Educating the Kids

RecycleWorks offer resources, curriculum and project ideas for use in the classroom. On this page you will find the following:

Classroom Presentations

RecycleWorks offers school presentations to educate teachers, students, parents and administrators about waste reduction, recycling, reuse, composting and green building topics. Email schools@RecycleWorks.org or call 650.599-1424 for more information or to schedule a presentation.

Parks Foundation Curriculum

The San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation has developed a guide to help teachers take advantage of the park resources within an easy distance from local schools. For all grade levels, there is useful information about each of the San Mateo County parks, suggestions for using the parks as part of a teaching program, correlations to California State Content Standards and tie-ins with state adopted science textbooks. It also includes activities for grades 2-6. Teachers can borrow a Park Pack, suitable for all grades, with 15 copies of 5 different field guides, 5 sets of binoculars, numerous hand lenses, a nifty gadget that plays bird songs and a moisture meter. Contact the Foundation at 650-321-5812 or office@SupportParks.org.

Download the Parks Curriculum.

Ideas for Field Trips

We encourage you to take your class to one of the transfer stations for a tour and demonstration. Teachers, students and chaperones will see how their garbage is processed for transport to the landfill and how their recyclables are processed for market. Information about tours to the transfer stations in San Carlos and South San Francisco and other field trip ideas can be found in RecycleWorks Kids.

Resource Library

A resource library located within our office offers curriculum, activities, lessons, books, videos and paper making kits to teachers, administrators, and parents for use within the classrooms on resource conservation topics. You can check out the materials for a two-week period. Email info@RecycleWorks.org or call the RecycleWorks hotline at 1-888-442-2666 to schedule an appointment to visit or to see if we have what you are looking for.

Creative Reuse Ideas

RecycleWorks encourages you to find new, fun ways to reuse objects that would otherwise be recycled or thrown away. Art and science projects, unique gift ideas and links to reuse centers are among the resources available on the Creative ReUse page. This page helps you teach your students that reuse saves money and natural resources.

The No Waste Lunch

Show your students how to pack a no waste lunch. RecycleWorks also offers small posters encouraging a no waste lunch to any classroom in San Mateo County — just email info@RecycleWorks.org with your request.

No Waste Events

Use special events to teach resource conservation through action. Minimize the waste produced by planning no waste events.

RecycleWorks Kids Connect

The Recycleworks Kids Connect web site helps students make connections between natural resources and their daily consumption and disposal patterns. The main section focuses on the resources used to make paper and has been designed for students in grades 5-7. The site also contains many local examples of endangered species, habitats, and watersheds, interactive games and puzzles and local opportunities for recycling and outdoor adventures.

See how Kid's Connect ties into Content Standards (PDF)

Teaching Energy Conservation

Visit our page dedicated to teaching energy conservation.

Sample 6th Grade Lesson Plan

Wastes and Recycling: A webquest for sixth grade science. This plan was developed by Philip Buhite (math, science, social studies teacher at Spring Forge Intermediate School, Manchester, PA) to help kids make a difference in their personal and family waste habits.

Any teacher developing materials that utilize the information on www.RecycleWorks.org as part of the lesson or that directly teach waste reduction, recycling, or other environmental lessons are encouraged to submit plans for inclusion in our website.

Harnessing the Sun's Power - Solar Ovens

Solar ovens use the sun's power to bake, boil or steam a meal without gas or electricity. They have numerous benefits, including being environmentally friendly, easy to operate and transportable. The site also contains Solar Scientist Like Nachos Lesson Plan, which is designed for students in grades 3 and 5. Make a solar oven out of a pizza box!