No Time For Flash Cards

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Sorting Game about Recycling

recycling sorting game for kids There is no way I would have ever expected this sorting game about recycling to be half as popular as it is with my son. He has always loved garbage and recycling, but he took what I thought would be a fun activity and made it something he uses with this other toys. Calling it his recycling depot he has plopped it down on our family room floor all weekend next to the lego fire station and ferry dock. Oh and he continues to sort and re sort the items too! He’s using his imagination, pre math skills and problem solving too!

  1. Gather your materials. You will need 2-3 containers, some card stock, magazines , scissors, and double stick tape.
  2. Start by cutting out different recyclable and non recyclable  items. This is where they need to really stop and think . If you are doing this with a younger or easily frustrated kiddo do this step yourself and have the game ready for them to figure out. My son was reading when I did this step , it would have been too much for him to make and play the game.
  3. Tape them onto the card stock. I am using some of the 250 plus business cards that read notimeforflashcards,com  <— did you catch the comma? I digress. 
  4. Make simple recycle and garbage signs on some card stock and place in the containers.
  5. Ok time to play.
  6. Something I loved about this was how hard he thought about each picture. With the kleenex he said ” Well we throw away the tissue with boogers but recycle the box…” then thought for a while before deciding. After this super simple activity he has been asking ” Is this recyclable Mama? “About everything in our house!

Books About Recycling

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The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle: A Story About Recycling by Alison Inches is awesome! I only wish that my son was old enough to enjoy it as much as I did. It’s not aimed at 2 year olds at all, but he did like to open it to the page with the recycling truck and point out all the parts to me. The book itself takes the reader through the complete process from crude oil, to bottle and then to synthetic fleece. I am not too proud to admit I learned s a few new things and had a few good laughs along the way with the books little bits of humor too. I think most 5 year olds would enjoy this book, and it’s easy to break it down for those unable to sit for this much text. Also the book was printed on 100% post consumer waste paper.

Little Pirate: Why Do We Recycle? by Innovative Kids is a really fun book about recycling with a pirate theme. Yes a pirate theme. Readers learn about recycling, composting and garbage along with two young pirates who need to clean up their ship. The pirates ask questions about different waste and the wise parrot fills them into the facts like the best bag to use while shopping is a cloth one, and what happens to the metal, glass and paper after we put them in the recycle bin.

Trash And Recycling by Stephanie Turnball is a great book ! I learned more about garbage and the recycling process reading this to my son over lunch than I ever knew! He loved it and despite being a pretty sophisticated book for a 3 year old immediately asked to read it again as soon as I closed it. It explains the whole process from curbside pick up, land fills, incineration and recycling. The idea for today’s sorting game about recycling came from the sorting of recyclable garbage from this book!

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48 Comments

  7. Joyce says

    I love recycling projects! My favorite was taking the kiddos around our school, they picked up all the trash they saw (surprisingly, they LOVED this, even raced each other to find the most trash), and then we stood at the trash cans, they went through each piece and decided if it was recyclable or not. It was so great to see their little minds working and trying to figure it out!

    One book they loved was Michael Recycle and its sequel, Michale Recycle Meets Doug the Litterbug by Ellie Bethel – a kid superhero who recycles? It was a hit! 🙂

    Thank you so much for all your great ideas, I love reading your blog each day!

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Trackbacks

  2. […] Paint Earth Make Recycled Paper At Home Garden Sensory Tub Coffee Filter Earth Garland Recycled UFO Recycling or Trash Sorting Game Coffee Grounds Sensory Tub Paper Beads ( from recycled flyers) Recycled Crayon Candle Earth Day […]

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  13. […] DIY Recycling Game: This follow-up activity helps students learn which items should be recycled. Have students draw or cut photos of everyday items from magazines and glue them onto index cards. When the deck is made, kids sort cards into trash or recycling bins. It’s a great take-home activity to share with siblings! […]

    to 15 Great Dr. Seuss Printables and Activities for Your Classroom" aria-label='reply to this comment to 15 Great Dr. Seuss Printables and Activities for Your Classroom'>reply to this comment

  17. […] To get kids started in the world of recycling, you first have to teach them how to sort. Allison McDonald of No Time for Flash Cards created a wonderful little game for her son to do just that. With nothing more than cardstock, magazines, berry containers, scissors and double-stick tape, you can create a delightful game that allows your little ones to use their problem-solving skills and develop a love for sorting recyclables at the same time. Check out the tutorial here. […]

    to 4 Clever Ways to Encourage Your Children to Recycle - Earth911.com" aria-label='reply to this comment to 4 Clever Ways to Encourage Your Children to Recycle - Earth911.com'>reply to this comment

  18. […] To get kids started in the world of recycling, you first have to teach them how to sort. Allison McDonald of No Time for Flash Cards created a wonderful little game for her son to do just that. With nothing more than cardstock, magazines, berry containers, scissors and double-stick tape, you can create a delightful game that allows your little ones to use their problem-solving skills and develop a love for sorting recyclables at the same time. Check out the tutorial here. […]

    to 4 Clever Ways to Encourage Your Children to Recycle - Eco Save Earth" aria-label='reply to this comment to 4 Clever Ways to Encourage Your Children to Recycle - Eco Save Earth'>reply to this comment

  23. […] attività davvero educativa che si può fare da soli o in gruppo è il gioco del riciclo di No Time For Flash Cards (che già il nome del blog vale minimo una visita!).  Servono tre contenitori, dei cartoncini, […]

    to Giochi di educazione ambientale per bambini | Trashic" aria-label='reply to this comment to Giochi di educazione ambientale per bambini | Trashic'>reply to this comment

  24. […] DIY Recycling Game: This follow-up activity helps students learn which items should be recycled. Have students draw or cut photos of everyday items from magazines and glue them onto index cards. When the deck is made, kids sort cards into trash or recycling bins. It’s a great take-home activity to share with siblings! […]

    to 15 Great Dr. Seuss Printables and Activities for Your Classroom" aria-label='reply to this comment to 15 Great Dr. Seuss Printables and Activities for Your Classroom'>reply to this comment

  25. […] To get kids started in the world of recycling, you first have to teach them how to sort. Allison McDonald of No Time for Flash Cards created a wonderful little game for her son to do just that. With nothing more than cardstock, magazines, berry containers, scissors and double-stick tape, you can create a delightful game that allows your little ones to use their problem-solving skills and develop a love for sorting recyclables at the same time. Check out the tutorial here. […]

    to 4 Clever Ways to Encourage Your Children to Recycle | Earth911.com" aria-label='reply to this comment to 4 Clever Ways to Encourage Your Children to Recycle | Earth911.com'>reply to this comment

  26. […] If you want to stay away from computer games and cut down on screen time this is a game you can make for yourself to use with younger children. It’s called The Recycling Think and Sort game. I’d love to take credit for it but Allison McDonald from NoTimeForFlashCards.com created it. You can see how it works at her website here. […]

    to Kid-Friendly Recycling Ideas – Green Living Gal" aria-label='reply to this comment to Kid-Friendly Recycling Ideas – Green Living Gal'>reply to this comment

  27. […] To get kids started in the world of recycling, you first have to teach them how to sort. Allison McDonald of No Time for Flash Cards created a wonderful little game for her son to do just that. With nothing more than cardstock, magazines, berry containers, scissors, and double-stick tape, you can create a delightful game that allows your little ones to use their problem-solving skills and develop a love for sorting recyclables at the same time. Check out her recycling game tutorial. […]

    to 4 Clever Ways to Encourage Your Children to Recycle - Positive Homes" aria-label='reply to this comment to 4 Clever Ways to Encourage Your Children to Recycle - Positive Homes'>reply to this comment

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