by Carol Natoli

Created on: February 25, 2009

Bowling with empty soda bottles? What a great idea! This is what used to teach both 4th graders and preschoolers about recycling, long before we used that "recycling" word, on a daily basis! It was part of an "imagination" lesson, teaching them to use what they have, without spending money! Talk about a classroom "hands on" activity!

In simple terms, preschoolers can learn what "reusing" and "wasting" means, quite easily. They understand, what it means to do without things, especially if this lesson is taught in the inner city. In the suburban-rich towns, even for the most spoiled 4-year old who doesn't ahve the concept of the value of money, critical thinking skills can be presented as you have them imagine what it would be like, for example, if they didn't have any toys. They would have to make their own. It does get them to think about things, since for them, toys are their most precious possessions.

Through arts and crafts lessons, they can learn to make pencil holders out of coffee cans, which we did when we were younger, but can learn that it is a way of making a gift without money, and without throwing the can in the garbage! The teacher can fill a gigantic television box with small cans and soda bottles and have them imagine that the box is their classroom. "Imagine if the classroom was filled with cans? There would be no place to walk! That is what it would be like if our backyard, or the whole earth was filled with cans. What a waste of money and a big mess!" Since children often take things literally at this age, the teacher has to be specific about the sides of the box, being like the walls of the classroom, otherwise, they will think that the 25 cans that are in the box, could be spread out on the large classroom floor. I suggest that the box becomes decorated like a doll house, with windows and doors, so that they can make a connection. This makes the lesson "real", and without them knowing it, they will be thinking "out of that box"!

You can have preschoolers play "store". It doesn't amtter if you give them 5 pennies or 5 quarters, because of their inability to understand about "value". If you told them that 5 pennies "is" a nickel or that 5 pennies = 1 nickel, they just won't understand. Even if you tell them that it is the "same as", they, again, being literal, will know that the nickels look differently than a nickel. What is the point of all this? You can show them that if they "buy" gum, using one penny at a time, all in one day, then tomorrow,

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