Why do we recycle? - Assessment for learning activity - Worksheet

In an engaging activity designed for Year 1 pupils, children are tasked with identifying common items made from plastic. The worksheet provides a simple yet effective exercise where each child must list five plastic items. This not only helps them to recognize everyday objects around them but also serves as an introduction to the concept of materials and their properties. For every correct item listed, the child earns two points. Although the activity is timed, with a limit of ten minutes, it is noteworthy that spelling accuracy is not the focus, allowing young learners to concentrate on the task without the pressure of perfect orthography.

The second part of the worksheet delves into the theme of recycling, prompting children to connect words that are related to this important environmental practice. Out of a diverse list of words, the pupils must identify six that are associated with recycling. Terms such as 'pollution', 'environmentally friendly', 'biodegrade', 'landfill', 'solar panels', and 'wind farm' are among the options, each offering a point of discussion on how they link to the broader topic of recycling and sustainability. This individual exercise also awards two points for each correctly identified word, with a similar ten-minute time allocation to encourage quick thinking. Through this activity, children gain awareness of environmental conservation and the vocabulary connected to it.