Mini-Lesson

Objective: Students will learn about the effects of pollution and what can be done to reduce pollution.

1. Ask students to turn to a partner to talk about their recycling habits. Ask: What do you do, in school and at home, with paper, cans, glass and other items? Why recycle? What can happen when people don't recycle?

2. Chart 5-10 ways students recycle in school and at home.

3. Have students read the article, Talking Trash. Tell students to underline creative recycling ideas in the article.

Have students complete the TIME For Kids worksheet, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Divide students into small groups. Have each group create a poster that encourages Americans to recycle in creative ways.

Start a discussion. Ask: What is pollution? There are different kinds of pollution; what are they? (air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution). Give examples of each kind of pollution. Explain why pollution is a problem and make suggestions for stopping it.

Endangered Planet by David Burnie (Kingfisher, 2004).

You Can Save the Planet: 50 Ways You Can Make a Difference by Jacquie Wines; illus. by Sarah Horne (Scholastic, 2008).

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1971).