Our worldAges 4-6

Recycling, waste & caring for Earth

Practise the Three Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), composting, water conservation and marine habitat care. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 4-6

Recycling, waste & caring for Earth

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What natural soil conditioner is made when kitchen fruit and vegetable scraps and fallen leaves rot down in a garden bin: compost or plastic?
What natural soil conditio… · Recycling, waste & caring …
2. Why should used household batteries and old electronics be taken to a special collection point rather than thrown in ordinary rubbish: they contain metals and chemicals that can leak into soil and water, or they float away?
Why should used household … · Recycling, waste & caring …
3. What do we call a protected area of land or sea set aside by law so wild plants and animals can live safely without being hunted or destroyed: a nature reserve (marine park) or a factory?
What do we call a protecte… · Recycling, waste & caring …
4. Why is plastic litter especially harmful when it blows or washes into the ocean: plastic takes hundreds of years to break down and marine animals can mistake it for food or get tangled in it, or plastic dissolves into fresh water?
Why is plastic litter espe… · Recycling, waste & caring …
5. What should you do before putting an empty glass jar or plastic milk bottle into the recycling bin: rinse it out so food residue does not spoil the paper and cardboard recycling, or smash it on the floor?
What should you do before … · Recycling, waste & caring …
6. How does planting trees in a community or along a shoreline help the environment: tree roots hold soil in place and leaves absorb carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen, or trees block the rain?
How does planting trees in… · Recycling, waste & caring …
7. Which of these items belongs in a garden compost bin rather than the plastics bin: banana peels and dry leaves, or a glass bottle?
Which of these items belon… · Recycling, waste & caring …
8. What does the word “biodegradable” mean: capable of being broken down naturally by bacteria, fungi and other living decomposers, or made of steel?
“biodegradable” · Recycling, waste & caring …
9. Which of the Three Rs means turning used materials (like old newspapers, glass jars or aluminium cans) into brand-new products: Recycle or Burn?
Which of the Three Rs mean… · Recycling, waste & caring …
10. Instead of throwing out clothes or storybooks you have outgrown that are still in good condition, what is a sustainable choice: donate or pass them on to younger learners, or burn them?
Instead of throwing out cl… · Recycling, waste & caring …
11. What simple habit saves clean drinking water at home every morning and evening: turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, or leaving the hose running?
What simple habit saves cl… · Recycling, waste & caring …
12. Which of the Three Rs means using less of something in the first place (such as turning off a tap while brushing your teeth): Reduce or Recycle?
Which of the Three Rs mean… · Recycling, waste & caring …

12 questions · Seed 104730 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 4-6

Recycling, waste & caring for Earth

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. What natural soil conditioner is made when kitchen fruit and vegetable scraps and fallen leaves rot down in a garden bin: compost or plastic?
Compost
Decomposers break down organic kitchen and garden waste into nutrient-rich compost for plants.
2. Why should used household batteries and old electronics be taken to a special collection point rather than thrown in ordinary rubbish: they contain metals and chemicals that can leak into soil and water, or they float away?
They contain metals and chemicals that can leak into soil and water
Electronic waste (e-waste) and batteries contain valuable metals to recover and hazardous substances that must not leach into groundwater.
3. What do we call a protected area of land or sea set aside by law so wild plants and animals can live safely without being hunted or destroyed: a nature reserve (marine park) or a factory?
Nature reserve (marine park)
Nature reserves and marine protected areas conserve biodiversity and sensitive habitats.
4. Why is plastic litter especially harmful when it blows or washes into the ocean: plastic takes hundreds of years to break down and marine animals can mistake it for food or get tangled in it, or plastic dissolves into fresh water?
Plastic takes hundreds of years to break down and marine animals can mistake it for food or get tangled in it
Turtles, seabirds and fish can ingest or become entangled in persistent marine plastic debris.
5. What should you do before putting an empty glass jar or plastic milk bottle into the recycling bin: rinse it out so food residue does not spoil the paper and cardboard recycling, or smash it on the floor?
Rinse it out so food residue does not spoil the paper and cardboard recycling
Clean, dry recyclables prevent contamination of other materials in the sorting facility.
6. How does planting trees in a community or along a shoreline help the environment: tree roots hold soil in place and leaves absorb carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen, or trees block the rain?
Tree roots hold soil in place and leaves absorb carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen
Trees prevent soil erosion, provide wildlife habitat, cool streets and absorb CO₂.
7. Which of these items belongs in a garden compost bin rather than the plastics bin: banana peels and dry leaves, or a glass bottle?
Banana peels and dry leaves
Plant waste such as fruit peelings and leaves is biodegradable and decomposes into compost.
8. What does the word “biodegradable” mean: capable of being broken down naturally by bacteria, fungi and other living decomposers, or made of steel?
Capable of being broken down naturally by bacteria, fungi and other living decomposers
Biodegradable materials (such as paper, cotton and food scraps) decay safely back into nature.
9. Which of the Three Rs means turning used materials (like old newspapers, glass jars or aluminium cans) into brand-new products: Recycle or Burn?
Recycle
Recycling processes waste materials so they can be manufactured into new items.
10. Instead of throwing out clothes or storybooks you have outgrown that are still in good condition, what is a sustainable choice: donate or pass them on to younger learners, or burn them?
Donate or pass them on to younger learners
Sharing or donating good-quality books and clothing keeps useful items in circulation.
11. What simple habit saves clean drinking water at home every morning and evening: turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, or leaving the hose running?
Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth
A running tap wastes several litres of treated water every minute.
12. Which of the Three Rs means using less of something in the first place (such as turning off a tap while brushing your teeth): Reduce or Recycle?
Reduce
Reducing consumption prevents waste before it is ever created.

12 questions · Seed 104730 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 4-6

Recycling, waste & caring for Earth

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What natural soil conditioner is made when kitchen fruit and vegetable scraps and fallen leaves rot down in a garden bin: compost or plastic?
What natural soil conditio… · Recycling, waste & caring …
2. Why should used household batteries and old electronics be taken to a special collection point rather than thrown in ordinary rubbish: they contain metals and chemicals that can leak into soil and water, or they float away?
Why should used household … · Recycling, waste & caring …
3. What do we call a protected area of land or sea set aside by law so wild plants and animals can live safely without being hunted or destroyed: a nature reserve (marine park) or a factory?
What do we call a protecte… · Recycling, waste & caring …
4. Why is plastic litter especially harmful when it blows or washes into the ocean: plastic takes hundreds of years to break down and marine animals can mistake it for food or get tangled in it, or plastic dissolves into fresh water?
Why is plastic litter espe… · Recycling, waste & caring …
5. What should you do before putting an empty glass jar or plastic milk bottle into the recycling bin: rinse it out so food residue does not spoil the paper and cardboard recycling, or smash it on the floor?
What should you do before … · Recycling, waste & caring …
6. How does planting trees in a community or along a shoreline help the environment: tree roots hold soil in place and leaves absorb carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen, or trees block the rain?
How does planting trees in… · Recycling, waste & caring …
7. Which of these items belongs in a garden compost bin rather than the plastics bin: banana peels and dry leaves, or a glass bottle?
Which of these items belon… · Recycling, waste & caring …
8. What does the word “biodegradable” mean: capable of being broken down naturally by bacteria, fungi and other living decomposers, or made of steel?
“biodegradable” · Recycling, waste & caring …
9. Which of the Three Rs means turning used materials (like old newspapers, glass jars or aluminium cans) into brand-new products: Recycle or Burn?
Which of the Three Rs mean… · Recycling, waste & caring …
10. Instead of throwing out clothes or storybooks you have outgrown that are still in good condition, what is a sustainable choice: donate or pass them on to younger learners, or burn them?
Instead of throwing out cl… · Recycling, waste & caring …
11. What simple habit saves clean drinking water at home every morning and evening: turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, or leaving the hose running?
What simple habit saves cl… · Recycling, waste & caring …
12. Which of the Three Rs means using less of something in the first place (such as turning off a tap while brushing your teeth): Reduce or Recycle?
Which of the Three Rs mean… · Recycling, waste & caring …

12 questions · Seed 104730 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 4-6

Recycling, waste & caring for Earth

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. What natural soil conditioner is made when kitchen fruit and vegetable scraps and fallen leaves rot down in a garden bin: compost or plastic?
Compost
Decomposers break down organic kitchen and garden waste into nutrient-rich compost for plants.
2. Why should used household batteries and old electronics be taken to a special collection point rather than thrown in ordinary rubbish: they contain metals and chemicals that can leak into soil and water, or they float away?
They contain metals and chemicals that can leak into soil and water
Electronic waste (e-waste) and batteries contain valuable metals to recover and hazardous substances that must not leach into groundwater.
3. What do we call a protected area of land or sea set aside by law so wild plants and animals can live safely without being hunted or destroyed: a nature reserve (marine park) or a factory?
Nature reserve (marine park)
Nature reserves and marine protected areas conserve biodiversity and sensitive habitats.
4. Why is plastic litter especially harmful when it blows or washes into the ocean: plastic takes hundreds of years to break down and marine animals can mistake it for food or get tangled in it, or plastic dissolves into fresh water?
Plastic takes hundreds of years to break down and marine animals can mistake it for food or get tangled in it
Turtles, seabirds and fish can ingest or become entangled in persistent marine plastic debris.
5. What should you do before putting an empty glass jar or plastic milk bottle into the recycling bin: rinse it out so food residue does not spoil the paper and cardboard recycling, or smash it on the floor?
Rinse it out so food residue does not spoil the paper and cardboard recycling
Clean, dry recyclables prevent contamination of other materials in the sorting facility.
6. How does planting trees in a community or along a shoreline help the environment: tree roots hold soil in place and leaves absorb carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen, or trees block the rain?
Tree roots hold soil in place and leaves absorb carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen
Trees prevent soil erosion, provide wildlife habitat, cool streets and absorb CO₂.
7. Which of these items belongs in a garden compost bin rather than the plastics bin: banana peels and dry leaves, or a glass bottle?
Banana peels and dry leaves
Plant waste such as fruit peelings and leaves is biodegradable and decomposes into compost.
8. What does the word “biodegradable” mean: capable of being broken down naturally by bacteria, fungi and other living decomposers, or made of steel?
Capable of being broken down naturally by bacteria, fungi and other living decomposers
Biodegradable materials (such as paper, cotton and food scraps) decay safely back into nature.
9. Which of the Three Rs means turning used materials (like old newspapers, glass jars or aluminium cans) into brand-new products: Recycle or Burn?
Recycle
Recycling processes waste materials so they can be manufactured into new items.
10. Instead of throwing out clothes or storybooks you have outgrown that are still in good condition, what is a sustainable choice: donate or pass them on to younger learners, or burn them?
Donate or pass them on to younger learners
Sharing or donating good-quality books and clothing keeps useful items in circulation.
11. What simple habit saves clean drinking water at home every morning and evening: turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, or leaving the hose running?
Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth
A running tap wastes several litres of treated water every minute.
12. Which of the Three Rs means using less of something in the first place (such as turning off a tap while brushing your teeth): Reduce or Recycle?
Reduce
Reducing consumption prevents waste before it is ever created.

12 questions · Seed 104730 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification