Looking for ways t o involve your students in environmental education?

CANS FOR CASH! IDEASFOR: EE WEEK, EARTHDA Y AND AMERICA RECYCLES DA Y

- (April-1-5~22y2007) - (April 22) (November-1-5)-

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This packet offers a number of interactive and interdisciplinary opportunities that align with the ABCs of Environmental Education and Talkin ' Trash curriculums. Encourage older students to help facilitate the education of younger students and build a more sustainable society. Below are ideas to help students catch the recycling spirit.

b Closed-Loop Recycling Coloring Poster. The coloring poster explores how aluminum cans are recycled and become new cans over and over and over again. Aluminum is an infinitely recyclable metal. An aluminum can can be recycled and back on store shelves in as few as 60 days saving energy, conserving resources, and reducing emissions. Students can either color the poster or enlarge the puzzle side, cut on the straight lines and distribute to K-first graders, who will then color a section, then come together and piece the puzzle together using the Life-Cycle of the Aluminum Can as a guide. A copy of The Coolest Can video with actual footage of the closed- loop aluminum can recycling process serves as perfect wrap-up.

b Dear A1 the Can. Third and fourth graders can write their own letters to A1 the Can. This is an opportunity of older students to help those in lower grades express themselves and learn in a relaxed environment how sentences turn into paragraphs. The older students can review the letters and select the best sentences or paragraphs to submit to the editor of the PTA newsletter. This is a why to showcase and gain credit for what the students and school did for Environmental Education Week, Earth Day or America Recycles Day.

b Create a Can Label. Celebrate the occasion by creating an original lithography. Cut a paper label that covers only the cylinder part of the can's body with edges just touching not overlapping. What is unique about creating a can label is that instead of flat art the label represents a 360 degree surface area for design. Have several soft drink cans available for examples.

b Guess How Many Cans Are in the Biscuit. A biscuit is a compact bale of aluminum beverage cans which is how the majority of used beverage cans are transported to the smelter from curbside programs and recycling centers. Contact your local recycling center or recycling coordinator to see if you can borrow a biscuit for a day. Recycling centers can be found by typing your zip code and selecting aluminum cans as the commodity at www.earth91l .org . Hint - there are 34.21 cans per pound times the weight of the biscuit.

1730 Rhode Island Avenue, NW; Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036

Recycling ' Process

W e know that recycling aluminum beverage cans helps save the planet. Write a letter to the Can Man explaining how recycling aluminum cans helps the earth and why else you like aluminum cans and can recycling.

P E A K C A N AN:

Name

The diagram below illustrates the aluminum can recycling process. Aluminum can recycling is a process called closed-loop recycling, which means a used can becomes a new can again and again and again.

When products are recycled, they do not become part of the garbage but go back to become something new, just like the leaves go back into the soil to help a new tree grow. This is part of a product's life cycle.

Place the descriptions below in the chart to create an "aluminum can life cycle" diagram.

Transport filled cans to retailers Mine and ship bauxite to plant/

for purchase separate alumina from bauxite

Make aluminum sheets

Use cans/RECYCLE

Ship cans to bottlers for filling

Ship aluminum to can plants

Make aluminum cans

ALW~V~:NWM % E V E R A L E C A N FUN F A C T : Used aluminum cans are recycled and returned to store shelves as new cans in as few as

60 days.They are collected, remelted, rolled, manufactured and distributed all in those 60 days. That means a consumer could purchase the same recycled aluminum can from a retail outlet every nine weeks or almost six times a year.

Con tes t I t t a k e s a special touch t o win t h i s challenge. It 's n o t how many cans you can compact within a specific length of time, bu t t he highly- specialized skill and craftsmanship which distinguishes the winner. How many cans will i t take

for you t o win? Remember: Aluminum can5 have value, and all profi ts will go t o support your group.

Technique is everything. The ideal stomped can measures 3.4"

(the size of a pony can), crushed perpendicular like an accordian L-.--' (Winning canr turn into trophier! Add a ribbon through pull-tab and create an instant "medal olhonor" lor t h e winnerr.)

A r t Nouveau - That certain je ne sais quoi!

<.rT LUQ~

Two-For-One - Missed the perpendicular, bu t discovet-ed the thin walls t h a t make i t possible for almost 30 aluminum cans t o equal a pound.

Leaning Tower o f Cans - To t h e left o r right - you decide the politics.

L a + \ - q C r C w ~ r 4

Rcno ~ t - ' . -- Road Kill o r "Grand slam" - Definitely compressed. In th i s f lattened condition, recycling bins can hold a multitude of cans.

Fj canned Air - ( Not compact enough. Try again with the same can.

Can Manufacturers Inst i tu te

Recycle your beverage cans with t h e Great Aluminum Can Roundup!

"~1- the Can" Man GiaPet.

Materials: Crayons or colored pens/pencils "A1 the Can" Man GiaPet cut-out sheet Scissors Glue gun or clear tape Aluminum beverage cans without ends

from a local soft drink bottler Optional for Potting GiaPet:

% cup styrofoam peanuts % cut, tot, soil

Extensions -- Feel the Lightness and the Strength. b Cans continue to become lighter in weight reducing the amount of resources needed to produce a can while delivering the same amount of product. Feel the thinness of the side walls of the aluminum can without its end (may want to put masking tape around the lip rim). Lightweighting has reduced the number of cans equaling a pound to 34 aluminuln cans equal a pound-a 10 percent savings in the number of can per pound in just six years and a 55 percent improvement since 1972.

b Aluminum beverage cans are shipped from the can manufacturer in two pieces. After the can is filled with beverage, the can end is secured on to the can. The can's sidewalls are as thin as a slick glossy magazine page and carbonated drinks add rigidity. A good example is when you hold and open a carbonated beverage can. Your hand's grip actually tightens around the wall of the can for a second due to the release of the pressure resulting from opening the container. The same can is used for carbonated and non-carbonated beverages. Now try squeezing the side walls of a carbonated and non-carbonated beverage cans. The can's side wall flexes slightly on a non-carbonated beverage compared to the can containing a carbonated beverage. Did you know that four six-packs (24 cans) containing carbonated beverages can hold a 4,000 pound car.

Cah Critters

to make the most creative can critter display

used beverage cans, paint, yam, toothpicks, glue, pipe cleaners, other desired craft materials

yarn, toothpicks, glue, pipe

cleaners, pom-poms, colored

paper and other bas~c craft sup-

plies, used beverage cans

become angels, clowns, pigs,

cows and other creative beings

The beverage can's opening is

often used as the face's mouth.

Emporia, Kansas' 4-H Club

designed a barnyard scene and

invited county fair attendees to

add their livestock can critters

to their display. By the end of

the fair.,they had a farm's worth

of can critters and won first

prize for their exhibit.

www.cancentra1.com - curriculum & more

Rabbit Can Critter Cut-Out Starter Set

Teeth Nose

Carrot

For added personality, add cotton ball tail, eyes and whiskers.

-

Name

TWE MiSToRV QF C A N ~ A V L ~ N I Put these historical and can making events in order of the years when

- A) First Earth Day

- B) Civil War begins

- C) Canning invented by Nicholas Appert

- 0) Cans deliver carbonated beverages to the astronauts on

the moon

E) U.S. Gold Rush

- F) Aluminum beverage can ends are downsized.

"202" and "204" ends save resources.

- G) Canning industry starts in U.S.

- H) Carbonated soft drink canning begins

- I) Perry sets sail for the Northwest Passage

- J) Aluminum beverage cans are introduced

Answers:

A) 8

B) 5

C) I

D) 9

E) 4

F) 10

G) 2

H) 6

1) 3

1) 7

Suggestions: This work sheet is an ideal companion to the free ABCs ofEnvironmenta1

Education and Talkin' Trash interdisciplinary curriculum. Teachers report that in addition to the

usual class assignment this work sheet is a valuable extension for computer lab assignments,

"Take Your Child to Work Day" or as a group game. Answers to the timeline can be found at

www.cancentral.com by clicking on Cans: A l/sualffisto~y-The Impact ofthe Can on Cu/tufe

and Economics for More Than 200 Years.

Helphl Web Sites: www.cancentral.com (Lesson plans and more) . . . www.earthday.org (Apri( 22) www.recycleyourcans.org (Jimmy Neutron) . . . www.americarecyclesday.org (Nov. 15) www.earth9 1 1 .org (For nearest buy-back centers interested in paying cash for your aluminum cans)

www.eeweek.com (National Environmental Education Week April 1522,2007)

Name

ALL A G Q V T SECVCL~NL Here is a list of some important vocabulary words to teach you all you need to know about recycling. Draw a line from the vocabulary word to i t s proper definition. If you match all words correctly, you are a recycling whiz.

I ) Aluminum

2) Recyclable

3) Steel

4) Natural Packaging

5) Recycling

A) The "package" nature makes, such as a banana peel, an onionskin or an eggshell.

B) A system of trash and garbage disposal in which waste is buried between layers of earth.

C) A silver-white metal that is ductile and malleable and conducts heat and electricity. This metal is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust.

D) A can with an aluminum lid enclosing a steel body, such as snack-sized fruit cans.

E) A term used to indicate that an item was produced from recycled materials.

6 ) Ingot

7) Non-Renewable Resources

8) Biodegradable

9) Landfill

10) Cycle

I I) Recycled Content

12) Bimetal Can

F) An alloy of iron, carbon and small proportions of other materials.

G) The collection of materials for reuse or for refabrication into new materials.

H) A series of events that recur regularly and usually lead back to the starting point.

I) A long bar of metal (in this case aluminum) that is rolled through heavy presses into thin sheets that are coiled and sent to can manufacturers.

J) Materials that have the ability to be broken down into simpler components by living organisms.

K) Resources that will not "grow back" once they are used, o r take a very long time to be replaced (such as petroleum).

L) A term used to describe items that are made from materials that can be recycled, such as aluminum cans.

Answers:

1 ) c

2) L

3) F

4) A

5) G

6) 1

7) K

8) 1

9 ) B

lo) H

I I ) E

12) D

www.cancentral.com is your web site for aluminum can recycling and more. For exarnple--

Click for free lesson plans

For more information, Click for games, please contact:

register for contests, Jenny Day

join the Cans for Cash Director o f Recycling

Challenge, win fi-ee Can Manufacturers Institute 1730 Rhode Island Avenue, N W

Prizes and more. Suite 1000 Washington, DC 20036 2021232-4677

jday@c.ancentral.com

Recycling Tally SheetIVerification Form January 15 - December 15,2007 Recycling Reward/Award Log

Name 35 lb. Recycler 125 Ib. Recycler 250 lb. Recycler Total Individual Poundage (Eligible for (Eligible for (Eligible for Recycled Between Jan. 15 Cans for Cash 35 Cans For Cash Cans For Cash and Dec. 15,2007 lb. Club Patch) Stuffed Toy) T-shirt)

(One Cans For Cash patch and T-shirt are awarded to irzdividual participants each year.)

b This form is the ofJicial ently. Completion of this form will make your students, Boy and Girl Scouts, #-Hers or other youth group participants heir adult leaders eligible for free Cans For Cash patches, stuffed toys, and t-shirts based on pounds recycled. F To qualify, please complete both sides of this form with the signature of the group's leader or representative denoting verification and mail to Day at the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), 1730 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036 no later than Decenzber 31, 2007. The top two aluminum nationwide will be recognized as "Recycling Champions" with additioizal awards including special display rosette for the group and ribbons

.\I Attachnzerzt: Copies of Recycling Center Receipts. I verify that this infornzatiorz is correct and that CMI rizay share our recycling success stories:

Sigrzature of Sponsor

Take the Challenge CANS FOR CASH! Join the h n as good recycling is recognized and schools and youth groups vie for national honors in the 2007 Cans for Cash Challenge. This is your chance to help the environment, earn money for your school or group and bring recognition to your community by recycling aluminum cans! It is easy. Schools and youth groups simply complete the Cans for Cash Challenge Recycling Tally SheetNerification Form and return it to Ch4I by December 3 1, 2007. Cans for Cash coordinators are encouraged to award A1 the Can patches, stuffed toys and T-shirts during ceremonies and events throughout the year. For these occasions, send (address below), fax (2021232-5756) or email (idav@cancentral.corn) both sides of the Cans For Cash Challenge Recycling Tally SheetNerification Form to Jenny Day at CMI.

b Awards and Rewards. Each student, Boy or Girl Scout, 4-Her or other youth group participant recycling 35 pounds or more of aluminum beverage cans earn a Cans for Cash patch. One patch is earned per year. Participants recycling 125 pounds or more of aluminum cans are eligible for an Al the Can stuffed toy. T-shirts are awarded to students, youth group members, and leaders who individually recycle 250 pounds or more of beverage cans during the year.

bSchoofCJub/Group Con~petition. The top two schools, clubs or youth groups recycling the greatest number of aluminum beverage cans per capita earn the title of Cans For Cash "Recycling Champions" and receive a special champion or reserve champion award rosettes plus recognition ribbons for all members of the winning team! To determine the winners, the poundage recycled will be divided by the number of youth in the school, class, club or group of at least three members.

b It's Easy Please complete both sides of this fonn and fax or mail it to CMI along with copies of your recycling center receipts or verifying sponsor signature from January 15 to December 15, 2007. CMI looks forward to hearing your ideas and recognizing your recycling accomplishments and your Cans For Cash success stories.

School/Group Name: Number of Registered Members:

SchoolIGroup Address:

Telephone Number: E-Mail:

Pounds of Aluminum Beverage Cans Recycled since January 15,2007:

How will the money be used?

Ideas to share with other schools or groups:

Have Fun, Help the Environment and Earn Money! 1730 Rhode 1sland Avenue, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036.. .(202)232-4677