The 4Rs Curriculum helps 4th and 5th grade students understand waste management through hands-on, cooperative learning activities. Twenty-four lessons across five units explore how everyday choices impact the environment — and what students can do about it. All materials are available in English and Spanish.
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The 4R's Curriculum
A Classroom Activity Guide to Teach Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot Includes 24 California standard-based lessons and five thematic units developed for educators teaching fourth and fifth grades. Everybody creates garbage, but do we need to do so? How does creating garbage impact us at home, at school or at play? This guide will help you explore with your students the integrated waste management hierarchy of reduce, reuse, recycle and rot (compost), which we call the 4Rs. This guide was developed for educators teaching fourth and fifth grades and was designed to be engaging and academically
The Five Units
Accordion
Students investigate the resources needed to produce everyday products through hands-on exploration, distinguishing between renewable and nonrenewable resources.
Examines consumption habits, covering packaging waste, paper usage, environmental impact on habitats, and personal values regarding resource consumption.
Students explore creative ways to reuse items before recycling, analyzing alternatives and creating projects like quilts from fabric scraps.
Learners discover community recycling options and how materials transform into new products, examining the lifecycles of plastics and paper.
The most extensive unit covers decomposition, the organisms involved, composting benefits, soil improvement techniques, and how to set up and maintain a worm bin.
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Meet the League of 4Rs Action Heroes
The curriculum is supported by four superhero characters who bring each R to life — Super Reducer, Professor Reuse, The Recycler, and RotGirl. Each hero has unique powers, backstories, and sidekicks that help students remember and practice waste reduction.
Videos
Three educational videos support the curriculum units. See all available titles on the Educational Videos page.
Resource List
Doing the 4Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot Video
Doing the 4Rs is a motivating and informative video designed for 4th and 5th grade students. Kids from Alameda County show how they practice the 4Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot (compost) at home, school and play.
From Oil to Plastic
Learn about the lifecycle of a plastic product and the nonrenewable resources used to make it.
Doing the 4Rs Video Discussion Questions
Paired with the Doing the 4Rs Video, these discussion questions support students and families to discuss the ways they can practice the 4Rs at home, at school, and in their community.
Activity Resources
Printable worksheets and projects to extend learning beyond the curriculum units.
Resource List
4Rs Action Heroes Activity Worksheet
Become a 4Rs Action Hero Everyday! YOU can be a 4RsAction Hero! How? Use this worksheet to read about each 4Rs Action Hero. After each description, write what you can do to be just like each Action Hero.
Food Waste Reduction with 4Rs Action Heroes!
Learn how to reduce wasted food at lunch with these tips from 4Rs Action Hero, Super Reducer
4Rs Action Project: No Sew Reusable T-Shirt Bag
Learn how to make your very own no sew reusable t-shirt bag by transforming an old or tattered t-shirt.
The Amazing Garbologist Adventure
How to Go from Scientist to Food Rescue Action Hero! In this journal you will join four garbologists who ask questions about how garbage affects people living in Alameda County and around the world. What in the world is a garbologist? A garbologist is a scientist who studies garbage. Why study garbage? Because there is a LOT of it. And more is created every day! Download in Spanish Download in Chinese
Call to Action
Get 4Rs Curriculum Materials
Request printed curriculum guides, vocabulary lists, pictographs, and supporting materials for your classroom — available in English and Spanish.