Youth Activity Archive

Activity Description: Run to collect everyday items and sort them into bins based on whether they are made from renewable or non-renewable natural resources.

Items Needed:

• Two large plastic bins
• 6 items made from renewable wood (pencils, chopsticks, paper, cardboard boxes, books, or toothpicks)
• 6 items made from renewable cotton or wool (socks, t-shirts, towels, sweaters, canvas bags, or pillowcases)
• 6 items made from non-renewable glass or aluminum (soda cans, glass jars, tin foil, cans of beans, aluminum roasting pans, or glass soda bottles)
• 6 items made from non-renewable stone or clay (bricks, ceramic coffee mugs, floor tiles, costume jewelry, ceramic bowls, or marbles)
• (Optional) Paper and tape to label the bins

Before the Meeting Starts:

1. Set up the game. (5 min).
   • Scatter the different collected items around the meeting area.
   • Set two bins on one side of the room. The opposite side should have room for the youth to line up when the activity starts.
   • (Optional) Label one of the large plastic bins as “Renewable” and the second bin as “Non-Renewable”.

Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 20 min):

1. Quick discussion. (5 min)
   • Discuss what makes a natural resource renewable. Remind them that things like cotton or bamboo can regrow at a fast rate, making them renewable.
2. Start the relay. (5–10 min)
   • Youth form a single line on one side of the room. Signal the first person in line to run to any item and decide if it is made from a renewable or non-renewable resource.
   • The youth must place the item into the appropriate bin based on their choice. Once the item is dropped in a bin, they must run back to the line and tag the next person to go.
3. Verify the sort. (5 min)
   • Check to see which items were sorted correctly after all the items have been placed into the bins. If an item is placed in the wrong bin, have a brief discussion with the youth about the choice and move it to the correct bin.

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