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Science lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 45 minutes

Sort waste into the right recycling group

Ecosystems and food chains

CCSS NGSS.K-ESS3-3England: EYFS Understanding the World: The natural worldEngland: KS1 Y1 Everyday materials

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Sort waste into the right recycling group.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Reduce, reuse or recycle?

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Food web cards, Arrows to build chains, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Reduce, reuse or recycle?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this reducing, reusing or recycling: refilling a water bottle? (reduce / reuse / recycle) → reusePrompt: Reduce = use less. Reuse = use again. Recycle = make into something new.
  2. Which of these is a way to reuse? (sending old newspapers to be made into new paper / refilling a water bottle / buying fruit without plastic wrapping / turning off the tap while you brush your teeth) → refilling a water bottlePrompt: Is the item used less, used again, or turned into something new?
  3. Which of these makes the LEAST rubbish? (paper plates thrown away after lunch / a new plastic bag every day / a reusable lunchbox / single-use plastic cutlery) → a reusable lunchboxPrompt: Which one can be used again and again?

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a food web and ask what would happen if one animal disappeared.
  • Share the objective: Sort waste into the right recycling group. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which recycling group should this go in: a used envelope?
  • Step 1: Paper and card can be pulped and made into new paper.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: paper and card
  • Answer: paper and card
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Which recycling group should this go in: an empty jam jar? (paper and card / glass / metal / food waste (compost)) → glassPrompt: What material is it made of?
  2. Three of these go in the food waste (compost) group. Which one does NOT? (an old comic / banana peel / apple core / eggshells) → an old comicPrompt: Name the material of each thing.

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. True or false? A metal can and a comic go in the same bin as glass. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Think about what each thing is made of.
  2. Three of these go in the glass group. Which one does NOT? (a glass sauce bottle / a glass milk bottle / an empty jam jar / an old comic) → an old comicPrompt: Name the material of each thing.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Reduce, reuse or recycle?.
  • Use concrete materials: food web cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/kindergarten.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Sort waste into the right recycling group

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    True or false? A metal can and a comic go in the same bin as glass.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    Which recycling group should this go in: a soup tin (can)?

    • A. paper and card
    • B. glass
    • C. metal
    • D. food waste (compost)

  3. Question 3

    Three of these go in the metal group. Which one does NOT?

    • A. a used envelope
    • B. a drinks can
    • C. a clean foil tray
    • D. a soup tin (can)

  4. Question 4

    True or false? Cans should be rinsed before recycling.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    Which recycling group should this go in: a cardboard egg box?

    • A. paper and card
    • B. glass
    • C. metal
    • D. food waste (compost)

  6. Question 6

    Three of these go in the food waste (compost) group. Which one does NOT?

    • A. apple core
    • B. banana peel
    • C. a cereal box
    • D. carrot tops

  7. Question 7

    Which recycling group should this go in: an empty jam jar?

    • A. paper and card
    • B. glass
    • C. metal
    • D. food waste (compost)

  8. Question 8

    Which recycling group should this go in: apple core?

    • A. paper and card
    • B. glass
    • C. metal
    • D. food waste (compost)

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Answer key: Sort waste into the right recycling group

  1. 1. B. False

  2. 2. C. metal

  3. 3. A. a used envelope

  4. 4. A. True

  5. 5. A. paper and card

  6. 6. C. a cereal box

  7. 7. B. glass

  8. 8. D. food waste (compost)