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Keeping
our environment clean
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Grade
Level: 4-6
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Overview
This particular activity is designed to allow students to investigate
those items of litter that cause harm to the environment. It may be extended
to increase awareness of the natural role of energy sources within the
living organisms of the environment.
Purpose
The purpose of this activity is to develop the habit of keeping the environment
clean.
Objectives
Students will be able to:
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| i.
Observe the properties of litter from homes and industries. |
| ii.
Determine the time it takes for various items to decompose [organic and
inorganic]. |
| iii.Identify
differences/similarities between the decomposition of organic and inorganic
matter. |
| iv.
Identify practical uses in litter/garbage control. |
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v.
Establish reasons for a recycling program.
Resources/Materials
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materials required for this activity can all be brought from home or collected
from the environment. |
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Student Materials: science notebook, pencil
Activities
and Procedures
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| i.
Discuss with the children how litter is produced at home and in the society. |
| ii.
Help the children to classify litter into organic and inorganic. |
| iii.
.Select certain items to be used. Be sure to include organic and inorganic
materials. Put the items in the school yard or another area where they will
not be disturbed by other people. Ask the children to record any changes
observed for a given period of time. This can vary from a short period of
about three weeks or can be extended to a year long project. |
| iv.
Lead a discussion with the children to suggest what could be done about
the litter in their environment. What use can be made of the litter? |
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v.
Ask the children to find out how litter is recycled in other developed
countries.
Tying
it all together
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| 1.Use
the observations as a springboard for a writing activity on comparisons
and contrasts. |
| 2.Create
a bulletin board using the above theme and display items that can be easily
recycled. |
| 3.Study
the landfill problems in your area and begin a recycling program in your
school or classroom. |
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4.Concentrate
on the organic items and begin a study of the organisms of the ecosystems
and their inter-relationships.
Assessment
Ask the children to write an account on how litter is disposed in their
home.
Suggestions/Modifications
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- Students
may weigh the amount of litter produced in their home and project how
many kilograms of litter are produced weekly, monthly, yearly, etc.
- Students
may make a chart identifying organic and inorganic litter.
- Students
may research the greatest environmental disasters of the past five years
and prepare reports.
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Author
(s) Therese Lloyd, Holy Rosary Elementary School, Idaho Falls,
ID
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http://www.col-ed.org/cur/ |
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