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Unit Plan
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PBS

Blow the Roof Off!

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Blow the minds of young scientists with this collection of inquiry-based investigations. Based on a series of eight videos, these "hands-on, minds-on" science lessons engage young learners in exploring a wide range of topics...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

The Trash We Pass

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Where does our garbage go? What is the difference between a recyclable and non-recyclable item? Pose these important, but often overlooked, questions to your class and invite them to consider the lasting and damaging effects of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

School Yard Waste

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the types of garbage that they collect on the playground. They collect the information in a spreadsheet and create a graph that displays the number of types of trash found. They design and monitor a playground...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waste Management

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Four different activities focus on the amount of trash generated and how humans can better manage waste. Learners analyze two days' worth of household garbage, test materials for biodegradability, and rate recyclability of various...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vermicomposting

For Teachers 1st
First graders investigate composting. In this biology lesson, 1st graders identify ways to use garbage as fertilizer. Students examine soil and compost matter as well as the role of worms in the dirt.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recycling

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore the recycling process. For this recycling lesson, students gain understanding of how garbage is disposed of. Students makes lists of things that can be recycled. Students discuss how animals and plants are damaged by...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trash Bashing

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students define trash, garbage, or solid waste, discuss ways of disposing of trash, list examples of biodegradable materials, and have trash relay race in order to sort trash into appropriate containers labeled biodegradable, reusable,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waste Management

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the topic of waste management. They define key vocabulary words, take a pre-quiz, complete a questionnaire, evaluate their own waste reduction habits, and write a short summary.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sorting "Good" Junk (Recycling)

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders study recycling. In this environment lesson, 2nd graders discuss how to sort trash, sort actual trash labeling it, and explore the trash writing new uses of each item of trash instead of throwing the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Junk Mail Overload!

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students discuss the "junk mail nuisance" with the teacher and share their opinions on the problem. Students collect a week's worth of junk mail, bring to class and complete a chart about the amount and weight. Students then complete an...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Long Does Trash Last

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students work in cooperative groups to estimate how long trash lasts in a landfill. They study environmental consequences of not recycling and use graph-making software to create a graph that illustrates the lifespan of trash items...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recycling: Causes of Pollution

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students read The Lorax by Dr. Seuss while focusing on similarities in their world and that of the Lorax by completing a worksheet. They examine the effects of pollution or garbage on the environment.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering the Problem of Solid Waste

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students catagorize the types of garbage from going through a trash can provided by their teacher. They then chart the items on a graph and propose a solution to reduce the amount of garbage.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Can We Do About Trash in Our Community?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine how to deal with the amount of trash in their community. They discover alternate ways of managing waste. They develop their own solutions to the problem.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Trash We Pass

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students engage in a study of trash and how it is disposed of in the environment. They also research the impact of recycling and its effects upon the disposal amounts. Students calculate the advantages of recycling using real world...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fireplace Logs from Newspapers

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Young scholars discuss the topic of recycling. They identify items that can and cannot be recycled. They practice using their newspaper to make other items.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trash Count

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students identify pollution around their local community. They discuss the sources of polution and categorize objects based on their properties. They discover ways to make changes to the environment and how to inform the public.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Difference

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers are introduced to the resource economies of recycling aluminum cans. They develop understanding about their own impact on the amount of solid waste produced and recognize the impact of recycling on energy and natural...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Waste Paper Basket

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students examine the consequences of littering and creating garbage.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reduce and Reuse

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students 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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trash Traits: Marine Debris, Litter, Ecology, Oceans

For Teachers 4th - 12th
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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recycle

For Teachers 1st - 8th
Young scholars 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 instructional activity is very effective in demonstrating how...
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Handout
Globio

Glossopedia: Earth Day

For Students 3rd - 8th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Better Planet Productions

Earth Care: Whose Garbage Is It? [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
After researching the political and environmental issues around Toronto, Ontario's shipment of its waste to Ann Arbor, Michigan, students will hold a debate and write an opinion paper.