\u00a0 \u00a0 \t\t\t\u00a0 Michael Recycle\u00a0<\/strong><\/a> “There once was a town So begins the story of a garbage heap of a town that is saved by the surprising presence of a child super hero- Michael Recycle.\u00a0 Entertaining as well as educational, the presence of Michael, a young boy, as the town’s savior empowers children to believe that they too have the ability to affect a change.\u00a0 In that vein, the end of the book lists several green strategies everyone can implement.\u00a0 For example, “Quick and Clean!\u00a0 Take shorter showers… unless you are really, really smelly.”<\/p>\n Pollution?\u00a0 <\/a><\/strong> \t\t\t<\/a>No Problem!<\/a><\/strong> Albert believes his invention will make his life easier… that is until it begins seeping a purple goo.\u00a0 Albert and his friend Henry spend the rest of the book trying to get rid of the goo, but to no avail. Albert tries everything, from burying the goo down deep, to sending it into outer space, but the goo always finds its way back to earth.\u00a0 The boys quickly learn that when you throw something away, it does not just disappear.\u00a0 Albert’s journey is a great lead into a discussion about where our garbage goes when we throw it away (a landfill) and the consequences of the improper disposal of trash.<\/p>\n The Tin Forest<\/strong><\/a> An old man lives alone in the midst of a garbage heap. He dreams of jungles and living animals to keep him company, and finally one day slowly begins to create the jungle of his dreams with the garbage and tin surrounding him.\u00a0 His tin forest attracts the attention of a real bird, who brings a friend, and a seed.\u00a0 Slowly, the tin forest makes way for a real wilderness.<\/p>\n A story about imagination and the power of dreaming, The Tin Forest<\/em> is also a great jumping off point to talk about the power of restoration.\u00a0 Considered by some to be the fourth “R”, to restore is to take something and bring it back to life.\u00a0 The old man sees the potential beneath the trash, and his effort restores life to his surroundings.<\/p>\n The Lorax<\/a><\/strong> The Once-ler cuts down all of the Truffula trees, destroying the habitat of such fanciful animals as the Brown Bar-Ba-Loots, Humming Fish, and Swomee Swans.\u00a0 The Lorax continually tries to “speak for the trees” but is ignored by the Once-ler until it is too late.\u00a0 All of the animals are forced to travel away, leaving only the Once-ler to preach this cautionary tale about irresponsibly taking with no thought to the environmental consequences.<\/p>\n For more resources on teaching The Lorax<\/em>, visit Lorax Project.<\/a><\/p>\n Recycle Every Day!<\/a><\/strong> Minna is a young rabbit who is excited to enter a contest at school to create a recycling poster.\u00a0 The winning poster will be put in the Community Recycling Calendar!\u00a0 Minna can not decide what to make her poster about, and as she looks around for inspiration, is surprised by all of the little things that her family does everyday to make a difference.\u00a0 All of these small things add up to make a big difference, causing Minna to create the poster, “Re-re-remember.\u00a0 Re-re-recycle Every Day!” Using found and recycled objects to create the art for the book, Nancy Wallace shows the students how important it is to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle at every possible opportunity.<\/p>\n Relevant Websites for Students<\/em><\/p>\n Michael, Michael, Go Recycle!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n I would recommend this fun, age appropriate game as part of a center rotation after a whole class reading and discussion of Michael Recycle<\/em>.\u00a0 Although the game is not affiliated with the book, it is a nice extension about appropriate waste disposal, and the positive impact that every student can have on the environment.<\/p>\n The game is a maze, in which the student fights against the clock to collect 10 pieces of litter and then place them in the proper disposal receptacles. Very fun and user friendly!<\/p>\n It’s Not All Garbage!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n A very neat quiz, testing students knowledge of how they can dispose of trash, without throwing it away.\u00a0 There are 30 items, ranging from leaves to a rocking chair, that students must decide to either recycle, compost, give to charity, or put in the trash.\u00a0 At the end of the quiz, the students are told what answers they did not get correct, and are given the opportunity to try again.<\/p>\n Recycling Zone<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Hopefully students will be inspired by the message behind the RRR unit, and will take some of their new found passion home with them.\u00a0 This website has fun activities that students and parents can do together to begin being more earth friendly at home.\u00a0 Examples of initiatives are composting and creating recycled paper.<\/p>\n Video of the Lorax<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twenty-five minutes in length, this animated movie of the Dr. Seuss classic incorporates songs (whose lyrics are also written by Dr. Seuss) into the original story line.\u00a0 An engaging way to show the impactful story in another format, perhaps as a center rotation.<\/p>\n Green Games<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The Green Family is all about taking care of the environment. \u00a0 Watch their informative episodes, or click on this link to play games that reinforce their environmental message! “Lights Out” reminds us to turn the lights out when we leave a room, and “Thrifty Threads” allows you to redesign old clothes to give to charity.<\/p>\n \u00a0Helpful Resources for Educators <\/em><\/p>\n Recycle City<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Before it became Recycle City, it was a disastrously dirty town known as Dumptown.\u00a0 In order to clean up Dumptown, you need to research several clean up options, and choose the most efficient and cost effective ones to clean up the town.\u00a0 While the language in this game is far beyond a first grade level, it would be a fun whole class activity to look at each of the options, and discuss the impacts on the town. \u00a0 The students will enjoy seeing the town clean up before their very eyes as their decisions affect positive change.<\/p>\n Garbage: How Can My Community Reduce Waste?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n This website is extremely informative and user friendly, giving background on the nature and disposal of all types of waste, from hazardous waste, to sewage and solid waste.\u00a0 The website also shows a global prospective, and the importance of sustainability for the future.\u00a0 This website would be especially helpful to look at before reading and discussing Pollution? No Problem!<\/em> with a class.<\/p>\n Old CD Case Frames<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n A fun way to show students first hand the possibilities of reusing.\u00a0 Ask parents to send in any old CD cases, and you have an earth friendly, and inexpensive project, perhaps for Mother’s or Father’s Day.<\/p>\n Recycle Zone For Teachers<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Full of lesson plans and printables to help teach recycling, this website is very easy to navigate and has a wealth of knowledge for educators teaching this unit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The following resources are appropriate to begin teaching first graders to become conscientious environmental advocates (Virginia Science SOL 1.8).\u00a0 These resources, including pertinent literature and websites for both students and educators, help highlight the potential consequences of poor environmental stewardship … Continue reading
\n<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Michael](\"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/files\/2010\/10\/michael-recycle-300x300.thumbnail.jpg\")
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\nWritten by Ellie Bethel
\nIllustrated by Alexandra Colombo<\/p>\n
\nCalled Abberdoo-Rimey,
\nWhere garbage was left
\nTo grow rotten and slimy.”<\/p>\n![\"pollution-no-problem.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/files\/2010\/10\/pollution-no-problem.thumbnail.jpg\")
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\nWritten and Illustrated by David Morichon<\/p>\n![\"the-tin-forest.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/files\/2010\/10\/the-tin-forest.thumbnail.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWritten by Helen Ward
\nIllustrated by Wayne Anderson<\/p>\n![\"the-lorax.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/files\/2010\/10\/the-lorax.thumbnail.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWritten and Illustrated by Dr. Seuss<\/p>\n![\"recycle-every-day.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/files\/2010\/10\/recycle-every-day.thumbnail.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWritten and Illustrated by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace<\/p>\n