By: Becky Suvar, WMEA Program Manager, Paulding County Ann’s Bright Beginners were introduced to the items you can recycle in Paulding County. Among those items were two different types of metal – steel cans and aluminum cans. How do you tell the difference between the metals you can recycle? By using a magical magnetic wand, of course. The objectives for this fun filled activity were two fold – 1) classify materials based on the property of magnetism and 2) improve their observation skills. The children were shown a tray where a selection of items were displayed. Each child had an opportunity to “attract” objects on the tray with their magical magnetic wands. We discussed magnetic and non-magnetic attraction. It was explained that aluminum cans were identified because they are NOT attracted to a magnet. Each one had an opportunity to create an art object by using their magical magnetic wands. Geometric shapes such as circles, triangles, and squares with 20 metal objects were displayed. A few fun facts that should “attract” you…. When aluminum is recycled, 95% less energy is consumed, while recycled iron and steel use 74% less energy. 42% of crude steel is made from recycled material Air pollution and water pollution are reduced by about 70% when a steel mill uses recycled metal scraps. A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf as a new can, in as little as 60 days. The energy you save by recycling a single aluminum can will run a TV for three hours. Until next time, keep on recycling!
