The Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs and University of Illinois Extension are cooperating to make educational trunks called "The Case for Buying Recycled" available to classrooms and youth groups. The trunks contain educational materials as well as samples and examples of recycled-content materials.

Instructional Materials

Educational trunk includes a teacher's guide binder, additional lesson plans, recycled product and resource information as well as samples of aluminum, steel, paper, plastic, rubber, glass, and renewable resource products. There are also five different videos aimed at different grade levels.

Illinois State Goals & Learning Standards

01B. Apply reading strategies to improve understanding and fluency.

01C. Comprehend a broad range of reading materials.

04B. Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.

05A. Locate, organize, and use information from various sources to answer questions, solve problems and communicate ideas.

05B. Analyze and evaluate information acquired from various sources.

05C. Apply acquired information, concepts and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.

06A. Demonstrate knowledge and use of numbers and their representations in a broad range of theoretical and practical settings.

06B. Investigate, represent and solve problems using number facts, operations and their properties, algorithms and relationships.

06C. Compute and estimate using mental mathematics, paper-and-pencil methods, calculators and computers.

06D. Solve problems using comparison of quantities, ratios, proportions and percents.

07A. Measure and compare quantities using appropriate units, instruments and methods.

08B. Interpret and describe numerical relationships using tables, graphs and symbols.

10B. Formulate questions, design data collection methods, gather and analyze data and communicate findings

11A. Know and apply the concepts, principles and processes of scientific inquiry

11B. Know and apply the concepts, principles and processes of technological design

12A. Know and apply concepts that explain how living things function, adapt and change

12B. Know and apply concepts that describe how living things interact with each other and with their environment

12C. Know and apply concepts that describe properties of matter and energy and the interactions between them.

12D. Know and apply concepts that describe force and motion and the principles that explain them

12E. Know and apply concepts that describe the features and processes of the earth and its resources

12F. Know and apply concepts that describe the compositin and structure of the universe and earth's place in it.

13B. Know and apply concepts that describe the interaction between science, technology, and society

14A. Understand and explain the basic principles of the United States government

14B. Understand the structures and functions of the political systems of the United States and other nations.

14C. Understand election processes and responsibilities of citizens

14D. Understand the roles and influences of individuals and interest groups on the political systems of Illinois, the United States and other nations.

15A. Understand how different economic systems operate in the exchange, production, distribution and consumption of goods and services

15B. Understand that scarcity necessitates choices by consumers

15C. Understand that scarcity necessitates choices by producers

15D. Understand trade as an exchange of goods or services.

15E. Understand the impact of government policies and decisions on production and consumption in the economy.

16A. Apply the skills of historical analysis and interpretation.

16B. Understand the development of significant political events.

16C. Understand the development of economic systems.

16D. Understand Illinois, United States and world social history.

16E. Understand Illinois, United States and world environmental history.

18B. Understand the roles and interactions of individuals and groups in society.

18C. Understand how social systems form and develop over time.