The Fours R's: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, Rot
Objective: To start a conversation about solid waste.
Day 1
Activator:
Give me an example of how you worked as a team to build your "house" yesterday.
What is one thing you would do differently if you rebuilt a house today?
Mini Lesson: Discuss Chris Jordan's work
Meditations
Seurat
Wave
Student Engagement
Write a poem
Wrap-up
Share poems
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Trashed 1
Objective: To delve further into the problem of solid waste.
Activator:
What surprised you about Chris Jordan's work?
We will share our poems
Mini Lesson: Watch Trashed
Student Engagement: Look at data / discuss
Wrap-up: Discuss Film
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Trashed 2
Objective: To learn about trash incineration and biotoxins in trash.
Activator:
Planned obsolescence means that manufacturers design products to break, become out-of-date, or become useless within a given time frame so that we will throw it away and buy a new one. This ensures that consumers will have to buy a product multiple times.
Question 1: Give an example of a product that fits this category.
Perceived obsolescence convinces us to throw away stuff that is still perfectly useful, often by changing the look of the product.
Question 2: Give an example of a product that fits this category.
Mini Lesson:
Vocabulary list
Student Engagement: Watch and discuss the 2nd part of Trashed.
Wrap-up: Final comments
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Trashed 3
Objective: To learn about some alternatives to dumping and incinerating our trash.
Activator:
The first half hour of Trashed focused on dumping and/or burying trash.
Question 1: What are some drawbacks to this option?
The second half hour of Trashed focused on incinerating trash.
Question 2: What are some drawbacks to this option?
Mini Lesson: Watch more of trashed.
Student Engagement: Discussion
Wrap-up: Final comments.
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Visual Representations
Objective: To explore many different ways to represent data
Activator: Reflect on the movie Trashed. Write at least 3 sentences. Start with: "I learned...", "I feel...", "I was surprised by...", or something else.
Mini Lesson: Introduce Activity
Student Engagement:
Traffic Survey Investigation
– What mode of travel did you use this morning?
– How many miles did you travel?
– How many minutes did you travel?
When I assign you into groups, create a visual representation of your data.
Wrap-up: Turn in your work
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Objective: To look at different ways to represent data. To analyze data.
Activator: We will share your travel data representations
Mini Lesson:
Discuss different ways to model or represent data: your representations, maps, graphs, Chris Jordan
Analyze EPA data.
Hans Rosling talks about Population Growth
Watch Gapminder tutorial
Student engagement:
Experiment with Gapminder at www.gapminder.org
Wrap-up: Share one thing you learned while using gapminder.
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Sustainability
Objectives: To understand the meaning of sustainability. To learn about "Carbon Footprints"
Activator: "We cannot simply think of our survival; each new generation is responsible to ensure the survival of the seventh generation. The prophecy given to us, tells us that what we do today will affect the seventh generation and because of this we must bear in mind our responsibility to them today and always."
Where do you think this quote came from? What does this mean to you?
Mini Lesson: Watch the Story of a T-Shirt
Student Engagement: Discuss Sustainability.
Go to this website to calculate your family's carbon footprint.
http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/
Wrap-up: Record data on data sheet.
Homework: Write down everything that you throw away from when you get up to when you go to bed, for a whole day.
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Objective: To learn more details about the four R's by reading and reflecting on one successful case study.
Activator: What is the meaning of zero waste?
Mini Lesson: Introduce ORQ
Read "Creating a Culture of Zero Waste"
San Francisco Article
What are some of the steps that San Francisco took to work towards zero waste? (list at least 3)
What factors were important to their success?
Do you believe that East Longmeadow could be as successful as San Francisco? Why or why not?
Student Engagement: Write rough draft of ORQ essay.
Wrap-up: Turn in composition book.
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Objective: to brainstorm end of term project ideas, that will help students delve more deeply into a topic related to the 4 R's.
Activator: How many of you think that East Longmeadow could attain, or get close to attaining, zero waste?
Mini Lesson: Introduce today's goal. Group discussion: Brainstorm important elements of an end of term project. Discuss Blog entry:
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/23/guest-lesson-recycling-as-a-focus-for-project-based-learning/
Student Engagement: With a partner, read the blog. Come up with an end of term project idea that would help students delve more deeply into a topic related to the 4 R's. Create a google doc that explains your idea in detail.
Wrap-up: Share your google doc with me:
[email protected]
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Objective: To delve deeply into a topic of your choice related to the Four R's
Activator: What are some of the next steps you will need to take to work on your project.
Mini Lesson: Discuss Projects.
Student Engagement: Take the next steps on your project. Keep notes in Google docs. Meet with Ms. Collins
Look at project checklist
Wrap-up: Save your work
Extension:
Garbage Dreams Activities
Watch the clips from the film, then play the Garbage Dreams Game