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Presentation Ideas
Lesson Plans
Links to Other Resources
Presentation Ideas
from Recycling Association Members
Members of the Iowa Recycling Association Education Committee have shared some of their best program ideas. To obtain more information about a program, click on a title below. To submit your own idea, please click here. After a review process, your idea may be posted on this webpage.
Don't Trash That Planet Interactive CD-Rom
Submitted by: Kim Grieve, Siouxland Regional Recycling Center, Sioux City, Iowa
Type of program: Other: Interactive CD-ROM
Audience: Pre -K-8 grades; Pre -K to 12 grade teacher group
Applicable subject areas: Science
Description: "Don't Trash That Planet!" is an interactive program designed to educate elementary school children regarding the importance of recycling as well as how to recycle, what to recycle, how to identify household hazardous materials and proper disposal of HHM's. The program features 3 different interactive games that children may play, and in the end the child may print out a certificate of completion bearing the child's name.
EnviroChallenge
Submitted by: Shelene Codner, Rural Iowa Waste Management Association, Eldora, IA
Type of program : Lesson Plan
Audience: 6-8 grades, most adult groups
Applicable subject areas: Science
Description: Through this group activity, students and educators can evaluate their knowledge of household hazardous waste facts, think about the consequences of their personal lifestyle choices and review basic recycling information.
Environmental Adventure
Submitted by: Pam Blake
Type of program: Other: 4-hour event
Audience: Easily adaptable to all grade levels and to most adult groups
Applicable subject areas: Family and Consumer Sciences, Math, Science
Description: A day of fun for the whole family. Free tours of the landfill, demonstrations, materials and displays. This is free fishing weekend at the landfill site, and all guests need to bring their own picnic basket/box, lawn chairs/blanket, and a side dish. Grilled burgers, beverage, and a dirt dessert will be provided for a fee of $1.50 per person.
Library Reading Program
Submitted by: Kristin Simon, East Central Iowa Council of Gov., Cedar Rapids
Type of program: Presentation
Audience: Pre-K-2 grades
Applicable subject areas: English Language Arts, Reading
Description: Read Agatha's Feather Bed, an illustrated picture book about where things come from. Then use a globe to talk about what materials are used to make paper, plastics and other products.
Recycling/Resource Relay
Submitted by: Kristin Simon, East Central Iowa Council of Gov., Cedar Rapids
Type of program: Game
Audience: Pre-K-5 grades
Applicable subject areas: Science, Social Studies
Description: Discuss what is recycled locally and how materials should be prepared. Have as many bins and signs as needed for what is to be sorted. Set materials bin and "sort" bins as far apart as space allows. Participants have 60 seconds to sort material into the proper bins.
Recycling: What does it really mean?
Submitted by: Mary Gillaspey, Metro Waste Authority, Des Moines, IA
Type of program: Lesson Plan
Audience: 3-5 grades
Description: We talk about what can be recycled in the community, where materials go for processing, and why recycling is important.
Stump the Dump
Submitted by: Dave Klockau, City Carton Recycling, Iowa City, IA
Type of program: Presentation
Audience: 3-12 th grades; 18-22 year olds; Pre-K-12 grade teacher group; easily adaptable to most adult groups
Applicable subject areas: Family and Consumer Sciences, Science, Social Studies
Description: I ask the audience to pick out a graphic in the poster, such as an appliance, furniture, battery, etc. I then provide the alternatives to landfilling the item. I mount the poster in a lightweight poster frame so that I can walk and talk with it.
Yes I Can!
Submitted by: Erin Robinson, Waste Commission of Scott County, Davenport, Iowa
Type of program: Video
Audience: Pre-K-5 grades
Applicable subject areas : Science
Description: This short 15 minute video takes you through the "life" of a steel can. Starting on the grocery store shelf, we follow the can into a home, to the trash bag, and then to the landfill. The can finds other friends who want to be recycled and they make their way to a recycling center. The video comes full circle when the can ends up on the grocery store shelf sometime later.
Want to learn more and teach a mini-unit on waste reduction? If you are a K-12th grade teacher, you may be eligible to participate in the University of Northern Iowa's Waste Reduction: Addressing the Overlooked "R" graduate credit teacher training workshop. A sampling of lessons introduced at that workshop may be found below. Teachers attending the workshop receive approximately $80 of classroom-ready resources, as well as access to many more lesson plans.
Pack a Waste Free Lunch
This links you to an Environmental Protection Agency page of information about waste-free lunches...including how to order a free poster on waste-free lunches, a letter to send to parents, and tips for a waste-free lunch. Click here for information about an Iowa county conservation board's smart lunch program
Affluenza
Affluenza, a 1997 PBS documentary, addresses overconsumption. Click here for a video summary. This summary provides an overview of contents, allowing educators to scroll through the video and play two- to 10-minute clips. Also available on DVD.
Consumption and Waste, by Karen Bledsoe
This book explains how Americans' commercial society and, subsequently, consumption patterns, lead to waste. Addressed are waste patterns throughout history, waste reduction, electronic waste and hazardous waste. Click here for a handout used with 5th graders.
Escape from Affluenza
Escape from Affluenza, a 1998 PBS documentary, shows viewers how to reduce consumption and simplify their lives. Click here for a video summary. This summary provides an overview of contents, allowing educators to scroll through the video and play one- to 8-minute clips. Also available on DVD.
Natural Connections
This 46-minute video makes a compelling case for biodiversity. Click here for a video summary. The summary provides a n overview of contents, allowing educators to scroll through the video and play short clips.
"Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout"
This poem about garbage was written in 1974 by Shel Silverstein.
Waste Webquest
A student teacher at
North Scott High School developed this handout where students explore the web to find answers to waste-related issues. Though it is targeted to students in Scott County, Iowa, it could easily be adapted to other audiences.
"The Throwaway Three"
This skit was written for three actors, though may involve more students. It provides a historic look at garbage.
What You Can Do
This is a one-page handout with ideas on how to reduce environmental impact.
Click here for links to Curricula and Other Lesson Plans.
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| Website mission: Provide formal and nonformal educators with resources, lessons plans,
and a forum for information exchange to facilitate education about waste in K-12 classrooms. Webmaster: Susan Salterberg,
Center for Energy and Environmental Education,
University of Northern Iowa,
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0293; salterberg@uni.edu Last Updated: January 5, 2005; Copyright 2005 University of Northern Iowa. All Rights Reserved. http://www.uni.edu/ceee/wastereduction |