Smart Recycling Unit – Planet Bonehead

‘Smart’ Recycling Unit

Uncover the 4 hurdles we face in recycling, and how AI and “smart” technology are presenting solutions.

Explore the life cycle of waste material from first use, to recycling, to a new life and new uses.

Design & engineer your own smart bin to help us sort materials correctly while making it a fun game!

Learn the basic mistakes we all make in recycling first hand in a fun outdoor relay race activity.

Smart Recycling Unit - Mission: Recyclable

Designed to empower students to think critically about the recycling process and its impacts on the environment.

This unit is divided into 4 lessons, each containing its own video series and lesson plan. You can teach one lesson at a time (e.g., watch the Meet the Boneheads videos and then do the corresponding lesson) or watch all the videos first and then choose the lesson plans that work best for your class. The tools are flexible—use them in the way that best fits your teaching style and your students’ needs.

Intro

Meet the Boneheads! Follow the Boneheads as they leap into action to stop JP from sabotaging a local recycling center. In the art lesson plan, students will create imaginative storybooks that bring recycling to life, exploring the journey of discarded objects as they are transformed into something new.

Problem

It’s Your Planet Too! explores the history of landfills and the challenges they pose to our planet in this segment. The accompanying social justice lesson plan helps students examine how recycling access affects communities differently, encouraging thoughtful discussions about equity and sustainability.

Solution

Think Like Engineers! Discover how technology like smart bins and AI can solve recycling challenges in this episode. The STEAM-focused engineering lesson plan empowers students to design innovative systems that make recycling smarter and more accessible.

Action

You Have the Power! Inspire students with a catchy song celebrating the impact of recycling. The outdoor activity lesson plan allows them to tackle hands-on challenges, simulating the recycling process while highlighting the importance of teamwork and responsibility.

Embark on an animated adventure with the Boneheads as they try to thwart JP’s mischievous plan to disrupt the local recycling center. Plus, Bobby introduces the critical role of recycling in managing the waste we produce daily. This lesson delves into how innovative technologies and intelligent solutions are revolutionizing our approach to recycling, making it not just necessary but “smart.”

Video 1: Mission: Recyclable – Part 1

Join Bobby at HOPE Headquarters as we explore the importance of recycling and how it transforms waste into new treasures. Learn how green technology and AI are solving challenges like contamination and inefficiency, while the Boneheads spring into action to stop JP Rothbone’s latest plot to sabotage a thriving local recycling center.

Video 2: Rethinking Rubbish: Landfills, Recycling, and Our Planet

Return to HOPE Headquarters to uncover how landfills, once an innovative solution, now harm our environment by releasing greenhouse gases and polluting soil and water. Learn how recycling steps in as a superhero, transforming discarded items into new treasures and reducing our reliance on landfills. Follow the journey of recyclables from bin to center, and discover how this process creates a more sustainable future for us all.

What did you learn about why recycling is important? What’s the big deal about landfills?

Encourage students to discuss the environmental benefits of recycling and how it can impact our planet.

In this interdisciplinary art lesson for grades 3-5, students will explore the recycling process through the creation of imaginative storybooks. By personifying recyclable objects or focusing on the human aspects of recycling, students will visualize and narrate the journey of discarded items as they are transformed into new and useful products. The lesson encourages students at every grade level to blend creativity with an understanding of the recycling process, addressing challenges like contamination and technological innovation. By aligning with the National Core Arts Standards and NGSS, this activity provides a scaffolded approach for different age groups, fostering artistic expression, scientific inquiry, and critical thinking about environmental stewardship.

Materials

Art supplies (colored pencils, markers, crayons)

Construction paper

Blank storybooks or stapled paper booklet

Glue sticks

Scissors

Rulers

Stickers or stamps (optional)

Binding materials (stapler, yarn, or ribbon)

Activity

Begin the lesson with a discussion on recycling, focusing on why it's important and how it works.

Introduce the concept of creating a storybook about a recycled item's journey.

Each student selects an item to focus on, researching its typical recycling process and potential new life.

They then create a storyboard and write a narrative from the perspective of the item, imagining its feelings and adventures through the recycling process.

Students illustrate their stories using mixed media, emphasizing the use of recycled materials for artistic embellishment.

Conclude with a class sharing session where students present their storybooks, explaining their chosen item’s journey and transformation.

Creating:

Students explore multiple artistic techniques to develop their storybooks, focusing on creative problem-solving and narrative development. They refine their work by integrating scientific concepts such as the types of recyclable materials and their properties.

Presenting:

Students present their storybooks in a gallery walk format, focusing on how their work communicates the importance of recycling. They explain the scientific and artistic decisions that shaped their narratives.

Responding:

Students critique their peers’ storybooks by discussing the clarity and effectiveness of the visual and narrative elements. They connect these observations to their understanding of recycling processes and the challenges involved.

Connecting:

Students connect their storybooks to real-world recycling practices by exploring how individuals and communities can improve their efforts to reduce waste. They discuss how art can inspire action and awareness.

3-ESS3-1 (Earth and Human Activity):

Students investigate the role of recycling in reducing environmental challenges by illustrating how specific objects avoid landfills and are transformed into new products.

3-5-ETS1-2 (Engineering Design):

Through their art, students develop and compare multiple ideas for improving recycling processes, integrating creative thinking with engineering principles.

4-ESS3-2 (Earth and Human Activity):

Students demonstrate through storytelling how advanced recycling technologies like AI sorting systems can reduce environmental impacts and improve sustainability.

5-ESS3-1 (Earth and Human Activity):

Students explore human impacts on environmental health by crafting narratives that highlight the transformative journey of recyclable materials, promoting awareness and action.

5-PS1-3 (Matter and Its Interactions):

Students illustrate the chemical and physical properties of recyclable materials in their storybooks, showcasing how these properties enable or limit their reuse.

Grade 3:

Focus on understanding the basic recycling processes. Assess students on their ability to depict and explain the recycling journey of their chosen item creatively in their storybooks. Enhance learning by organizing a class recycling challenge, where students apply what they've learned to properly recycle items over a week.

Grade 4:

Concentrate on the transformative aspects of recycling. Evaluate students on their creativity in storytelling and their ability to link the story to factual recycling processes. Extend the project by having students create a persuasive poster that encourages recycling at school, using facts from their storybook research.

Grade 5:

Dive deeper into the environmental impact of recycling. Assess students on their ability to articulate complex ideas about sustainability and recycling in their narrative and illustrations. Enhancements could include a debate or a presentation session where students discuss the importance of advancing recycling technologies and their societal implications.

In this lesson, students will learn how landfills evolved, the impact of methane as a potent greenhouse gas, and why simply burying our trash is no longer viable. They’ll explore the magic of recycling—how it transforms waste into new products and the complexities involved in the process.

Video 3: Why Recycling Isn’t a Cure-All: Unpacking the Hurdles

This segment tackles the challenges of recycling, from why some people don’t recycle to the mistakes that can contaminate the process. Learn how small errors like mixing materials can disrupt the system and how individual actions play a vital role. Empower young viewers to understand recycling’s complexities and inspire mindful participation for a sustainable future.

Video 4: Recycling’s Roadblocks: Efficiency and Market Demand

This segment highlights two key challenges in recycling: outdated recycling centers and the lack of demand for recycled materials. Even when done correctly, inefficiencies in processing and hesitancy from industries to use recycled resources hinder progress. Discover how innovation and modernization can improve recycling systems and why every step in the process matters for a sustainable future.

Video 5: Mission: Recyclable – Part 2

Back at HOPE Headquarters, Bonehead and Pa Fossil discuss the problem they face rescuing the recycling center. Everything seems hopeless until Wishbone appears with some very important intel!

What happens if we put the wrong items in the recycling bin?

What are some challenges that recycling centers face?

What are some ideas you have to help recycling centers run more smoothly?

Why do you think it’s important for companies to use things that are recycled?

This social justice lesson plan invites students from grades K-8 to explore the intersection of environmental sustainability and equity through the lens of recycling. By examining how access to recycling programs varies between communities and how these disparities impact both people and the environment, students will deepen their understanding of the connections between environmental stewardship and social justice. Through discussions, research, and creative expression tailored to their grade level, students will analyze real-world challenges, develop critical thinking skills, and consider solutions that promote fairness and inclusivity in recycling practices. This lesson empowers students to see themselves as active participants in creating equitable solutions for a greener, more sustainable future.

Activity

Begin with a simple and engaging group discussion about recycling. Introduce what recycling means and why it is important for helping the planet. Use visuals like pictures or short videos to show the journey of trash and recycling. Ask students to think about how different people might have varying access to recycling. For example, talk about how recycling bins might not be available everywhere and why that matters. After the discussion, students can create colorful posters or drawings illustrating how recycling helps their community or family.

Expand the discussion to include the challenges of recycling access in different parts of the country or world. Use maps, news stories, or data to explore why some neighborhoods might have better recycling programs than others. Guide students to think critically about the social and environmental impacts of these differences. Following this, have students research specific examples of recycling programs and write short essays or create presentations discussing the disparities they find. They can focus on the consequences of unequal access and propose ways to make recycling more accessible to everyone.

Communication

Provide an opportunity for students to share their drawings or posters with the class. Each student can explain what recycling means to them and why it is important for everyone to participate. Encourage classmates to ask questions or comment on each other’s work, fostering curiosity and dialogue. Keep the discussion light and supportive to build confidence in expressing ideas.

Organize small-group discussions where students present their research or essays about recycling access. Prompt students to share what they learned about the differences in recycling programs and brainstorm solutions as a group. As a class, collaborate on a project, such as designing a recycling awareness campaign for the school or local community. This activity helps students build teamwork and communication skills while considering real-world applications for their ideas.

Identity:

Students identify how equitable access to recycling impacts individual and community identity. Discussions focus on why some areas have better recycling systems than others and how this affects people’s connection to their environment.

Diversity:

Students discuss how communities with diverse resources and circumstances experience different environmental impacts and access to recycling. Activities can include mapping or researching how recycling programs differ across regions or countries.

Justice:

Students investigate unfair environmental practices, like unequal access to recycling, and propose solutions to ensure all communities have the tools they need to recycle effectively. Discussions might include how underserved areas are disproportionately impacted by waste.

Action:

Students draft a class letter to their local government or community leaders advocating for improved recycling programs or sharing ideas on how to make recycling more accessible. They can also create presentations to share their findings with peers.

3-LS4-4 (Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity)

Students investigate how recycling reduces waste in landfills and prevents harm to ecosystems, considering the interconnectedness of environmental health and biodiversity.

4-ESS3-1 (Earth and Human Activity)

Students analyze the consequences of waste mismanagement on natural resources and discuss how equitable recycling practices can ensure sustainability for all communities.

5-ESS3-1 (Earth and Human Activity)

Students explore the societal impacts of recycling on resource conservation and environmental health, advocating for solutions that support fair access to recycling in all communities.

Grade 3:

Students will demonstrate their understanding by identifying differences in recycling access and discussing why some communities have fewer resources. Teachers can assess their learning through drawings, short written reflections, or class discussions where students share their ideas on making recycling fair for everyone.

Grade 4:

Students will expand on these ideas by writing a brief paragraph explaining how limited recycling access impacts a community and suggesting a simple solution. They can also work in small groups to create posters highlighting the importance of equal recycling opportunities.

Grade 5:

Students will take a deeper look at the issue by writing a short essay analyzing recycling disparities and proposing ways to improve access. For a hands-on approach, they can collaborate on a class advocacy project, such as a presentation or social awareness campaign, to promote fair recycling practices.

Discover how smart bins and AI can transform recycling from a chore into an engaging, rewarding game that encourages everyone to participate. Learn about the challenges of proper sorting, the technology behind smart bins, and how these advances can significantly improve recycling systems. It’s not just about understanding the problems—it’s about designing the solutions. Let’s gear up and think like engineers to make recycling smarter for everyone!

Video 6: How to Get More People Into Recycling with Gamification and “Smart” Bins

This segment explores how smart bins and gamification can transform recycling into a fun and engaging activity. Equipped with technology to identify recyclable items, these bins reward correct actions with points, turning recycling into a game. By combining education and interaction, smart bins reduce errors and inspire communities to recycle more effectively for a cleaner planet.

Video 7: The Future of Recycling: AI-Powered Solutions

Explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing recycling centers, making sorting faster and more precise. Advanced AI systems categorize plastics, glass, metals, and paper with unmatched accuracy, ensuring materials are ready for reuse. This segment showcases how upgrading recycling centers with cutting-edge technology boosts efficiency and supports a more sustainable future.

Video 8: Mission: Recyclable – Part 3

Bonehead and his smart team swing into action on a nearly impossible mission: stop JP & his sniveling cronies before they are able to sabotage the recycling machines and detour all that recycling back to the landfill.

Why do you think some people don’t recycle, and how could we encourage them to start?

How do technologies like smart bins or gamification make recycling easier and more effective?

How does recycling help fight climate change, and what role could future technologies play in improving its impact?

In this STEAM/Engineering lesson, students of all ages will design innovative solutions for smarter recycling systems. Tailored to different developmental stages, the lesson engages younger students in imaginative exploration, middle-grade students in problem-solving, and older students in complex design thinking. By addressing real-world recycling challenges, it encourages critical thinking, teamwork, and creativity, showing how STEAM fields work together to solve environmental issues and promote sustainability.

Design Phase

Begin this phase by dividing your students into small groups. Each group will be responsible for designing a component within the recycling ecosystem. Explain to the students that they are like a team of engineers and scientists who need to work together to create a smart recycling system that makes it fun and easy for people to recycle more and better.

Here are the components for the recycling ecosystem that students can choose from for their projects:

Home Smart Bin:

A small, household bin that uses sensors to identify different types of waste and sort them accordingly. It can also provide feedback to the family on how well they are recycling.

Public Smart Bin:

Larger bins placed in schools, parks, or other public places that can sort recyclables from non-recyclables, and also measure how much waste is being recycled in the community.

Game App for Points:

A mobile application design that tracks individual and community recycling efforts and rewards points for consistent and proper recycling habits. Points can be used for rewards or public recognition. It’s not necessary to create a working app. Rather they can provide drawings of the app, and understand how it fits within the rest

Smart Collection System:

A system designed to collect sorted recyclables from homes and public bins efficiently. It could involve smart trucks that know when to pick up recyclables and optimize their routes for lower emissions.

Smart Sorting System at Recycling Centers:

A design for a conveyor belt system with sensors and separators that can further sort recyclables by type and quality, ensuring that the material is ready for manufacturers.

Recycling Points Kiosk:

A station where people can bring their recyclables and receive instant points or rewards based on the quantity and quality of their recyclable materials.

Communication Phase

Learning STEAM engineering and design skills is important for students, but just as vital is the ability to share their ideas with others. This phase encourages students to present their solutions in a creative and engaging way, helping them refine their ideas and learn from their peers.

Below are suggested formats for students to use when prototyping and presenting their designs, tailored to the variety of recycling technologies they may have chosen during the design phase.

Dioramas or Physical Models

Students can build small-scale prototypes or dioramas representing their chosen recycling technology. For example, a model of a smart bin could include compartments and mock sensors made from everyday materials like cardboard, paper, and recycled objects. For a recycling kiosk or sorting system, students could illustrate conveyor belts or collection points. These dioramas can be labeled and annotated to show key features.

Posters or Storyboards

Students can create large posters or storyboards with drawings, diagrams, and captions to visually explain their concepts. For example, they might design a poster outlining how a game app rewards points for proper recycling or a diagram showing the workflow of a smart collection system. The goal is to make the posters informative, engaging, and visually appealing.

Videos or Skits

Encourage students to create short videos or perform skits that demonstrate how their systems work in a real-world scenario. For example, a group designing a public smart bin might role-play as community members interacting with the bin, or a group working on a recycling kiosk might act out how people redeem points for recycled items. These performances can be recorded and shared with the class or other audiences.

Slide Presentations

Students can use presentation software like Google Slides or PowerPoint to create digital slide decks that explain their designs. Include visuals such as drawings or photos of prototypes, bullet points outlining key features, and examples of how their system addresses recycling challenges. This format helps students practice their presentation skills and logical organization.

Interactive Demonstrations

Set up stations where students can display their prototypes or models and provide hands-on explanations to classmates. For example, a smart sorting system might have movable parts to show how it separates materials, or a kiosk prototype might have labeled sections showing where items are scanned and sorted. Other students can ask questions, providing an opportunity for the presenters to explain and refine their ideas.

Creating:

Students conceptualize and sketch detailed blueprints of their recycling solutions, focusing on integrating artistic elements like color coding or shapes to enhance usability and engagement.

Presenting:

Students create physical prototypes or detailed diagrams of their solutions, presenting their designs to peers while discussing how artistic and functional elements work together.

Responding:

Students engage in structured peer critiques, evaluating how well designs balance artistic expression with practical functionality.

Connecting:

Students explore how their designs address broader community needs, considering how art and design can encourage better recycling habits in schools and neighborhoods.

3-ESS3-1 (Earth and Human Activity):

Students will evaluate how recycling innovations reduce environmental impacts and design systems to improve recycling efficiency.

3-5-ETS1-1 (Engineering Design):

Students will identify real-world challenges in recycling, such as contaminated materials, and brainstorm solutions to make recycling systems more effective.

3-5-ETS1-2 (Engineering Design):

Students will develop and test prototypes of smart bins or other recycling solutions, iterating on their designs based on feedback and new ideas.

3-5-ETS1-3 (Engineering Design):

Students will analyze data and research to refine their smart recycling solutions, ensuring their models are efficient and address key recycling problems.

Science:

Begin the lesson by diving into the science of recycling. Discuss the materials that can be recycled, the processes they go through, and why certain items are harder to recycle than others. Explore the environmental impact of waste and how recycling benefits ecosystems. Encourage students to think about the science behind the sorting of materials and the chemical properties that might affect their decisions in the design phase, such as the biodegradability of materials or the melting points of different plastics.

Technology:

Technology is at the heart of our smart bin and sorting center designs. Introduce the students to the kinds of technology used in sorting recyclables, such as sensors that can detect different types of materials, and discuss how technology can be used to educate people about recycling. Have them consider how current technology can be applied or new technology created to make recycling more efficient. They can represent these technological solutions in their prototypes using the printouts and craft materials.

Engineering:

The engineering design process is a focal point for this project. Students will engage in problem identification, brainstorming, planning, creating, and improving their designs. They will think like engineers, considering how the form and function of their smart bins can work together. As they construct their prototypes, they'll need to make sure their designs are practical and user-friendly, balancing creativity with the constraints and possibilities of real-world engineering.

Art:

Art will come into play as students design and communicate their ideas. They'll be drawing their initial designs, using color and form to express how their smart bins will look and function. This is also a chance to understand how art and design can influence user behavior and promote a product, an important aspect when considering how to encourage more people to recycle.

Mathematics:

Mathematics will be integral when students work out the dimensions and capacity of their smart bins. They'll need to think about the volume of waste a typical bin can hold and how to efficiently use space within the bin for different recyclables. Students can also calculate the hypothetical cost of their designs, considering factors like the number of different materials needed and the technology involved.

Grade 3:

For third graders, focus on the NGSS standard related to forces and interactions. Encourage students to consider how different forces can be used in the design of their smart bins or sorting systems. For example, they could think about how magnets might separate metals, or how gravity helps certain materials move down chutes. Ask them to explain how these forces help sort and move materials in their presentations. This will not only tie their designs to scientific concepts but also help them understand the practical application of these forces in technology.

Grade 4:

Fourth-grade students can delve into the energy and waves standards of NGSS. They can explore how energy is required to move parts of their recycling system and discuss the sources of this energy. Additionally, they can look at how waves, in the form of light or sound signals, might be used to sort materials or signal a bin is full. By integrating these concepts, students will develop a deeper understanding of the role of energy in technological systems and the ways we can harness it for sustainable practices.

Grade 5:

Fifth graders can concentrate on the standards concerning matter and its interactions. Encourage them to think about the different states of matter and properties of materials that need to be considered in the recycling process. They can discuss how the design of their smart bin or sorting center takes into account the physical properties of the materials it will handle, such as flexibility, durability, and whether the material is waterproof. Through this, students will apply their knowledge of the properties of matter to solve real-world problems and communicate the scientific reasoning behind their design choices.

Finally, we bring the power of music and outdoor activity together to reinforce the vital role of recycling. Enjoy our music video, and then step outside for a dynamic recycling relay race. It’s a fun, active way to conclude our journey, empowering students to make a tangible difference in their world by thinking creatively about recycling.

Video 9: “Recycling! Recycling!” Music Video

The “You Have the Power!” song is a lively tune that inspires kids to recycle and protect the environment. It highlights the importance of recycling everyday items like bottles, cans, and paper, with a fun twist reminding them that not everything—like spaghetti—is recyclable. This playful approach educates kids on recycling basics while empowering them to make a meaningful impact.

How does recycling help fight climate change?

How can you get involved at home and at school?

Encourage a deeper understanding of the broader environmental impacts of recycling.

This interactive outdoor lesson engages students in hands-on recycling challenges, tailored for young learners. Younger students learn basic recycling concepts, while older students explore environmental systems and innovative solutions. By sorting materials and reflecting on recycling’s impact, students develop teamwork, problem-solving skills, and a deeper sense of environmental responsibility.

Materials

Bins for sorting, labeled as: Plastic, Paper, Metal, Glass, and Landfill (for contaminated items)

Common classroom objects to represent recyclables

Markers or stickers to contaminate some items

Large open space (classroom, gym, or schoolyard)

Gloves for handling "contaminated" items (optional)

Items to Represent Plastic:

Plastic bottles 

Plastic folders 

Plastic rulers 

Plastic storage containers 

Empty glue stick tubes

Items to Represent Paper:

Scraps of paper 

Newspapers 

Notebooks

 Envelopes 

Cardboard

Items to Represent Metal:

Aluminum foil 

Metal binder clips 

Keys 

Old CDs or DVDs 

Metallic wrapping paper

Items to Represent Glass:

Marbles

Glass beads 

Transparent acrylic blocks

 Plastic lenses 

Clear plastic containers

Activity

Begin the lesson with a discussion about recycling, focusing on why it's important and how proper sorting is crucial.

Explain the different types of materials that can be recycled and introduce the concept of contamination.

Before the race, mark some of the recyclable items with stickers or markers to indicate they are "contaminated," explaining that these should go into the "Landfill" bin.

Organize students into teams, and have them line up at the start line opposite the bins.

On "go," the first student from each team runs to the pile, picks an item, and decides which bin it belongs in, considering its contamination status.

They place the item in the bin and run back to tag the next team member.

Continue until all items are sorted.

After the race, review the sorting choices with the students, discussing any incorrect placements and the impact of contamination.

3-LS4-4 (Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity)

Students make a connection between human activity, such as waste management and recycling, and the effects on the environment and living organisms, illustrating how responsible behaviors can preserve habitats and biodiversity.

4-ESS3-1 (Earth and Human Activity) Students understand the importance of resource management by learning how efficient sorting and recycling can conserve resources and reduce waste.

5-PS1-3 (Matter and Its Interactions) Students examine how the properties of different materials determine their recyclability and the methods used for sorting these materials in recycling processes.

3-5-ETS1-1 (Engineering Design) Students identify the criteria and constraints of the relay race design by considering how to maximize efficiency in sorting recyclable materials and minimize contamination.

3-5-ETS1-2 (Engineering Design) Students evaluate and test their strategies for sorting recyclables during the relay race, assessing their effectiveness based on specific design criteria.

3-5-ETS1-3 (Engineering Design) Students refine their recycling relay race strategies by analyzing the outcomes and considering improvements that could increase sorting accuracy and speed.

Grade 3:

Focus the assessment on students’ ability to identify and sort basic recyclables correctly. Enhance learning by creating a simple classroom poster that lists what can and cannot be recycled, reinforcing the knowledge gained from the activity.

Grade 4:

Assess students on their understanding of the impact of contamination in recycling. Extend the lesson by having students research and prepare a short presentation on how recycling is processed locally and the challenges facilities face.

Grade 5:

Evaluate students on their strategic thinking and problem-solving skills during the relay race, particularly how they handled contaminated items. For a deeper learning experience, challenge them to come up with a classroom project that reduces waste or improves recycling practices, incorporating budget and material constraints as part of the project design.

I’m Bobby Donohue

I'm revolutionizing climate education

The sad fact is that teachers lack the knowledge, resources, and support they need to approach topics like climate change or global warming with confidence. So I'm creating it for them.

Want to help? Connect & message me on LinkedIn. Or learn more about becoming a Social Impact Partner.

The name‘s Head. BONEhead.