We’ve all been taught how important it is to recycle. And while it remains a key environmental solution, recycling can be expensive and not as effective at reducing waste as we might hope. Plus, it takes a lot of energy to break down materials like plastic or glass and remake them into new objects. In the circular economy, we need to think first about reuse, repair & creating materials that last.
Materials:
- “Found items” (ie. water bottle, t-shirts, used birthday cards etc.).
- Venn diagram handout or hula hoops
- Chart paper, white board, smart board, or projector
Activity:
PART 1: Brainstorm
As a class, students will create definitions for the terms “recycling,” “reusing” and “circular economy.”
- What does the author mean when she writes that people in the Loop de Loop world are going “way beyond recycling”?
- Why is recycling not the only answer for our waste problem?
Using found items provided by the teacher, students will write each item in the appropriate part of the Venn diagram (could use hula hoops and place items inside).
Students brainstorm and generate other items to sort (in the schoolyard, gym, etc.).
Students share their Venn diagrams with a classmate and compare how they sorted items
PART 2: Discuss
- Where did most items end up?
- Why did you choose to place the item where you did?
- What observations can we make about how we use items we don’t want anymore?
Share examples of how a listed item can be reused.
Share one thing you can change in your home/life that could work toward creating a circular economy in your community/school.
One of the Seven Sacred Teachings (also known as the Seven Grandfather Teachings in some Indigenous cultures) focuses on Respect. How could we use resources in a more respectful way? Learn more about the Seven Grandfather Teachings here.
PART 3: Reflection
Use the Exit Card reflection