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 type of light bulb uses much less electricity and lasts much longer than an old filament bulb: an LED bulb or a wax candle?
What type of light bulb us… · Recycling, waste & caring …
2. Which of these materials can be recycled over and over again without losing its strength: an aluminium drink can or a greasy paper napkin?
Which of these materials c… · Recycling, waste & caring …
3. 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 …
4. 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 …
5. 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 …
6. 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 …
7. Why is buying a refillable water bottle better for the planet than buying a new disposable plastic bottle every day: one reusable bottle replaces hundreds of single-use plastic bottles each year, or disposable bottles are heavier?
Why is buying a refillable… · 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. What simple habit saves electricity when you are the last person to leave a room: switching off the lights and fan, or opening the refrigerator door?
What simple habit saves el… · Recycling, waste & caring …
10. 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 …
11. 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 …
12. What are the “Three Rs” that help us care for the environment and cut down on waste: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, or Run, Rest, Repeat?
“Three Rs” · Recycling, waste & caring …

12 questions · Seed 49 · 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 type of light bulb uses much less electricity and lasts much longer than an old filament bulb: an LED bulb or a wax candle?
LED bulb
LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs convert most of their electrical energy into light rather than wasted heat.
2. Which of these materials can be recycled over and over again without losing its strength: an aluminium drink can or a greasy paper napkin?
Aluminium drink can
Aluminium metal can be melted and recycled repeatedly using far less energy than mining new ore.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Why is buying a refillable water bottle better for the planet than buying a new disposable plastic bottle every day: one reusable bottle replaces hundreds of single-use plastic bottles each year, or disposable bottles are heavier?
One reusable bottle replaces hundreds of single-use plastic bottles each year
Refilling a durable bottle prevents plastic waste and saves the energy used to manufacture single-use bottles.
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. What simple habit saves electricity when you are the last person to leave a room: switching off the lights and fan, or opening the refrigerator door?
Switching off the lights and fan
Turning off unneeded lights and appliances reduces electricity demand and emissions.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. What are the “Three Rs” that help us care for the environment and cut down on waste: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, or Run, Rest, Repeat?
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reducing what we use, reusing items and recycling materials conserve resources and reduce landfill waste.

12 questions · Seed 49 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 4-6

Recycling, waste & caring for Earth

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What type of light bulb uses much less electricity and lasts much longer than an old filament bulb: an LED bulb or a wax candle?
What type of light bulb us… · Recycling, waste & caring …
2. Which of these materials can be recycled over and over again without losing its strength: an aluminium drink can or a greasy paper napkin?
Which of these materials c… · Recycling, waste & caring …
3. 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 …
4. 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 …
5. 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 …
6. 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 …
7. Why is buying a refillable water bottle better for the planet than buying a new disposable plastic bottle every day: one reusable bottle replaces hundreds of single-use plastic bottles each year, or disposable bottles are heavier?
Why is buying a refillable… · 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. What simple habit saves electricity when you are the last person to leave a room: switching off the lights and fan, or opening the refrigerator door?
What simple habit saves el… · Recycling, waste & caring …
10. 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 …
11. 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 …
12. What are the “Three Rs” that help us care for the environment and cut down on waste: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, or Run, Rest, Repeat?
“Three Rs” · Recycling, waste & caring …

12 questions · Seed 49 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 4-6

Recycling, waste & caring for Earth

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. What type of light bulb uses much less electricity and lasts much longer than an old filament bulb: an LED bulb or a wax candle?
LED bulb
LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs convert most of their electrical energy into light rather than wasted heat.
2. Which of these materials can be recycled over and over again without losing its strength: an aluminium drink can or a greasy paper napkin?
Aluminium drink can
Aluminium metal can be melted and recycled repeatedly using far less energy than mining new ore.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Why is buying a refillable water bottle better for the planet than buying a new disposable plastic bottle every day: one reusable bottle replaces hundreds of single-use plastic bottles each year, or disposable bottles are heavier?
One reusable bottle replaces hundreds of single-use plastic bottles each year
Refilling a durable bottle prevents plastic waste and saves the energy used to manufacture single-use bottles.
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. What simple habit saves electricity when you are the last person to leave a room: switching off the lights and fan, or opening the refrigerator door?
Switching off the lights and fan
Turning off unneeded lights and appliances reduces electricity demand and emissions.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. What are the “Three Rs” that help us care for the environment and cut down on waste: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, or Run, Rest, Repeat?
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reducing what we use, reusing items and recycling materials conserve resources and reduce landfill waste.

12 questions · Seed 49 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification