Sorting rubbish into groups

Ages 3 to 5 Read and do together · about 15 minutes

Read together

Paper, plastic, food. Each goes in its own group.

Sorting helps us take care of our world.

Do it

1. Set out three bowls or boxes with a picture on each: paper, plastic, food scraps.
2. Give your child clean, safe, dry items to sort. A grown-up handles anything sharp, wet or dirty.
3. Talk about why we sort. Follow the rules in your own town for recycling.
4. Wash hands afterwards.

Talk about it

• Which group does this go in?
• Why do we sort?

For the grown-up

Sorting is the first step in thinking like a scientist or an engineer: put things in groups by what they are. Rules for recycling differ from place to place.

Mark as done

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Where this comes from

This is a play and practice activity with no factual claims to source.

Written with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed. Please read it before sharing it with a child.