I think this website provides some great age appropriate information about waste, recycling and landfills. This website would be great for the middle grades, probably 2-4. I think the website has some great information, but this information is not presented in a verity of ways, making its text inaccessible for some ELL students.
The text is broken up into different sections, including “what is waste,” “where do we put it” and “we’ve got to do it…or else.” I think it is good that the text is broken up into different sections with bold headings. This will help ELLs know when they are moving to a different main idea. I do think the website could use bold words within the text to help ELLs see main points or help them identify the information that is the most important.
I think this website would not be good for ELLs with limited English because there are no graphs or graphic organizers as to the different types of recyclable material, or even what can and can’t be recycled.
I do like the actual material that is covered in the text. For example the text talks about how recycling is more than just reusing something. The text explains how the process to make something new uses more energy than using recycled material to make something new. I like that it explains that there is more to recycling than just saving raw materials, such as tress, it is also about saving energy.
If I were to use this website as a resource in my classroom I would probably use it as an option for the kids to explore but not make the kids use it. For example I would provide them with a list of links with information about recycling. I would have them work in groups and then have them make a list of the environmental benefits to recycling or maybe a pro/con list for recycling.
This is a great website that provides animation, text and oral reading for each slide that is played. The website is very informative and helps students learn where aluminum used in soda cans comes from, how it is made and how students can help conserve energy and resources by recycling. The paper link also uses animation, text and readings to help the students learn what items are made of paper and why recycling paper is important for tree conservation. There is then a link that offers an interactive quiz type game that allows the students to test the recycling knowledge.
I think this is a great website for ELLs because the slide shows are narrated so the student can use their oral language comprehension. Then the most important ideas are then reinforced with text so the students know which information in the presentation to attend to. I also think the animations will keep the students focused on the slide show. The game is also a great way to test the students knowledge of what was presented in the slide shows but in a low stress way. The game also has links to back to the slide show if the answer to the question was incorrect.
I think if I were to use this link in my class I would divide the class into two groups. I would have one group work on a presentation about where aluminum comes from and have the other group work a presentation about where paper products come from. I would then have the two groups teach each other about the topic they did not cover. I would then have all the students work together to make a list about why recycling is important. Then as a class project we would work on increasing the frequency that the schools recycle rate and reduce the amount of trash the school produces.
This website offers a variety of links to environmental facts and information. There are links called critter corner, nature notes, our earth, cool stuff, get a job and teacher pages. One of the cool things about this website is there is also a link to the environmental education for kids in Spanish.
I think the fact that this website offers a Spanish link is great and would be really helpful in developing literacy for ELL students who’s first language is Spanish. The down side to the Spanish link is that the information in each of the six previously listed links are not the same as the English pages.
Although the information in the Spanish and English pages is not the same, this might be a great way for students to work with partners to help translate for the other student. For example, you could pair and English speaker with a Spanish speaker and have the Spanish speaking student translate and help teach the English speaking student and like wise the other way. This activity could help the English speaking student see how hard it is when the teacher is speaking a different language and might foster a since of understanding and patients between the students.
This is a fun game link, where the students have to sort as much trash as possible in two minutes. The students have to decide if the items are recyclables, compostable or trash. I think this is a fun way for students to practice putting different items in different bins. This really makes students think about if something can be recycled or composted.
This website would be great for ELLs because it is a game and uses pictures of everyday items. The students would not need to have advanced English language skills to learn the concept that some items can be recycled and composted.
This website is not good for academic content because it does not really teach anything. The teacher would have to first cover the concept of recycling, composting as well as what items can be placed in each of these categories. If I were using this link in my class I would use it as an option during free time. If we had a class computer I would leave this link open during free time so the students could practice the academic concept or recycling in a no pressure, fun, and relaxing way.
Evaluated by: Sarah Roddy
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