Language, Mathematics, Science and Technology
**** waste, landfill, packaging ****
Most Junior level students have had some environmental experience outside
their home. Junior teachers should expand and develop basic concepts of
conservation. Students should be made aware of the importance of the effects
of lifestyle, as it pertains to the environment and how change can make a
difference. Students should recognize the necessity for lifestyle changes.
In addition, when selecting programs on the Internet it would be prudent to
investigate the amount of the time required to complete the activity. Some
are rather lengthy.
The basic concept in the development of the following units is that
students need to share some common activities. For this reason, there are
three recommended activities. It is strongly suggested that each student
should complete a basic audit in each unit (waste, energy, water).
Introductory Learning Activities
- Be Smart - Buy Right
- Fast Foods - Friends Forever, (an alternative activity to "Be Smart - Buy Right")
- Brainstorm a list of good/improved buying practices or packaging
practices at supermarkets or fast food restaurants based on supermarket
results.
Recommended Learning Activities
- Visit to a Landfill Site or Recycling Plant
- The teacher may arrange for a tour of a local landfill or recycling plant.
- Alternatives to an actual visit include viewing a video, or acquiring a guest speaker on recycling, composting or landfill sites.
- Incredible Edible Landfill. Students will work in groups to construct
an edible model of a landfill site. Before eating students can share their
models explaining what the different layers represent.
(Explorations GREEN: Waste, p. 79-80)
- Model of Leachate. Students will perform a demonstration which shows
how leachate is formed. (Explorations GREEN: Waste, p. 81-82)
- Landfill Location, NIMBY - Not In My Backyard. After studying maps
and information about a proprosed landfill site, students will choose a
site location and debate the merits of their choice. (Explorations GREEN:
Waste, p. 83-84)
Optional Activities
- writing limericks about people who "Recycle, Reduce and Reuse", e.g.,
"There once was a man named Dan,
Who put everything into his garbage can
..."
- research the Target 2000 program in your school
- design a brochure for students that provides tips for environmental citizenship
- classroom contest to see who makes the least amount of garbage in a week
- search the newspaper for ads that promote environmentally friendly products
- design ads
- hold a nearly new sale, garage sale of donated itmes in the hallway
- toy/game/book exchange
- carry your own garbage for a day, analyze and compare at the end of the day
- Explorations GREEN, Christina Smith
Environment Network, 375 First St., Unit 6, Collingwood, ON L9Y 1C1,
Phone: 705-446-0551, fax: 705-446-0561
Videos:
- from Green Earth Club 2:
- Garbage, Garbage, Garbage
- A Recycling Update
- From the Mountains to the Sea - Environment Canada
Internet
WWW resources may be used for a variety of purposes:
- teacher background information;
- downloading text, images, sounds and animations for creating student materials;
- printed as "hard copy" student resources;
- older students can be taught to find/block/copy/paste text and download images/sounds/animations for research/presentation purposes;
- students may test hypotheses and discover concepts in an interactive environment;
- younger students will need to work with an older student, parent helper, teacher-librarian or resource teacher;
- all students should be instructed in safe and responsible use of the Internet.
- Energy Quest, (student resource)
- E Patrol, (student resource)
- Explorers' Club, (student
resource)
- From
The Mountains To The Sea...A Journey in Environmental Citizenship, (student/teacher
resource)
- The
Green Lane, Environment Canada, (teacher resource)
- EcoNet, (teacher resource)
- EnviroNet, (teacher resource)
- Destination Conservation,
(teacher resource)
- A
World in Motion, (teacher resource)
- GSN's Internet Project Registry,
(teacher resource)
- teacher observation
- peer evaluation/observation
- conferencing
- work portfolios
- computer printouts
- completed projects/assignments/models
- written/verbal presentations
(Based on Demonstration Activity of Gum Wrap Design)
Level 1
- able to design packaging with assistance
- design indicates a basic awareness of the need for environmentally friendly packaging
Level 2
- able to design packaging independently
- design indicates a good awareness of the need for environemntally friendly packaging
- presentation is given in an interesting manner and includes detailed information on the need for less packaging
Level 3
- able to design an environmentally friendly package
- design indicates a good awareness of the need for environemntally friendly packaging
- presentation is given in an interesting manner and includes detailed information on the need for less packaging
Level 4
- able to design an environmentally friendly package with good consumer appeal
- design indicates an excellent awareness of the need for environmentally friendly packaging
- presentation is given in a detailed manner and extends to applications in everyday living regarding the need for less packaging
Student-student communication:
- discussion with group or partner
- host an environmental Game Board Challenge where students can design their own games
Student-teacher communication:
- conference with individual or group
Home-school communication:
- newsletter
- bulletin boards
- report cards
School-community communication:
- community/school displays, e.g., photo contest with an environmental theme, audit results
- environmental fairs
- web pages
- articles in the local media
- video displays
- model display
Ruth Hall, Paul Hannan, Tescor, Janice Rutherford, David Trafford
This lessonware was prepared for ©ScbePack by Destination Conservation
and The Simcoe County District School Board. For further information on the 200 outcomes
based curriculum units available in ScbePack lessonware contact:
Bonnie Carter
bcarter@edctr.scbe.on.ca, 1-705-734-6363 ext. 270
