The three “R's” of conservation

The conservation of our resources is in the hands of every individual. Students need to learn the effect of recycling, reusing, and reducing has on our environment and what they can do.

A lesson plan for grades 9–12 Science

By Mark Clinkscales and Carrie Palmer

Learn more

Related pages

• Jordan Lake Educational State Forest: Students will learn about the ecosystems which make up a forest and the animals that inhabit it.
• Ecology Center at Herring Ridge: This new environmental education center for 4th- 12th grade students has hands-on programs which promote a life-long interest in science and stewardship to the Earth.
• Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education: Students will learn the importance of North Carolina's wildlife resources at this environmental education facility.

Related topics

• Learn more about conservation, environmental science, environments, natural resources, recycling, and science.

Help

Please read our disclaimer for lesson plans.

Legal

Learning outcomes

We hope that the students will realize the importance of conservation and inspire them to do their part in recycling, reusing, and reducing in their everyday lives. The students will play the dumptown game and learn how a city can reorganize itself into a recycling town and how much different recycling programs cost.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

50 minutes

Materials/resources

• computers with internet connection
• worksheet
• pencil
• blackboard and chalk or overhead projector

Technology resources

Access to EPA website Recycle City

Pre-activities

We would like the students to write a page of what their household does/should do to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Activities

Step 1

Discussion of recycling, reusing, and reducing to show students the effect this has on the environment.

1. Talk about non-renewable and renewable resources.
2. Talk about what products that can be recycled in their community.
3. Talk about how to reduce by showing even to buy products with the least amount of packaging.
4. Talk about reusing items to create projects such as a milk cartons for a bird feeder.
5. Students should participate in the discussion by volunteering their ideas and experiences.

Step 2

Enter the EPA website Recycle City and let the students explore Dumptown.

1. Click on Welcome to Recycle City and let the students click on different quadrants of the map to learn about the city.
2. Click also on the link under P.S. to learn about the history of Dumptown.

Step 3

Allow students to play the Dumptown Game. As they add/delete programs, let them fill out worksheet of plans they implemented, how much they spent, and assess of how the programs affect the town (what it reduced, etc.). They will do this for four trials.

1. Click on Dumptown Game under Welcome to Recycle City.
2. Let the students read the directions.
3. Click on Play the Game.

Step 4

Discuss among all the students the cheapest plans, the most benifical plans, etc.

Assessment

The teacher should collect the worksheets and evaluate on participation.

Supplemental information

Recently, The Daily Tarheel reported that North Carolina set a new record of producing 10.2 million tons of garbage between July 1999 and June 2000. This amount of garbage is 1 million tons more than the previous year. This amount also indicates that 1.3 tons of garbage is thrown away by each resident of North Carolina. This information shows the need to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Comments

The EPA is a great website with many opportunities to create your own learning tool. During the four trials, the teacher can set limits to the amount spent or which item of garbage to reduce.