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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soild Waste and Recycling

For Teachers 3rd - 11th
In this unit of lessons, students examine solid waste and recycling. They discover the concept of decomposition. They also observe the decomposition process and make observatins.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All Wrapped Up

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Pupils work in teams to identify and sort types of packaging used in food production. They consider ways to reduce the environmental impact of packaging and reflect how consumer choices play a role in trash production.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

MY REDUCE/REUSE STORY

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students go through old magazines and select pictures of things which ultimately become a waste product. They paste these pictures into a small "recycling" book. They dictate a story about reuse and/or recycling of these materials.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Integrated Solid Waste Management

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine the EPA's approach to integrated solid waste management. They read about source reduction, recycling, composting, waste-to-energy incineration, and land filling, and create symbols for each of the aspects of solid waste...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waste, Then and Now

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students discuss and compare the waste disposal habits of today with those of Native Americans of long ago.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trace Your Waste*

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine waste disposal programs in the area and record the information on a map along with ideas on where garbage should go.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waste-To-Energy Incineration

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students learn what waste-to-energy incineration is by working together to complete worksheets.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Time For Action

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the major waste management facilities in their community and are encouraged to speak with public officials.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

PAPER RECYCLING

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine the availability and use of important resources, people practice conservation. They explore the needs of an expanding human population, societies practice resource management and employ technology.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

One Person's Garbage, Another Person's . . .?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers list many, different and unusual items that could be constructed out of refuse and found objects.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Does Waste Do to a River?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students develop a graphic way of visualizing the concept of a million by utilizing what had happened to the Nashua River due to the dumping of raw sewage in 1962.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sludge

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students become familiar with the idea that sludge is a waste product but can also be a resource, depending on its characteristics and how we manage it. They read information and answers questions on a worksheet imbedded in this plan.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

School Food Waste

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners see how much food is thrown away at their school each day. They utilize a survey form imbedded in this plan to organize their research. They use the information gathered to make some suggestions about how to decrease food waste...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Daily Waste Times

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars describe qualities of a newspaper article that make it effective. They define waste and identify local waste problems and practices, and select one component of a newspaper which communicates about the issue. issues of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Engineering Solutions

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students use internet resources to explore the side effects of technology; to design, implement and evaluate solutions related to the problem of waste disposal.
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Handout
Environmental Education for Kids

Eek!: Teacher Resources: My Ton of Trash (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Here you can find an engaging lesson plan on the trash each individual generates over time. Students will learn how trash is generated, how trash is disposed of, and possible ways to reduce the amount of trash.
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: The Big Dig

For Students 3rd - 5th
Even though many cities have recycling programs, a lot of trash still ends up in the dump. Find out which materials will break down and which materials won't. Will the results of this experiment change which products you often buy?
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Lesson Plan
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Tceq: Lesson Plans & Resources for Teaching Environmental Sciences [Pdf]

For Teachers K - 1st
A large collection of lesson plans on environmental topics. The lessons are broken up into the broad categories of air, water, and waste, and look at issues around quality, pollution, conservation, and recycling. There are activities for...
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Website
Other

Association of Science Technology Centers: Rotten Truth About Garbage

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Website
Other

Co Op America's Real Money: Solving the Diaper Dilemma

For Students 9th - 10th
Here's a look at the pros and cons of disposable diaper use as opposed to the use of cloth diapers, either washed at home or by a diaper service. Landfill space is just one of the issues in this well-reasoned article.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Every American Recycling Together Helps

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Lesson where students learn about recycling by collecting trash from the schoolyard and watching a podcast about recycling. Additional activities are provided corresponding to different subject areas, such as reading, math, social...
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Article
DOGO Media

Dogo News: How Mealworms May Reduce Our Pollution Problem

For Students 3rd - 8th
Scientists have recently found that mealworms may be able to break down and degrade styrofoam, a form of plastic previously thought not to be biodegradable. Read how this discovery may affect pollution.
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Website
Other

Think Green: Think Waste Management

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out how waste can be recycled and what you can do to aid recycling efforts in your community. With complete overviews of the types of materials that can be recycled: e-waste, paper and cardboard, metals, glass, plastics,...
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Article
DOGO Media

Dogo News: Week of 4 18 16: Edible Cutlery

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about edible cutlery, and how it may help to reduce plastic waste. Includes video.