Grades 1–6

Recycling lesson plans

Detailed lesson plans, instructions, and downloadable worksheets — free for every Manitoba classroom, in English and French.

Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6
Be the Bin Patrol

Collaborate across grades to design helpful waste bin signs.
Grade 5 | Grade 6
Sorting Smarter

Identify sorting mistakes and explain why they matter.
Grade 3 | Grade 4
Sorting Bingo

Students mark their cards using different colours based on which bin each item goes in: recycling, compost, or garbage.
Grade 1 | Grade 2
Sort it Out

Recognize basic waste categories: recycling, garbage, and compost.
Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4
The Good ‘Sort’ of Recycling

Sort and discuss materials as a class to learn what can go in the blue bin.
Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3
Don’t be a Litterbug

Let students get creative while learning about recycling by making bugs out of recyclables.
Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4
Colour me Blue

Have students colour and cutout pictures from the worksheet to get familiar with recyclables.
Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4
Your Recycling Journal

Have students document and reflect on their recycling habits to learn how they can improve.
All grades
Carton Recycling

Work together to learn the environmental impacts of recycling drink cartons.
Grade 5 | Grade 6
Landfill Emissions

Understand landfill emissions and learn how reducing food waste can have positive effects.
Grade 5 | Grade 6
Waste Audit

Measure how much waste your school is generating and identify opportunities to reduce it.
All grades
Word Search

Introduce students to common words and phrases related to recycling and environmentalism.

Our partners

Earth Rangers & the R.A.W.R. mission

We’ve partnered with Earth Rangers, a Canadian charity for positive environmental action. Kids can register as Earth Rangers and take on missions focused on recycling and other eco-friendly habits — including R.A.W.R. (Respect Animals While Recycling).

Explore R.A.W.R. Join an Ecoclub

Earth Rangers
R.A.W.R. Missions
Ecoclub Registration

Recycling lesson plans

Be the Bin Patrol

Sorting Smarter

Sorting Bingo

Sort it Out

The Good ‘Sort’ of Recycling

Don’t be a Litterbug

Colour me Blue

Your Recycling Journal

Carton Recycling

Landfill Emissions

Waste Audit

Word Search

Earth Rangers & the R.A.W.R. mission