THEME: Recycling is a positive action everyone can take.
GOAL: Students will understand that recycling is a team effort in which everyone can participate.
METHOD: Reading and discussion
SUBJECTS: Language arts, performing arts
MATERIALS: The Little Red Hen
TIME: 30 minutes
Ask the students how many people are needed to recycle. Is it easier to recycle when people help one another?
- Adapt the story of The Little Red Hen by changing the words. The story follows the original until the section where the hen finds the grains of wheat. Adapt the story to read:
One day when she was hoeing, she found some soda cans. "Who will help me put these soda cans in the recycling bin?" "Not I," said the cat. "Not I," said the dog. "Not I," said the duck. "Then I will," said the hen, and she did.
Each morning when she was cleaning around the house, she saved up all the glass bottles, metal cans, newspapers, and cardboard and put them aside. She stacked the paper and cardboard together and put the glass and cans in a large bin.
When the paper stacks became too high to reach, the Little Red Hen asked, "Who will help me put the newspapers and cardboard in bundles?" "Not I," said the cat. "Not I," said the dog. "Not I," said the duck. "Then I will," said the hen, and she did.
When the glass and metal bin was full and there were several bundles of paper and cardboard the Little Red Hen said, "Who will help me take the bin and bundles to the recycling center?"
"Not I," said the cat. "Not I," said the dog. "Not I," said the duck. "Then I will," said the hen, and she did.
So the Little Red Hen piled everything in her car and drove to the recycling center where she put everything in its place. With the money she got for the bottles, she bought a fresh loaf of bread.
The rest of the story can continue until the end, when all the animals help her collect, bundle, and deliver the recyclables to the center.
- Have the children act out the story as a play.
Source: Kristen Walser