What's in the trash and waste Free Wednesdays

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Title of Lesson:  What’s in the trash?/  What is a landfill?  Dates:  Oct. 1-8  Grade level: K - 5  Subject Area: Multidisciplinary

 Materials/Equipment: What is a Landfill? p. 37, Types of trash chart p. 38, Overhead projector or whiteboard, Gloves,Sample trash items (prewashed), Labeled cardboard boxes

Objective: Given a sampling of trash (pre-washed), the students will aid in classifying and analyzing types of trash and consider how garbage could be reduced.

Procedures: Teacher role: Refer to What’s in the Trash?/ What is a landfill? p. 35-38 in the big, white binder. Student role: Refer to What’s in the Trash?/  What is a landfill? p. 35-38 in the big, white binder

 Product/Assessment/Evaluation: Completed types of trash chart, Participation in class discussion

Completion of a schoolwide waste audit The aim of the waste audit was to measure the weight and types of waste produced by our school in one day. It is an integral part of a school waste reduction campaign. Waste was collected, sorted and weighed by students, teachers and other helpers. The data collected helped us measure the effectiveness of our campaign. The audit was carried out prior to the implementation of a school action plan to reduce waste and again afterward, in order to measure the reduction levels achieved. This waste audit was adapted from www.recyclenow.org

Waste-free lunch Wednesdays Every Wednesday, starting on Nov. 9, Fuentes Elementary students will have the opportunity to participate in Waste-free lunch Wednesday.  It is an opportunity for the students to put into practice the valuable concepts they have learned during their Eco school lessons.  You can have your child participate by having them experience lunch in a way that results in very little or no trash at all.  Here are some ideas for a waste-free lunch:

• Beverage in reusable mug instead of boxes or pouches
• Food in reusable container instead of plastic baggies
• Silverware instead of plastic (parent discretion with safety in mind)
• Cloth napkin instead of paper
• Lunchboxes or reusable insulated bags instead of lunch bags
• Pack only what your child will eat; no extras so there are no leftovers

     Least Waste Days at Camp! While at camp teachers and students alike participated in a least waste project to draw attention to overconsumption and wasteful practices.

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