Consumption and Waste Curriculum Connections

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Schools play a major role in the education of tomorrow's consumers and decision makers. Investigating consumption and waste at school prepares students to take an active role in making good choices for both society and the environment.


Organization Resource, Activity, or Lesson Plan * Grade Level
Waste
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste Trash and Climate Change (available in English and Spanish (PDFs, 386 Kb and 406 Kb) - Provides an activity booklet on trash and climate change Middle
Keep America Beautiful / Clean Sweep America Waste In Place: Lessons in Waste Management - Provides ideas for web-directed research and in-class activities Elementary, Middle
Keep America Beautiful / Clean Sweep America Pick Up a New Attitude (PDF, 27 Kb) - Provides lesson plans on understanding litter and littering behavior Elementary, Middle
Reducing
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste Case of the Broken Loop available in English and Spanish (PDFs, 810 Kb and 732 Kb) - Provides activities to learn about reducing waste and conserving resources Elementary
Keep America Beautiful Waste Watchers (PDF, 24 Kb) - Helps students understand source reduction and reuse Middle
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency School Waste Reduction Toolkit Web - Provides schools, school districts and school business officials with information for starting or expanding an existing waste reduction program Elementary, Middle, Secondary
Reusing
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Reuse & Recycling: A Guide for Schools and Groups (PDF, 1 Mb) - Provides information, ideas, activities, and case studies for implementing a reuse and recycling program in schools Elementary, Middle, Secondary
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Planet Protectors Create Less Waste in the First Place: A Story about Reuse on Earth - English and Spanish (PDFs, 392 Kb and 382 Kb) - Provides easy activities to reuse glass containers Elementary
Keep America Beautiful / Clean Sweep America Landfill Lounge (PDF, 86 Kb) - Helps students understand landfills Middle
Recycling
Keep America Beautiful / Clean Sweep America Recycling Rules (PDF, 27 Kb) - Helps students understand recycling and a Materials Recovery Facility Middle
Can Manufacturers Institute and NAAEE Cans: Infinitely Recyclable (PDF, 8.61 Mb) - Provides curriculum using the aluminum can as a case study Secondary
American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) Recycling at School: Tools for Teachers - Provides free lesson plans, classroom posters, activities, online tutorial and videos Elementary
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Follow That Trail! English and Spanish (PDFs, 1.21 Mb and 2.65 Mb) - Provides activities, and games about recycling and resource reduction Elementary
Land-of-Sky Regional Council, NC Implementing Successful School Recycling Programs: A Handbook for Teachers and Schools (PDF, 565 Kb) - Provides issues, opportunities, and case studies for implementing a recycling program Elementary, Middle, Secondary
Composting
State of California/ California Integrated Waste Management Board The Worm Guide: A Vermicomposting Guide for Teachers - Explores vermicomposting—the practice of using worms to transform food waste into a nutrient-rich finished product called vermicompost Middle, Secondary
State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection School Composting: A Manual for Connecticut Schools (PDF, 3.37 Mb) - Provides a manual for initiating and implementing a school composting program Elementary, Middle, Secondary
Keep America Beautiful Compost Office (PDF, 27 Kb) - Provides lessons for understanding composting Middle
Sustainable Consumption
Annie Leonard,
The Story of Stuff 		Video
Activities (PDF, 135 Kb)
Discussion Guide (PDF, 117 Kb)
Provides a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled video and activities about our production and consumption patterns 		Middle, Secondary
Facing the Future Shop Till You Drop?
Is it Sustainable?
Real World Math: Engaging Students through Global Issues
Lesson 1: Waste Not, Want Not (p. 14)
Lesson 6: Consumption Choices (p. 53)
Lesson 12: Sustainable Design (p. 103)
Provides a variety of lesson plans on sustainable consumption 		Middle, Secondary
Facing the Future Buy, Use, Toss? Secondary

 

* Elementary (K-5)
Middle School (6-8)
Secondary (9-12)