Curated OER
THe Trash We Pass
Students identify the sources of pollution and waste in their community. They examine the process of recycling and how to eliminate some of their family waste.
Curated OER
Trash...it really piles up!
Students investigate a contemporary "midden" by analyzing trash collected from various sources and determining life-style choices people make. They see that reducing the amount of waste we generate is helpful to the the environment.
Curated OER
A Community Decision!
Students investigate waste management through a simulated role-playing activity. They use a decision chart to organize their presentatioins and justify their decisions.
Curated OER
Mapping the Village
Students measure, weigh, and document the amount of trash and garbage generated by the school for one day. They brainstorm solutions for trash in the area and assist with the school-wide recycle program.
Curated OER
Reduce and Reuse
Learners conduct a lunch waste audit by recording each item they throw away at lunch. They graph class lunch waste. They use this information to devise a plan of action to reduce lunch waste. There is also an activity to make paper.
Curated OER
Trash Traits: Marine Debris, Litter, Ecology, Oceans
Students perform experiments to examine whether trash can float, blow around, or wash away. The effects of these characteristics on the presence of marine debris in the environment are then discussed.
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.
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...
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: Trash to Treasure!
Student teams use the engineering design process to create a useful product of their choice out of recyclable items and "trash." The class is given a "landfill" of reusable items, such as aluminum cans, cardboard, paper, juice boxes,...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is an interesting and somewhat publicized environmental problem. A swirling soup of trash up to 10 meters deep and just below the water surface is composed mainly of non-degradable plastics. These...
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.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Science Explorations: Kids' Environment Report Card
Cast your vote on the important environmental issues. Associated with each issue, there are at least three links to sites which can further your understanding of the issue. To encourage others to respect the environment, you can also...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Decomposition Processes of a Plant
Students observe the decomposition of a pumpkin under controlled circumstances in a classroom. This can be used to lead discussions on recycling, trash, composting, or life cycles.
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.
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, young scholars 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....
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.
Read Works
Read Works: A Ton of Trash
[Free Registration/Login Required] This informational text passage shares different projects that have been developed to recycle trash. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Helping Kids Help the Environment
Define and explore the concept of environmental citizenship through a series of literacy-based multimedia, online and hands-on learning experiences. Discover how responsible citizens can help protect their local communities by...
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.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: Scientific Inquiry, Episode 1
In this classroom activity, learners discuss how people and pollution affect the environment. Then they demonstrate ways to recycle, reduce, and reuse.
Science4Fun
Science4 Fun: Land Pollution
What is land pollution? Discover the causes and effects, how you can help, and other fun facts.