Materials:
-Collection of clean items that can and cannot be recycled
These can be collected from things being thrown away during the school day, or an assignment can be given for homework asking students to bring to school 2 clean recyclable items and 2 clean non -recyclable items
If that is not possible, a prior lesson can be to look for and cut out pictures from magazines.
-Some kind of timer

Introduction:
“We have been talking about recycling. What can be recycled? Today we will play a game with what we know.” Explain the rules.

Lesson:
You know the personality of your class. This game can be played two ways.
You can set up teams, then competition between the groups occurs, or you can play as a whole group and you are competing with time and the whole groups previous score. Play enough times to make sure that everyone gets a turn.

Teams: Place a garbage bag for non- recyclables and a recycling container in front of each group. Also give each group items to be sorted. Set a timer. 1-2-3-GO! First person runs to the items, decides if it should go in the recycling container or garbage bag, runs back and taps the next person. Next person does the same thing and the game continues until the timer buzzes. (If everyone in the group has already had a turn, start from the beginning again. Keep going to get more points.) Depending on your age group, the groups can check themselves, check the other group’s work, or the teacher can check. One point is given for each item placed correctly in the garbage bag or recycling container. One point is removed for each incorrectly placed item. Or you can just count points for the correctly placed items.

Whole group: Place one garbage bag for non-recyclables and a recycling container in front of the group. Place the items to be sorted there also. Set a timer. 1-2-3-GO! First person runs to the items, decides if it should go in the recycling container or garbage bag, runs back and taps the next person. Next person does the same thing and the game continues until the timer buzzes. Whole group helps to count the points. One point for each item placed correctly in the garbage bag or recycling container. One point is removed for each incorrectly placed item. Record your score. Play again to see if you can beat your score.
For the very young students you may not want to remove points, just make a list of how many right and how many wrong each time you play. You can do this for all age groups to remove some of the competition.
At the end of each play, discuss correct and incorrect sorting of items.

Closure:
Discuss results of the game. Discuss what was learned from playing the game.
Ask students what they would like to do next with the items collected for the game.
Art projects, or ways to reuse each item can be another lesson.
Stickers or hand stamps can be given to all students as a reward for participating

Assessment/Evaluation:
Teacher observation of participation
Teacher observation of correct sorting and classifying of objects