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Learning opportunities

Learning about recycling and actively using recycling facilities at school is an exciting way to enrich the curriculum.

A real life context for learning

Your school's recycling scheme can provide a real life context for learning and skills such as:

  • data presentation
  • observation
  • mapping
  • planning
  • data interpretation.

Recycling can also deliver the aims of the curriculum for some subjects. The key skills required to recycle are, for example, central to some subjects such as Science, Maths and English for Key Stages 1 and 2.

Great for teaching cross-curricular skills

Learning about recycling and actively recycling at school helps pupils to develop a range of cross-curricular skills, including:

  • speaking and listening
  • teamwork
  • expressing opinions
  • decision making
  • problem solving.

Education for sustainable development

Recycling also helps to put Education for Sustainable Development into practice. Pupils can get involved with decision making and understand how we can use resources individually and collectively, locally and globally, to improve the quality of life now and in the future.

Download an Action Plan for key stages 1 and 2

For a wide range of other key stage 1 and 2 resources, please visit the Recycle Now Resource Library.

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Recycling knowledge

  • Getting started
    • Recycling at home
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      • Join The Action Pack!
      • Set up recycling at your school
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        • Get the whole school involved
        • How to set up your recycling bins
        • Learning opportunities
        • Cost effectiveness
        • Contribution to school achievement
        • Keep it going
  • How is it recycled?
  • Recycling around your home
  • Recycling from the bathroom
  • Food recycling
  • Recycling symbols explained
  • Facts and info
  • Northern Ireland
  • Recycle Week campaign
  • Twitter
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The Waste and Resources Action Programme (which operates as WRAP) is a registered UK Charity No. 1159512 and registered as a Company limited by guarantee in England & Wales No. 4125764.

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