Introduction to Second Grade Physical Science Recycling

This Second Grade Physical Science Recycling lesson teaches students how things can be put together, such as a plastic bottle or aluminum can, and then can be broken down to make something new.

-Next Generation Science Standard* K-ESS3-2

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Materials List for Second Grade Physical Science Recycling

–Second Grade Physical Science -Recycling Lesson
–scissors
–clear contact paper (optional)
-a sample of sand
–Magnifying Glasses
–Jewelery Loupe Magnifier (optional)

Step 1: Download the Second Grade Physical Science Recycling Lesson from Teachers Pay Teachers and complete the worksheets

Here is a sample of our worksheets for this lesson:

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Step 2: Go over the plastics fact sheet and have the game cards printed out

Here are the cards from our lesson, they are in the correct order before you cut them out,but the lesson contains and answer key just in case.

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Step 3: Cut out the plastic recycling cards

If you would like to keep the cards for future use, laminate them before having the students play with them.

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Here is a video explaining how it works:

The students should use their knowledge of recycling and plastics to try to put the plastic recycling cards in order.

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Step 4: Go over the correct order of the cards and complete the glass study from the Second Grade Physical Science Recycling Lesson

Here is the correct order for the cards:

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Use the sheets provided in the lesson, as seen in the pictures below, to sort through the different grains of sand in your sample.

The grains that look like the pieces of quartz in the sheet on the right are used to make glass.

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Here are some up close pictures of our sand sample with quartz and magnetite from our NJ beach.  We took these pictures using our jewelers magnifier.   I highly recommend getting one of these, it is really fun to look at things up close and really easy for little hands and eyes.

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Step 5: Complete the assessment from the Second Grade Physical Science Recycling Lesson

Here is a sample assessment page from our lesson:

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Source:

NGSS Lead States. 2013. Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

*”Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) is a registered trademark of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it.”