Title of Lesson: Yesterday's Trash#151

National Standard: 17
How to apply geography to interpret the past.
State Standard: 15

Teaching Level: E

Objective/Purpose:
-to create awareness of what we throw away in our classroom and where it comes from

Materials:
cereal box cardboard, yarn/string, white paper from the recycling box

Procedure:
1. Make a class "trash" book or individual student books using cereal box cardboard for the covers cut 6" x 4" and 10 sheets of paper (8.5 x 11) folded in half. Punch holes on one side and bind together using yarn or string.
2. For one day record by category everything thrown away-juice containers, snack wrappers, pieces of paper, etc. Use one page for each category. For each category indicate the source of this trash beyond the home or school. Where was the product or/ and packaging manufactured? Any distribution points?
3. The next day look at each page and write an idea for eliminating that category of trash
4. Follow their own suggestions for a few days.

Evaluation/Assessment:
On the board list the various sources of this trash. On a map plot locations and transportation routes.
Were the students surprised by the variety and volume of trash? And from where and how it got to the trash heap?

Reflection: How successful was this lesson? Did all students benefit? Were there any surprises? What might you do differently another time? Please note any changes that will make this lesson more effective and useful in the future and pass them along to the NHGA. We appreciate your comments.
Thank you.
The authors. *

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Original file name: 151rtf - converted on Tuesday, 20 October 1998, 20:56