Recycle races
This activity can be used to consolidate pupils’ understanding of which waste items to put in which bin.
This is a fast-moving game in which teams race against each other to sort their waste into the right bin - recycling, compost or rubbish.
Download the lesson plan
Recycle Races (pdf and word downloads)
Curriculum links
Click on the Key Stages below to find out the curriculum links for this lesson.
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Key Stage 1
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Cross Curricular
- Teamwork and cooperation;
- Communicating with other team members;
- Home-school links (recycling at home);
- Education for Sustainable Development;
- Sustainable Schools – Doorway 4: Purchasing and Waste.
Subject QCA National Curriculum Science Unit 1C: Sorting and using materials - Sc3 Materials and their properties – Grouping materials (1)
Geography - Recognising how the environment may be improved or sustained (5b)
PE - Acquiring and developing skills (1)
Citizenship - Preparing to take an active role as citizens (2)
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Key Stage 2
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Cross Curricular
- Teamwork and co-operation;
- Communicating with other team members;
- Home – school links (recycling at home);
- Education for Sustainable Development;
- Sustainable Schools – Doorway 4: Purchasing and Waste.
Subject QCA National Curriculum Science Unit 3C: Characteristics of materials - Sc3 Materials and their properties – Comparing everyday materials on the basis of their properties (1a)
Geography Unit 8: Improving the environment - Recognising how people can manage environments sustainably and identifying opportunities for their own involvement (5b)
Citizenship Unit 3A: Packaging - Preparing to play an active role as citizens (2)
- Taking responsibility (5a)
- Participating (5c)
- Making real choices and decisions (5d)
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Key Stage 3
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Cross Curricular
- Teamwork and co-operation;
- Communicating with other team members;
- Home – school links (recycling at home);
- Education for Sustainable Development;
- Sustainable Schools – Doorway 4: Purchasing and Waste.
Subject QCA National Curriculum Science - Sc2 – Life processing and living things – Ways in which living things and the environment can be protected and the
Geography Unit 14: Can the earth cope? Ecosystems, population and resources - importance of sustainable development (5a)
- Exploring the idea of sustainable development and recognising its implications for their own lives (5b)
- Environmental issues (6j)
- Resource issues (6k)
- Studying issues of topical significance (7d)
Citizenship Unit 21 – People and the environment - Developing skills of participation and responsible action (3)
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Key Stage 4
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Cross Curricular
- Teamwork and co-operation;
- Communicating with other team members;
- Home – school links (recycling at home);
- Education for Sustainable Development;
- Sustainable Schools – Doorway 4: Purchasing and Waste.
Subject QCA National Curriculum Science - Issues and challenges of global interdependence and responsibility, including sustainable development (1j)
- Sc2 Life processes and living things – The importance of sustainable development (4c)
Citizenship - Developing skills of participation and responsible action (3)
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