Where does our garbage go? What is the difference between a recyclable and non-recyclable item? Pose these important, but often overlooked, questions to your class and invite them to consider the lasting and damaging effects of the simple action of throwing trash away. You can incorporate this lesson into a variety of grade levels and subject areas, especially around Earth Day.

Concepts

recycling, earth day, garbage, landfills, waste management

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Additional Tags

earth day, recycling, waste disposal, waste production, trash, landfill, social studies

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Pros

• Involves a range of learning strategies and activities, from a physical demonstration of weighing trash to interpreting and analyzing data from graphs
• Great starting point for project on composting efforts in school and community
• Worksheets included

Cons

• Check for validity of second instructional point regarding the Great Wall of China and Fresh Kills Landfill
• Instructor will need to conduct some research about landfills and recyclables before implementing several of the activities