Reducing Waste Grade Level 4-5

Transcription

1 Reducing Waste Grade Level 4-5 Green and Healthy Outdoors Topic 9: Waste Rising levels of gases in the Earth s atmosphere have the potential to cause changes in our climate. Some of these emission increases can be traced directly to solid waste. The manufacturing, distribution, and use of products, as well as management of the resulting waste, all result in emissions of greenhouse gases that affect the Earth s climate. Waste prevention and recycling are real ways to help address climate change. At the conclusion of this unit students should: Know that trash goes to landfills that pollute the outdoors and our communities. Sort their recycling from their trash every time they throw something away. Lesson Overview Objectives: Students will be able to Explain the idea of reducing waste Preparation/Materials: One gallon jug of juice A six pack of juice boxes (be aware of food allergies) One example of an item you can reduce, reuse, and recycle Recycling Word search handout Fortune Teller handout Close the Loop handout (please print double-sided) Procedure (Total Time): Activity 1 (15 minutes): Reducing Waste Activity 2 (10 minutes): Climate Change Crossword Activity 3 (10 minutes): Climate Change Fortune Teller Home Activity: Close the Loop Source: PBS Kids EekoWorld EPA-

2 Activity 1: Reducing Waste 1. Explain and discuss the importance of waste mitigation: Waste is items we don t need and that we discard. Waste is either burned (producing a large amount of carbon dioxide) or sent away to a landfill (taking up space and hurting our natural resources). Recycling is processing used materials (waste) into new, useful products. Recycling prevents pollution and saves natural resources by using less energy, water, and land. Increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere threaten to disrupt the diversity of habitats and the life dependent on them. i. Climate change is caused by greenhouse gases that trap heat into our atmosphere. Most of these gases are generated when fossil fuels are burned for energy. A considerable amount of energy is used to produce bottles and cans, which means a high amount of greenhouse gases enter the environment. Recycling uses far less energy when making new materials-this action cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions. 2. Tell the students that you are going to show them what it means to reduce waste. Explain the idea of reducing waste by telling your class that when you avoid making garbage in the first place, you don t have to worry about disposing of waste or recycling it later. 3. Show the students the large gallon of juice and the individual juice boxes and ask them which they think makes more waste. Show the students how more wrapping is used in the individual boxes and tell them that if more paper and packaging is used to make something, it makes more waste, or garbage. Explain how filling juice in reusable containers will reduce waste because it makes less garbage. 4. Ask questions to ensure students understanding of the differences between the items you have presented to them. Encourage students to think of other examples of how to reduce waste. Use the following prompts as guides to stimulate discussion: If you write on both sides of paper, how does this reduce waste? If you buy one big bottle of detergent instead of three small ones, how does this reduce waste? If you use a reusable lunch box or bag instead of paper, how does this reduce waste?

3 If you use dishes instead of paper plates, how does this reduce waste? If you use a reusable mug instead of a paper or plastic cup, how does this reduce waste? If you say, No thanks, I don t need a bag, when you buy something that doesn t require a bag, how does this reduce waste? Activity 2: Climate Change Crossword 1. Hand out Climate Change Crossword worksheets to each student. 2. Using the answer key, discuss responses. a. Across: 1. Wrapping, 6. Pounds, 7. Climate, 8. Need b. Down: 2. Reusable, 3. Pot, 4. Plastic, 5. Donate Activity 3: Climate Change Fortune Teller 1. Hand out the Fortune Teller worksheet to each student. 2. Using the guide (below), help students create their climate change fortune teller. Carefully cut along the dotted lines to make a square. Fold the paper in half, and then in half again. Undo the folds and flatten out the paper. Keeping the words facing downward, fold in each corner so the four points meet in the center. Flip the paper over again. Again, fold in each corner so the four points meet in the center. Fold the square in half, making a rectangle, with the open flaps facing down. The writing should be right-side up. Slide both index fingers and thumbs under each of the four out flaps. Pinching your fingers together, push the top corners of the flaps toward the center. Poke down into the center to help form the shape. 3. To play the game: Have a student choose one of the words on the outer flap. Ask the associated question and allow the student to choose one of the four possible answers on the inside. (By opening it either of two ways, four possible answers are revealed). Look under the selected answer to learn more.

4 Activity 2: Climate Change Crossword

5 Activity 3: Climate Change Fortune Teller

6 Home Activity: Close the Loop Discuss and complete this worksheet with an adult!

7 Home Activity: Close the Loop