A.        Background Information
1.         Name: Marissa Hernandez

2.         Content Area: Science
3.         Topic: Scientific Investigation and Reasoning
4.         Grade: 4th

B.        Goals and Objectives
1.         TEKS
(1) Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student conducts classroom and outdoor investigations, following home and school safety procedures and environmentally appropriate and ethical practices.

(B) make informed choices in the use and conservation of natural resources and reusing and recycling of materials such as paper, aluminum, glass, cans, and plastic.


Content Objective:
The learner will understand reusing and recycling of materials such as paper, aluminum, glass, cans, and plastic. The learner will apply their knowledge in the classroom.


ELPS: (3) Cross-curricular second language acquisition/speaking. The ELL speaks in a variety of modes for a variety of purposes with an awareness of different language registers (formal/informal) using vocabulary with increasing fluency and accuracy in language arts and all content areas.

Language Objective:
(E) share information in cooperative learning interactions


Materials Needed:

Recycle Match up Worksheet, “Clean trash” items including mixed paper,steel cans, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, Recycling bins, Poster board, Cut out shapes of different recyclables and non-recyclables


Technology Needed:
Laptop, Internet- YouTube video, Projector

C.        Pre-Assessment related to TEKS and Objectives

The teacher will activate prior knowledge by asking questions like, why do we have to sort our recyclables, why can’t we recycle everything, and how does recycling benefit our environment? The students will talk within their group and then we’ll talk as a class with the correct response to clear any confusion and/or misunderstandings.

D.        Key Vocabulary:

Reduce- is cutting back on the amount of trash we make.

Recycle- using things that have already been used, to make new things.

Reuse- finding a new way to use trash so that we don’t have to throw it out.

Natural Resources-  is something that is found in nature and can be used by people. Earth’s natural resources include light, air, water, plants, animals, soil, stone, minerals, and fossil fuels.

Litter- things that have been thrown away and that are lying on the ground in a public place; a messy pile or group of things.

Landfill-  a place to dispose of refuse and other waste material by burying it and covering it over with soil.

Compost- objects that can be broken down and used in the soil.



A.    Instructional Procedures

  • Introduction of the Topic
    • Anticipatory Set (Focus) Class, I’d really love to talk about something that is extremely important for our environment and something that we ALL need to know. Just imagine how much waste 7 billion people can generate. An average person throws away 4 pounds of trash every day and makes about 1.5 tons of solid waste a year. Multiply that by 7 billion and you know why we have environmental problems. What’s funny about it is that 75% of our trash can be recycled. Recycling 1 ton of paper can save 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 2 barrels of oil, and 4,000 kilowatts of electricity. The energy that you save can power 1 home for 5 months. The average family uses 6 trees worth of paper each year. Now I’d like to show you guys a quick 4-minute video on what can happen if we don’t recycle…plays video
  • Development of the Topic (Short and precise)
    • Teaching: Input –

The teacher will show a 3 ½ minute video called Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, to enjoy a better life. The video explains in detail what reduce, reuse, and recycle is and how you can do it. It shows numerous examples, such as; “The first R is for reduce. If you think about it, there are many things you don’t need. When you go to the supermarket, I am sure you could take your own canvas bags instead of using disposable ones given to you. This way you will be reducing the amount of plastic which is very contaminating.” After the video clip the teacher will list recyclable items on one side of the board and not recyclable items on the other side of the board for the class to reference back to at any given time.

  • Teaching: Modeling –

The teacher will talk about different ways people can recycle, ask students what they recycle at home and at school. Explain that objects can go into three categories when you need to get rid of them: trash, compost, and recycling. The teacher will then divide students into groups, each with their own bin of mixed recyclables to sort. Each group of students will be their own “factory.” Each group will be assigned one type of recyclable to sort. For example, group 1 will only pick out aluminum cans. Group 2 will only pick out paper.

  • Guided Practice –

The teacher will hand out the recycle match up worksheet to each student. As pairs, the students will complete the worksheet then the teacher will use the overhead projector to read the worksheet together as a class to have a class discussion on ways to help people become aware of recycling and how to recycle appropriately. These ideas may include educating people, putting up posters, coming up with incentives, and making recycling more convenient.

Checking for Understanding

To check for understanding the teacher will have a poster board with three separate sections. The 1st section will be conservation of natural resources, 2nd will have items that can be reused, and 3rd will be recyclable items. Each group will have two different items to place on the poster board. Once each group has taped their pictures to the section, the poster board will have a total of 10 items. The teacher will remove any wrong placings and correct them with the class.

  • Re-Teaching

A fun and exciting form of re-teaching will be a recycling bingo game that offers children an opportunity to practice sorting waste, according to different bingo cards. It provides a good basic idea of what is recyclable and what is not. The game consists of bingo cards and over 70 cards with pictures of items that we often find ourselves disposing of. The aim of the game is to collect only those items that are shown on the player’s bingo card.

             Modifications

The lesson was modified for students with impaired eyes and/or beginning level ELs by using visuals. Directional words can be challenging for many EL students. As the teacher is giving the directions, they should follow along and using the recyclables and not recyclables list written on the board.

  • Extensions

To extend the lesson, the students will make a mini poster of what can be recycled in their own home. Instead of using cut out pictures the students can draw or write them.

F.  Assessment

  • Independent Practice –

Students will be assessed by the completion of their worksheets and the effort put into the posters they’ve created.

G.    Summary for the Students of What Has Been Learned

 Closure –To summarize what the students have learned they will come to the front of the class individually and present their own poster board to the class.