Earth Day Writing Project Based Learning Recycle Activity 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Grade
- PDF
- Google Apps™
Description
Ready to get students writing through project-based learning this Earth Day? This Earth Day Project-Based Recycling Activity is a wonderful way to get 2nd-5th graders writing while helping the Earth. Available in digital and print formats, I have also included more than one version of the documents so that you could have your students create this project at any time of the year. This assignment could be completed in school, but I sent it home and gave students two weeks to work on it.
What is the project?
Students will take an item that they would normally throw away and repurpose it to be a new, useful item. For example, we used a gallon water jug. Please know that this project is adaptable for any recyclable item you choose to have your students use. You could even have students choose their own item. This resource is created in a way that leaves room for choice and creativity. And of course, some writing!
This fun writing project came to be as a result of me collecting plastic gallon water jugs because our school did not have a plastic recycling system. I displayed the large quantity of gallon jugs for my students and explained how horribly I felt just throwing them away or even just recycling them! It seemed as though they could have another purpose in their life!
As a class, we brainstormed a list. I included some of the ideas on the assignment sheet to help students choose a project. Prepare to be amazed at what your students will produce!
Students begin the project by sketching a picture and listing all of the materials they will need to complete the project. Once they have made their project, students will list out the directions, and complete a written procedural text explaining how to make their new and improved product. The final writing for students could be in the following forms:
- How-To Book
- How-To Article/Report
- Newspaper Ad for the Product
What is included?
- Earth Day Project Assignment Sheet (with student directions and planning sheet)
- Recycling Project Assignment Sheet (same as above, not Earth Day specific)
- Earth Day Project Assignment Sheet (for any item)
- Recycling Project Assignment Sheet (not Earth Day specific, for any item)
- Checklist & Rubric- a half-size sheet to help your students be sure they have all the parts of the project. This also serves as a grading tool to make your life easier! ✅
- Recycling Project Writing Planner- Students will answer questions to help them think through the writing portion of the project.
- How To Make…{Article Version} - Final page for students to turn in. This is formatted like a How To article. This is 2 pages, to be copied front and back.
- How To Make..{Book Version} Cover Page - Students can create a How-To Book with illustrations of the steps. These pages can be stapled between construction paper with the first page glued on the front cover.
- How to Make…{Book Version} Introduction - Students illustrate what the end product will look like and write an Introduction for the project.
- How to Make…{Book Version} Graphic Organizer to create step-by-step directions with pictures
- How to Make…{Book Version} Writing Pages - These can be used for the writing portion and come in several designs.
- Newspaper Ad for the Product - This can be used as a writing extension in which students write an ad for their new and improved project. This comes in two designs so your students can make their own title if they wish.
I hope you and your students enjoy this project as much as we did! If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out at Jessica@theliteracyloft.com
Happy Recycling! ♻️
- Jessica
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Email: Jessica@theliteracyloft.com
