Landfill Lesson Plans

Students discover that waste disposal has been an ongoing problem since medieval times. In this lesson, students explore the three methods of waste disposal in use by modern communities. They also investigate how engineers design sanitary landfills to prevent leachate from polluting the underlining groundwater.

Students construct a model of a landfill. In this environmental science lesson, students construct a model landfill from soil, sponge, and gravel. Students observe their landfill and record observations for one week.

Students create a proposal to solve Wake County's problem with losing the North Wake landfill in such a way that: a new landfill site is agreed upon, Solid-wase disposal is in compliance with Local and State landfill regulations and waste disposal is safe and convenient.

Students create an edible model of a landfill with different layers of cereals to protect the ground water supply. In this landfill lesson plan, students also discuss and learn about waster reduction and recycling.

Students discuss the risks a landfill may pose to a community. The setting is a school board faced with a decision about whether to close a school until the landfill is capped (a 3 year period). They are asked to determine how they would vote.

Young scholars observe the difference between degradable and non-degradable wastes. They create their own landfill in a jar by adding four or five pieces of garbage and then covering it with dirt and water. They make observations on what they see.

Students identify the parts of a landfill. In this ecology lesson, students use various ingredients to create an edible landfill snack. For example, students use fruit roll-ups for plastic liner and crushed graham crackers for gravel.

Learners explore how landfills function. In this landfill lesson, students explore the use of landfills and the decomposition process by creating a model landfill. Learners discuss pros and cons to landfills and how potential problems can be solved.

Students examine the amount of garbage that is produced by the City of Vancouver. In this landfill instructional activity, students participate in a field trip to the City of Vancouver Landfill. They look at what happens to garbage, recycling, and yard waste, and determine the economic impact of landfills. They debrief after the trip by discussing what they experienced at the landfill.

In order to understand the impact humans have on the Earth's environment, 6th graders study landfills. They fill out spreadsheets and analyze data related to the amount humans waste versus how much they recycle. Everything needed for this instructional activity is included however, students need to have a solid background understanding of natural resources as well as previous experience working with Excel.