Tackle Trash

Lesson Overview :

Content Standard F:
Science in Personal and Social Perspectives:
Population, Resources, and Environments

Key Concepts:

1. Trash and garbage are sent to collection areas for incinerating or landfilling.

2. Many of the items normally thrown "away" in the trash can be recycled or reused.

Students will:

infer the choices people make by examining their trash.

identify the results of those choices.

recognize that reducing the amount of waste entering the waste stream benefits our environment.

Cross-Curricular Connections:

Language Arts:
• Communicate information through research, discussion, and completing the data sheets.

Math:
• Weigh collected trash.

Social Studies:
• Analyze recycling and precycling choices made by individuals.

Observing
Communicating
Comparing
Investigating
Inferring
Applying

Materials:

Note: It is suggested that Lesson One be completed prior to viewing the accompanying video.

Activity 1 Forms:

Student Response worksheet

Data Collection worksheet

Home Garbage Survey

Per Student
Student Response worksheet
Home Garbage Survey
Per Group
Large bags of clean trash labeled one, two, three, four, etc.*
Data Collection worksheet
Per Class
Scale

*Several days prior to conducting this activity, ask a few friends or neighbors to each save one large bag of clean trash. Bottles, cans and jars should be rinsed. Items easily broken, i.e., light bulbs, materials with sharp edges, etc., should be removed. In addition, any item that might present a health risk should be avoided. Only 15-20 items are needed per bag. Although collecting trash may be time consuming, this lesson is invaluable in getting students to really think about the everyday choices that are made by each individual. Try to arrange collecting the trash from a variety of people with various life-styles. Examples include: a family with teenagers, a family with young children, a retired couple, etc. This will provide opportunities to compare how trash reflects peoples' life-styles and encourage cross group analysis of the data. Each bag should weigh between 4 and 5 pounds so that students can see how much waste is generated daily by each American.

Note: It is suggested that Lesson One be completed prior to viewing the accompanying video.

Procedure:

This lesson introduces the concept of waste generation in our daily lives. The choices we make everyday can make a difference in the amount of material funneled through various waste streams. Rather than telling students this information, allow them to sort and classify the trash with little prior discussion. Their subsequent discussion will provide a format for content information to emerge based on student input and interests. Encourage students to determine their own methods of categorizing and reporting the data.

1. Each group of students selects a bag and weighs it. (Bathroom scales may not be accurate to measure low weights. However, having a student measure/record his/her weight, then taking a second measurement while holding the bag improves accuracy.)
   
   
2. Students remove the trash from the bag, sort the trash and determine categories. After discussing the contents, they complete the Data Collection worksheet and return the trash to the bag.
   
   
3. Each student completes the Student Response worksheet.
   
   
4. Each group then shares its findings with the rest of the class and posts the data sheet.
   
   
5. Construct a class data chart to compile the data and compare the results from each group.
   
   
6. Assign the Home Garbage Survey for homework. After completion, students compare their home surveys with others in their group and note differences and similarities.

Suggested Discussion Questions:

What kinds of materials did you find the most/least?

Did the other groups have similar data?


What kinds of things might be ordinarily thrown away that weren't included in your bag? (Food waste, etc.)

Can you infer what kind of life-style people lead by looking at their trash?

Conduct a survey in the school or community to investigate attitudes about recycling and waste disposal/recycling habits practiced.
Contact the local waste management office and determine how the community disposes waste.
Contact the local recycling office for information on the local recycling program if one is established in the community.
Determine the origin of the word "midden."

Waste Management Consultant
Recycling or Composting Program
Manager Environmental Engineer

Assessment Procedures:

The Recyclettes courtesy Snohomish County Solid Waste Division of Public Works

Score activities by a rubric.

Write a creative story from the perspective of the family or individual profile established during the trash investigation.

Outline ways to stop unnecessary waste generation at home or school.

Create a concept map using Waste as the overarching concept.