Curated OER
Recycle
Students determine the weight of paper waste generated by the class. They brainstorm ways to reduce and recycle. They make their own paper to demonstrate recycling. This lesson is very effective in demonstrating how recycling works.
US Environmental Protection Agency
Epa: Recycle City
This interactive site allows students to implement recycling programs to transform "Dumptown" into "Recycle City". To make this simulation realistic, students must implement the programs within a budget.
Other
Association of Science Technology Centers: Rotten Truth About Garbage
This comprehensive website includes activities, time lines, definitions, statistics, and information to help you see garbage in a new light. Of special interest is a page that shows all of the resources that go into the production of a...
Other
100 Years of Manhattan's Garbage
"What could you smell on the streets of New York in 1890?" An interesting question that this paper answers well by examining an exhibit at the New York Public Library entitled "Garbage: The History and Politics of Trash in New York City."
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Design, Build and Test Your Own Landfill
Students design and build model landfills using materials similar to those used by engineers for full-scale landfills. Their completed small-size landfills are "rained" on and subjected to other erosion processes. The goal is to create...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: This Landfill Is a Gas!
In this activity, students work as engineers to build and observe a model landfill. They will understand the process and pitfalls of the use of landfills as a method for the waste disposal.
Other
New Brunswick Waste Management /"Backyard Magic"
Comprehensive description of the environmental benefits of composting solid waste. Complete directions for composting, detailed description of composting chemistry, suggestions for applications of humus, question and answer page,...
Society for Science and the Public
Science News for Students: Meet Our Trashy 'Technosphere'
People are creating a layer of debris and disturbance called the technosphere. A new study estimates just how truly massive it is.
PBS
Idaho Public Television: Garbage: Games
A collection of links to activities and games about garbage, recycling, and waste management.
Globio
Glossopedia: Earth Day
Earth Day is a worldwide celebration held annually on April 22nd. The purposes of Earth Day, the history of and the various activities held around the world are described. Activities and projects that can be done daily or year round are...
PBS
Pbs: Independent Lens: Garbage Dreams
Garbage Dreams is a documentary film that follows the lives of the Zabbaleen, people in Cairo who have been collecting garbage for a hundred years. But garbage collection has been contracted out to companies who do a poor job of...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: The Garbage Problem
Students examine data about garbage production and graphically represent data in a scatter plot. From the data students make predictions. They develop an understanding of the environmental impact of trash accumulation and the need for a...
Other
Solid Waste Association of North America
A good place to learn about current issues in the solid wastes world. Two of the most useful sections are "hot topics" and "contact us", both of which can be used to find out more about municipal solid waste management.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Earth Day: What We Do Adds Up
Explore averages and rates of change and apply to calculate the cumulative effect of garbage thrown out by people over time. Use population data from the U.S. Bureau of Census to estimate how much garbage your county threw away during...
Other
Recyclezone: Fun Zone: Is Your Brain Full of Rubbage?
This educational website offers a self-assessment quiz on the best ways to reduce waste. It also offers a variety of activities in addition the quiz, including games, extended research, and teacher resources.
Other
Think Green: Secret Life of Landfills
Visit this landfill in Florida, and learn about the job of this waste management plant. [1:32]
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Trash Talkin'
In this activity, students collect, categorize, weigh and analyze classroom solid waste. The class collects waste for a week and then student groups spend a day sorting and analyzing the garbage with respect to recyclable and non...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Solid Waste Takes Over
In this lesson, students explore solid waste and its effects on the environment. They will collect classroom trash for analysis and build model landfills in order to understand the process and impact of solid waste management. Students...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Garbage: How Can My Community Reduce Waste?
A website devoted to the challenge of reducing solid waste for the good of our environment.
Environmental Education for Kids
Eek!: Be the Change: Our Earth What a Waste?
Read about how the people of Wisconsin are recycling much of their waste and how this is helping the environment.
eSchool Today
E School Today: Sources of Land Pollution
Short descriptions of various sources of solid and semi-solid pollutants that affect land and soil resources.
Other
Master Composter
Learn about composting, and find our how it helps connect people to the Earth's natural processes.
Planet Pals
Planet Pals: Litterbug Game
Learn some interesting facts concerning the impact twelve ordinary items can have on the environment.
Planet Pals
Planet Pals: Litterbug Game
Learn some interesting facts concerning the impact twelve ordinary items can have on the environment.