Instruction Steps

Step 0 – Prepping
Steps:

1. Print out one certificate award for each student.
2. Ensure that there is at least one laptop per two students available to use in-class, or that all students have a laptop or desktop at home.
3. Ensure that they have the latest browser version of Firefox, Chrome, or Safari.

Step 1 - Pre-Reflection
Location: In-class
Time: 10-15 min
Materials: White board and marker
Steps:

1. Ask kids to sit in a circle
2. Draw 3 bins on the white board, and label them Compost, Recycling, and Trash.
3. Discuss what each of the words mean (here is a guide)
4. Suggested questions: Raise your hand if your family recycles at home? Raise your hand if you're not sure?
5. Explain that they will be playing a game called Cool Ways to Recycle, built by UCSD students.

Step 2 - Game at http://recy.cool
Location: In-class or at home
Time: 20-25 min
Materials: One laptop/computer and mouse for each pair of students.
Steps:

1. Write the URL, full school name, city, and state abbreviation on the white board OR ask them to write it on their notebooks. (*If your charter or private school is not listed, please contact us, or ask students to “skip” the school selection page)
2. Assign two classmate (or siblings at home) to take turns playing on one device.
3. If they're playing at home, ask them to write down two things they've learned.

Step 3 - Post-Reflection
Location: In-class
Time: 15-20 minutes
Materials: Certificate awards and pens. Steps:

1. Sit in a circle
2. Suggested questions:
   • What did we learn from the game?
   • Why is recycling important?
   • What goes in compost, recycling bin, and trash?
   • Where does trash go after you throw it away? After playing the game, do you think you will do your best to recycle now?
3. Hand out certificate awards and have students write their names on it.
4. Take a picture of the class and share the picture and your experience at contact@recy.cool (How did it go? How many students? Any feedback?)

Congratulations! You've planted an environmental seed in your students in under an hour, yet they are changed for life!

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