In 2005, 51.5 percent (51.3 million tons) of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. That's 346 pounds for every man, woman and child-an impressive amount that hopefully will continue to grow.
An important audience in continuing this upward trend is students. To help reach them, many educators have found ways to incorporate lessons about recycling into their core curriculum.
One such example is a program by educational leader Scholastic and the American Forest & Paper Association titled Recycling Starts with You! This program, tied to the national standards, teaches students in grades 3-6 about the importance of paper recycling while also developing their math and language skills.
The engaging four-part program helps students understand why it is important to recycle and how to approach it. The program includes a brief history of paper and recycling; includes in-class analysis and data collection activities; and introduces the fundamental elements of persuasive essay.
Students are encouraged to teach others about the importance of collecting paper for recycling and involving the entire family by recycling at home.
If you think students can't make a difference, consider this example: In little over a year, 188 4th and 5th grade students at the Towle School in Newport, New Hampshire, recovered 1,300 pounds of paper for recycling. The paper they recovered weighed about as much as the biggest pumpkin ever grown.
Author: Stacey Moore
Author Bio:
Products that earn the ENERGY STAR prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. EPA and DOE. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov. Using energy efficiently at home can be as easy as changing a light bulb.
