K-3 : Lesson Plan #4
Garbage Routes
Objective: The students will diagram and compare 2 routes of garbage disposal, landfills and recycling.
Materials:
Procedure:
- Ask the students to brainstorm where they think garbage goes once it is thrown away. List responses on the chart paper or chalkboard.
- Share information from the book or web site. Emphasize 2 of the different paths garbage may take – 1) ending up in a landfill or 2) being recycled into a new product.
- Using the Label Printouts , designate areas in the classroom as follows – trash can, recycling bin, garbage truck, recycling truck, landfill, and recycling center, new soda cans, used soda cans.
- Divide the class into 2 groups. Instruct both groups of students to pretend they are empty soda cans being thrown away and to stand in the used soda can area. Group 1 (the landfill group) should then go to the trash can area while Group 2 (the recycled group) goes to the recycling bin area. Group 1 should follow the path of trash can, garbage truck, landfill. Group 2 should follow the path of recycling bin, recycling truck, recycling center, new soda cans, used soda cans. Group 2 may continue going through this path repeatedly as Group 1 sits still in the landfill. This will emphasize the point of recycling being a never-ending process. The students in the landfill will represent the pile up of garbage and the used space.
- Continue doing this activity until all students have had a chance to do both paths.
- Pass out the Landfill or Recycling? Worksheet. Have the students complete the worksheets individually or as a whole class.