Program Lessons
Our team of educators is continuously creating and curating classroom lessons to support environmental awareness, increase environmental literacy, inspire environmental stewardship, support sustainability in action, and increase environmental awareness across traditional educational subjects. We work with the San Mateo County Office of Education to structure lessons using the 5E curriculum model and follow NGSS and Common Core Standards. Click on the links in the lesson descriptions to access student-ready printables and teacher lesson plans.
Up to three separate board style games help students learn the foundational principles of waste sorting, recycling, composting, the solid waste management systems of San Mateo County, and waste impacts to local and global natural resources. The games help empower students with information needed to better conserve resources and adopt 4R’s practices.
Game boards are laminated for long-term use and we will replace lost game pieces when needed. We deliver and have staff available to facilitate the first round of play at any time throughout the school year. Contact us to request your 4R’s games: sustainability@smcgov.org.
Young students will test their waste sorting knowledge by placing everyday school waste items into the recycling, compost or landfill categories with this cut and paste printable activity.
4R’s Sorting Activity Lesson Plan
Let students have a healthy competition to complete 4R’s actions at home with this printable 4R’s BINGO activity.
Students will get straight to waste fundamentals to explore properties of what makes a material “waste” and study three different disposal methods: recycle, compost, and landfill. With this information, they will understand how humans create systems to manage waste, as well critically assess their own waste related habits.
This is a hands-on activity that has students take action to have a direct impact on the environment. This lesson can be adapted for 4th grade up to 12th grade classes. Through this lesson, students will analyze the litter being picked up at their local park, beach, neighborhood, school, etc. California State Next Generation, Common Core, and English Language Development Standards are also integrated into this lesson.
Litter Collection Event Lesson Plan
Supporting documents:
Students will learn that all materials we need or make come from natural resources found in different ecological environments. In Part 1 of this activity, students will go on a scavenger hunt to identify common household items made from natural resources. In Part 2, students will make a connection between five natural resources, the ecological source those natural resources come from, and common everyday items made from those natural resources using a cut and paste activity.
In this hands-on activity, students will examine the differences found in the structure of paper fibers from different paper and paper composite products. The lesson invites students to then start thinking about the process of making paper from recycled paper pulp.
Put your STEM hat on because it’s time to build a landfill. Modern sanitary landfills require engineers to protect groundwater, people and wildlife from the long-term effects of the accumulation of our garbage in one place. In this activity, students will learn about some of the considerations to keep in mind as they build their own model landfill with the additional challenge of protecting groundwater.
Did you know that you can request free 4R’s Game sets to keep in your classroom or library? Students love playing these games year round and teaching others how to play them. Request your free 4R’s games today!
Students love our 4R’s Board Games! Keep a free set in your classroom for rainy day play and 4R’s education throughout the school year. Choose 1, 2 or all 3! Games available are:
Game 1 – Where Does It Come From and Go?
Game 2 – The Pathway of Stuff
Game 3 – The 4R’s Board Game
Check out how to play the games here: 4R’s Games Tutorial on YouTube.
Game boards are laminated for long-term use and we’ll replace lost game pieces when needed. We deliver and have staff available to facilitate the first round of play at any time throughout the school year. Contact us to request your 4R’s games: sustainability@smcgov.org.
Free Waste Reduction Signage
Educate students and staff on the important of waste reduction. For physical copies and stickers, please email us at sustainability@smcgov.org.
Learn how easy and fun it is to recycle your fruit and vegetable scraps, leaves, and plant cuttings into compost in these free workshops! These workshops teach composting options suitable for those with or without a backyard. Apartment dwellers welcome! Compost provides valuable nutrients for your garden soil, helps retain moisture, which saves water, prevents erosion, loosens clay and compacted soils for better drainage, and suppresses weeds. It is rewarding to know you are turning what some consider waste into precious organic material for your garden.
Discounts and rebates for backyard compost and worm compost bins will be distributed to San Mateo County residents!
COMPOST WORKSHOP
Date: May 12, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Atherton
Register here.
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