New K-2 Recycling Curriculum Available for Teachers

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection in collaboration with Florida teachers has developed a comprehensive recycling and waste reduction curriculum for K-2 elementary school students.

The Guardians of the Environment K-2 Recycling Curriculum incorporates the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. The curriculum uses science, technology, engineering and math (STEAM) benchmarks through guided lesson plans offering bilingual interactive and digital instruction modules focused on recycling basics and best practices.

The Guardians of the Environment K-2 Curriculum offers students the following:

Kindergarten

• Basic recycling knowledge offered through sorting exercises.
• Recycling right – contamination is addressed.
• Jobs in recycling.
• Recycling-related critical thinking exercises.

Grade One

• Identifying raw materials/what is waste?
• Advanced sorting and identifying reusable items.
• Designing a recycling system.
• Linking what we enjoy about nature and how we protect it.

Grade Two

• Importance of recycling.
• Further development of recycling systems.
• Recycling guide for kids/upcycling concepts.
• Development and sharing of upcycling ideas and concepts.

The Guardians of the Environment K-2 Recycling Curriculum is available online.