The Bigger Meaning of Recycling: Green Play Structures (PDF)
This lesson plan is designed to show students the bigger meaning of recycling by focusing on what is created from the process. Many commonly recycled materials such as tires, scrap metal, and cardboard are converted into materials used in the construction of green play structures.
Grades: K-3
Waste Reduction Lesson Plans
The Truth about Plastic Bags (PDF)
This lesson will inform students about the scope of the worldwide plastic bag problem, and provide them with ways to reduce plastic bag generation and waste.
Grades: K-3
Composting Lesson Plans
Compost Critters (PDF)
This lesson plan explores how nature “recycles” its own resources. Students will learn how this phenomenon happens by observing some of nature’s recyclers at work.
Grades: K-2
Household Hazardous Waste Lesson Plans
Hazardous Products Substitutes (PDF)
In this lesson plan, students will learn about why certain products are dangerous to our health and the environment, and what some substitutes are to these products.
Grades: K-3
Natural Resources Lesson Plans
Planting a Tree (PDF)
In this lesson plan, students will research native trees and plants where they live, and the significance of those plants to the habitat. Students will then participate in a service project planting trees in their community to gain an understanding of stewardship.
Grades: 1-3
Pollution Search (PDF)
In this lesson plan, students will learn to identify different types of pollution and how to manage the pollution properly. In particular, students will be identifying one form of pollution know as litter.
Grades: K-3
Earth Day Lesson Plans
Grades K-3 (PDF)
This list includes short descriptions of the most popular of earth related children’s books while also including a complete list of suggested reading in honor of Mother Earth.
Looking for more resources? Visit the Earth Day webpage for more information and ways to get involved.