Recycle Worksheet

This recycle worksheet helps kindergarten students learn which everyday objects belong in the recycling bin and which ones do not. Recycling is one of the first science habits young children can practice on their own, and it starts with recognition: picking up a cardboard box, a can, or a newspaper and knowing that it has another life ahead of it instead of a trip to the landfill. Sorting real, familiar objects is what turns Earth Day talk into something a five-year-old can actually do at the snack table and at home.

On this printable, students look at nine pictures of things they see every day and circle each item that can go in the recycle bin. The pictures were chosen so the choices are clear at a glance: a cardboard box, an aluminum can, a glass jar, a plastic milk jug, and a folded newspaper all belong in the bin, while an old sneaker, a banana peel, a chip bag, and a foam cup do not. Print it, hand out crayons or pencils, and let students work through the page on their own or with a partner before you talk through the answers together. Because there is no reading or writing required beyond the short directions, this recycle worksheet works just as well as a whole-class Earth Day activity as it does in a science center.

What’s Included

• One printable page with nine large, easy-to-name pictures
• Simple two-sentence directions written for kindergarten readers
• Five recyclable items and four items that belong in the trash
• A full answer key showing every correct choice circled

Three Reasons This Helps Kids

• It builds a real-world sorting skill children can use the same afternoon, at home and in the classroom.
• It uses pictures instead of text, so early readers can show what they know about caring for the Earth without being slowed down by words.
• It gives students a concrete way to talk about why some materials are used again while others are thrown away, which is the foundation of later earth science lessons.

Teacher and Parent Ideas

Bring in a clean example of each item and let students sort the real objects into two boxes before they mark the page. Afterward, walk the class to the school recycling bin and check what is already inside. At home, this kindergarten earth day worksheet pairs well with a week of sorting the family recycling together, and older siblings can help name the material each item is made from.

Related Resources

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Sorting Worksheet
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Items Worksheet
• Go Green Recycle Activity
• Going Green Song