Recycling

How to play this game

Recycling is the process of making new products from a product that has served its purpose. The first step in this process is sorting our rubbish. In most homes, schools, businesses and outdoor recreation areas there are different bins for different sorts of rubbish. Children can help with recycling from an early age and it can be fun.

On opening the activity, a scene appears of a room with a conveyor belt and four different bins nearby.

Each bin is for a different type of waste.

• General rubbish
• Paper and cardboard
• Metal cans/tins, plastic and glass bottles
• Organic plant waste.

The bins will be named in turn when clicked.

Items will roll along the belt and children can click and drag each item to the corresponding bin. If placed into the wrong bin, the item will bounce back into its original position. When all the items have been sorted correctly there is cheering and a new set of items will appear.

To exit, click on the small hand in the upper left corner of the screen.

Related Learning Outcomes

Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world

Outcome 4: Children are involved and confident learners

Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators

Developmental skills

Identifying everyday household items

Identifying what these items are made of

Sorting

Decision-making

Mouse control - single click

Mouse control - click and drag

Teaching tips

Encourage children to talk to each other and work collaboratively whilst playing this activity. They can help each other identify items, what they are made of and into which bin they should be placed.

Use the game to start some discussion topics:

• What is recycling? Recycling means taking materials from items that we no longer use and making other new products from them.
• Why recycle? Preserves natural resources. Coal, minerals, trees, oil and water. / Cuts water and air pollution produced during the manufacturing process. / Reduces the need for landfills. Leaching of contaminates from landfills into surrounding land and waterways is decreased, and less greenhouse gases are released into the environment. / Lessens litter. / Reduces energy and water consumption used in the manufacturing process - eg. paper recycling saves up to 70% of the energy needed to create paper from trees.
• Who recycles at home?
• What sorts of things go into your recycling bin at home?
• Who has a compost bin at home? What do we use compost for?
• Other things such as batteries, glass items, mobile phones and electronic goods can also be recycled.