Reduce, Reuse & Recycle Games

Games can engage students in learning about reusing, reducing and recycling.

Classroom games can serve as a method of intrinsically motivating students. When combined with specific learning objectives, games have the potential to provide the opportunity for achievement, motivation and assessment. Most topics of study in classrooms can be used to create a game that will be engaging to students as they learn and practice the subject matter. Around the time of Earth Day, reusing, reducing and recycling are common classroom themes that can easily be taught and reinforced using a variety of games in the classroom.

Run and Sort

Obtain three recycling bins and label one "Recycle," one "Reuse" and one "Reduce." Cut approximately 40 to 50 pictures from magazines of various items that can be recycled, reused or reduced. Find a large open space, such as a gymnasium or outdoors, where the activity can be set up. The three recycle bins should be at one end. Divide the students into four teams at the opposite end, each possessing an equal number of magazine pictures. Once the teacher says, "Go," one member from each team should take a picture, run to the opposite end and place it in the correct bin, based on whether it can be recycled, reused or reduced. This activity functions like a relay, with team members taking turns placing items in the bins. The first team to place all items in the correct bin is the winner.

Cube Roll

Find an empty square box, such as a Kleenex box, and cover it with heavy paper, such as the brown paper used for mailing. Write the word "Recycle" on two of the sides, "Reuse" on two of the sides and "Reduce" on two of the sides. Split the class into two teams and have a student from each team alternate rolling the box. If it lands on "Reuse," that team must state one fact about reusing or one item that can be reused. For each correct response, that team gains one point. This game is valuable as a review strategy at the end of the unit.

What's Missing?

Gather 10 to 15 items that can be reused, reduced and recycled. Place the items on a table so all the students can see them. Give students 20 seconds to look at the items and try to remember what they see. Ask the students to turn their heads while you remove one of the items. Have the students take a second look and tell you which item is missing from the group. When a student states the name of the item, he also must state whether it can be reduced, reused or recycled.

Board Game

Have students design a board game based on the topic of reusing, reducing and recycling. Allow students to use any design, as long as it integrates learning and new knowledge from the unit. For example, a student might design a board game with cards that players pick up as they move along the game board. Cards might have tasks such as "Name three items that can be recycled and move three spaces ahead," or "You forgot to reuse your plastic bags. Move back two spaces." Set a one-hour period during which students can play all of the games that were created in class. After playing, discuss with students what they liked about the design of each game.

References

• Starting Point: What Is Game-Based Learning?