About
this Daily Classroom Special:
Science to Go provides easy yet meaningful
science activities for grades k-8. Science to Go was written
by Barbara Smith, Magnet Coordinator at Harvard Elementary, Houston
(TX) and former Teachers Network web mentor.
Trashy Travesty
Objectives
- Create ecological awareness on school campus.
- Make observations of surroundings.
- Create graphs and charts.
- Conduct investigations using scientific method.
- Classify objects according to characteristics.
- Determine cause and effect.
Activity
- Determine area of playground to target for cleanup.
- Distribute latex gloves, and have students collect all the trash
found within the
area targeted.
- Count the trash collected. Classify according to source. Graph results.
- Have students brainstorm methods to change behavior of those depositing
trash in the area.
- In one week, repeat steps 1-3 above. This is your baseline observation
- the
amount of trash deposited in a week.
- Have students implement ideas for decreasing trash deposition (posters,
P.A. announcements, letters to area businesses or waste disposal facilities,
etc.)
- Every week for the duration of your study, collect and record amount
of trash.
- Discuss which methods were correlated with decreases in trash deposition.
What implications does this have for the school and community?
**Safety consideration - Talk to students about what types of
trash they should
not pick up, but rather show to adult. Arrange for disposal of such items
according to school health and safety regulations. Procure latex gloves
for
students to use in collecting trash.
Web site Picks for Science
Kids
Page (Monroe County Solid Waste Management District)
Kid-friendly explanation of Reuse, Reduce, Recycle. Student activities
and teachers' lesson
plans.
Kids for Saving Earth, Environmental
Education
Information and activities for all ages, ecology oath for students, links
to other
environmental organizations.
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