Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

America Recycles Day is November 15th. The America Recycles Day website states that “On November 15 each year, millions of people become better informed about the importance of daily recycling and buying recycled products. The purpose of America Recycles Day is to continue to promote the social, environmental and economic benefits of recycling and encourage more people to join the movement toward creating a better natural environment.” The America Recycles Day site lists ideas for how your school or business can get involved. It also features a fun “conversionator” application that shows the effects of recycling different products and calculates the effects of your own recycling. Another online resource is Illinois Recycles, which provides, among other information, video tours of Illinois recycling facilities.

Below is a list of resources in the S-Collection and other UIUC libraries to help explain the process of and encourage increasing awareness of recycling. The ESSL Children’s Literature Blog has previously posted resources on The Environment and Global Warming that you may also find helpful.

Curriculum Resources for Teachers

Clymire, Olga N.
A Child’s Place in the Environment. 1996-1998.
This 6 volume set has a volume for each grade 1-6. Contents include lesson plans and additional information such as methods for teaching environmental values. All of the grade levels have varying content, beginning with the grade 1 volume on respecting living things and culminating with the grade 6 volume on achieving a sustainable community. Grade 5, lesson 18 teaches how waste prevention and recycling help to conserve and protect natural resources; many of the other lessons are not specific to recycling but could be used in accordance with a recycling unit.
[Education Curriculum CURR. 333.7 CAED1996-1998]

Johnson, Becky.
Wicked Cool Sustainable Solutions for the Earth. 2006.
This activity and coloring book focuses on sustainable solutions for how people, animals, and plants can better share Earth. Activities include word searches, mazes, connect the dots, etc. Activities include community gardens, windmills, and how worms compost.
[Education Curriculum TEXT. 577.27 SYRCW2006]

Let’s Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle [CD-ROM]. 2000.
A collection of games, activities, publications, resources, and a screen saver for students and teachers on how to reduce, reuse, recycle, and properly manage waste (includes bibliographical references).
[Government Documents Computer Disks CDROMDOC. EP1.104:R31/2]

Make a Difference in Your School: A How-to Guide for Engaging Students in Resource Conservation and Waste Reduction. 2006.
This guide created by the Environmental Protection Agency discusses how teachers can start a “Make a Difference Day” at their school. Activities help students understand the importance of recycling and other activities associated with being friendlier to the earth.
[Electronic access through pdf, click here for UIUC catalog record]

Municipal Solid Waste … and the 4Rs [electronic resource]: an Illinois Elementary School Teacher’s Guide. 2003.
This manual has been designed for use at the elementary school level in classrooms where instruction dealing with municipal solid waste (MSW) and the 4Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle, rebuy – is felt important. The methodology focuses on issue investigation and the skills associated with it. The intent of this methodology is to develop in students the skills involved in issue investigation, evaluation, and resolution.
[Government Documents Online Collection, click here for UIUC catalog record]

Municipal Solid Waste … and the 4Rs [electronic resource]: an Illinois Middle School Teacher’s Guide. 2003.
This manual has been designed for use at the middle school level in classrooms where instruction dealing with municipal solid waste (MSW) and the 4Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle, rebuy – is felt important. The methodology focuses on issue investigation and the skills associated with it. The intent of this methodology is to develop in students the skills involved in issue investigation, evaluation, and resolution.
[Government Documents Online Collection, click here for UIUC catalog record]

Pack a Waste-Free Lunch [electronic resource]. 2006.
An Environmental Protection Agency brochure on how to pack a waste-free lunch through reusing and recycling.
[Electronic access through pdf, click here for UIUC catalog record]

The Quest for Less: Activities and Resources for Teaching K-8. 2005.
Provides hands-on lessons and activities, enrichment ideas, journal writing assignments, and other educational tools related to preventing and reducing trash.
[Electronic access through pdf, click here for UIUC catalog record

Smith, P. Sean.
Project Earth Science. Meteorology. 2001.
Activity 10 looks at recycled water and the hydrologic cycle. Related activities include those on acid rain, global warming, and the ozone.
[Education Curriculum CURR. 551.5 NSTA2001]

Swingle, Pam.
4Rs: Recycling Lessons & Projects with an Index to the Illinois Learning Standards: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy. 2003.
This publication is dedicated to increasing environmental awareness among Illinois students and achieving long-term behavior changes to ensure the wise use of our natural resources. The lesson plans and activities are designed for grades K-8.
[Main Stacks 363.70525 Sw64x]

Nonfiction
Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling

Barnham, Kay.
Recycle. 2008.
Chapters include: What is recycling?, Why recycle?, Dealing with garbage, Cleaner world, Recycling paper, Recycling glass, Recycling cans, Recycling plastic, Recycling textiles, Reduce, reuse, recycle!, Recycling at home, and Recycling at school.
[Education S Collection S.363.7282 B266r]

Burns, Loree Griffin.
Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion. 2007.
Describes the work of a man who tracks trash as it travels great distances by way of ocean currents.
[Education S Collection Q. S.551.462 B937t]

Daniel, Jamie.
Coping With — Wood Trash. 1994.
This book is part of the trash busters series which includes also coping with glass, metal, paper, and plastic trash.
[Education Storage S.363.7282 D224C]

Fix, Alexandra.
Energy. 2008.
Addresses what energy waste is, nonrenewable and renewable energy sources, what happens when we waste energy, and how we can use less energy and save energy through recycling.
[Education S Collection S.333.7916 F588e]

Fix, Alexandra. 2008.
Glass. 2008.
This book examines reducing, reusing, and recycling glass.
[Education S Collection S.666.14 F588g]

Galko, Francine.
Earth Friends at the Grocery Store. 2004.
Discusses the importance of reducing waste, recycling, and reusing products in the context of grocery shopping.
[Education S Collection S.363.72 G134e]

Galko, Francine.
Earth Friends at Home. 2004.
Discusses the importance of reducing waste, recycling, and reusing products in the context of life at home.
[Education S Collection S.363.72 G134eh]

Galko, Francine.
Earth Friends at Play. 2004.
Discusses the importance of reducing waste, recycling, and reusing products in the context of playing at home and outdoors.
[Education Storage S.363.72 G134ep]

Galko, Francine.
Earth Friends at School. 2004.
Discusses the importance of reducing waste, recycling, and reusing products in the context of school.
[Education S Collection S.333.72 G134es]

Green, Jen.
Waste and Recycling. 2004.
Describes multiple kinds of waste–including farm, industrial, and dangerous waste–while encouraging children to discuss the issues of waste and recycling.
[Education S Collection S.363.72 G823w]

Guillain, Charlotte.
Reusing and Recycling. 2008.
Part of the “Help the Environment” series, this book includes bibliographical references and index.
[Education S Collection S.363.7282 G945r]

Hewitt, Sally.
Amazing Materials. 2008.
Includes a chapter on recycled materials.
[Education S Collection S.530 H497a]

Llewellyn, Claire.
Let’s Recycle. 2003.
Examines the waste process, including where our trash goes, and then looks at better ways to get rid of garbage. This book looks also at developing better shopping habits to avoid having so much material to recycle in the first place.
[Education S Collection S.363.7282 L7706l]

Murphy, Stuart J.
Earth Day–Hooray! 2004.
A drive to recycle cans on Earth Day teaches the children of the Maple Street School Save-the-Planet Club about mathematical place value.
[Education S Collection Q. S.513 M957e]

Ring, Elizabeth.
What Rot! Nature’s Mighty Recycler. 1996.
Text and photos show how rot and all the tiny organisms that cause it maintain the cycle of life.
[Education Storage S.571.9 R472W]

Taylor, Barbara.
How to Save the Planet. 2001.
Discusses such environmental concerns as depletion of the ozone layer, global warming, air and water pollution, recycling, wildlife conservation, and more.
[Education S Collection S.363.7 T212h]

Walker, Kate.
Paper. 2005.
A brief explanation on the importance of recycling paper.
[Education Storage Q. S.676.042 W152p]

Walker, Kate.
Steel. 2005.
A brief explanation on the importance of recycling steel; includes what governments, communities, individuals, and you can do to help.
[Education Storage Q. S.669.142 W152s]

Woods, Samuel G.
Recycled Paper. 2000.
Demonstrates how waste paper is recycled into useful household products at the Marcal paper mill.
[Education S Collection S.676.142 W867r]

Projects to Reuse Items

Alter, Anna.
What Can You do with an Old Red Shoe? 2009.
A green activity book about re-using materials such as flip-flops, t-shirts, shower curtains, baskets, crayons, wrapping paper, toys, and more. Also includes additional information on what you can do to support reuse and recycling.
[Education S Collection S.745.5 Al792w]

Chapman, Gillian.
Art from Rocks and Shells. 1995.
Ideas for art projects using items such as pebbles, feathers, flotsam, and jetsam.
[Education Storage S.745.584 C366A]

Handelsman, Judith F.
Gardens from Garbage: How to Grow Indoor Plants from Recycled Kitchen Scraps. 1993.
Provides instructions for growing houseplants from pieces of potatoes, corn, watermelons, and other kitchen scraps.
[Education Storage S.635.048 H191G]

Llimos, Anna.
Creating by Recycling. 2000.
This book provides instructions for a variety of craft projects using such recycled items as foam trays, empty soda cans, cardboard tubes, plastic bottles, and pieces of cloth.
[Education S Collection S.745.5 L77c:E]

Pfiffner, George.
Earth-Friendly Holidays. 1996.
This book gives ideas for how to make fabulous gifts and decorations from reusable objects.
[Education Storage Q. S.745.5941 P48E]

Pfiffner, George.
Earth-Friendly Outdoor Fun: How to Make Fabulous Games, Gardens, and Other Projects From Reusable Objects. 1996.
This book includes step-by-step instructions on how to convert materials such as scrap cardboard and plastic bottles into items for outdoor fun and use.
[Education S Collection Q. S.745.5 P48ea]

Reilly, Kathleen M.
Planet Earth: 25 Environmental Projects You Can Build Yourself. 2008.
“…provides an engaging guide to the natural world and encourages children ages 9 and up to get their hands dirty and actively connect with the environment…” –Cover back.
[Education Curriculum CURR. 333.7071 NOMAD2008]


Food Composting

Fix, Alexandra.
Food. 2008.
Addresses issues such as what food waste is, what happens when we waste food, how we can reduce and recycle food waste, and how to make a compost pile.
[Education S Collection S.338.1 F588f]

Glaser, Linda.
Compost! Growing Gardens from Your Garbage. 1996.
A girl and her family explain how they turn garden waste and garbage into soil using a composting bin. This book also includes a more detailed explanation for adults at the end.
[Education Storage S.635.048975 G462C]

Ward, Brian R.
Microscopic Life in the Garden. 2005.
Describes the various kinds of microbes found in a healthy garden, whether helpful or harmful. Includes information on rot, decay, composting and recycling.
[Education S Collection S.577.5 W211m]

Fiction
Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling

Barkan, Joanne.
Recycler. 1996.
This book illustrates a typical day for the driver of a recycling truck.
[Education Storage SE.B244R]

Bethel, Ellie.
Michael Recycle. 2008.
The adventures of a young superhero who has powers that allow him to teach people about recycling.
[Education S Collection Q. S.813.6 B465m]

Douglis, Carole.
Theo and the Giant Plastic Ball. 2004.
Theo collects all of the plastic trash around his community, raising awareness about the need to recycle plastic and use cloth bags instead of plastic bags.
[Education S Collection Q. SE. D747th]

Douglis, Carole.
Tina and the Green City. 2005.
Tina lives in a trashed neighborhood until her grandmother encourages her to take action and make the neighborhood into the beautiful place Tina wishes it was. As others join in, Tina cleans up her community and everybody learns that recycling saves money and natural resources.
[Education S Collection Q. SE. D747ti]

High, Linda Oatman.
Barn Savers. 1999.
A young boy helps his father recycle a 19th-century barn.
[Education Storage Q. S. H536b]

Kroll, Steven.
Stuff! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. 2009.
Pinch is a pack rat who does not want to give up the possessions that are cluttering his house, but when he finally is persuaded to sell them at a neighborhood tag sale, he discovers the beauty of recycling. Includes tips on “reducing, reusing, and recycling.”
[Center for Children’s Books SE. K919s]

Morris, Garvin.
Dump Dog. 2008.
The squeaky clean town of Lumpville, located in the middle of a huge, smelly dump where a monster and a little dog live, learns a lesson on the value of recycling when the dog accidentally causes the monster to destroy the town.
[Education S Collection Q. SE. M8312d]

Testa, Fulvio.
Too Much Garbage. 2001.
Two boys, sent to take out the garbage, explore the city and find trash everywhere.
[Education Storage Q. SE. T287to:E]

Wallace, Nancy Elizabeth.
Recycle Every Day! 2003.
When Minna has a school assignment to make a poster about recycling, her entire rabbit family spends the week practicing various kinds of recycling and suggesting ideas for her poster.
[Education Storage S.W1556r]

Yee, Wong Herbert.
A Brand New Day with Mouse and Mole. 2008.
As best friends Mole and Mouse try to solve the problem of Mole’s moth-eaten clothes, they also find new uses for old things (mostly clothing).
[Education S Collection SE. Y352b]