Students explore creative ways to reuse materials. In this ecology/art lesson, students create artwork using trash. Students view examples of folk art from around the world that used waste products as a main component.

Students explore environmental issues through art. In this stamp lesson, students use preconsumer waste paper and colored pencils to create rubber stamp designs. This is an environmentally safe lesson.

Students identify types of garbage that will decompose quickly and the ones that do not.  In this decomposing instructional activity students observe and record the photo degrading of six pack rings. 

Students discuss the importance of recycling to the environment. They classify different objects and put them into the correct recycling bin. They create their own invention out of recycled materials.

Learners explore ways to dispose of trash. In this lesson, students discuss where trash goes when it leaves their house and other inappropriate ways to dispose of trash. Learners brainstorm ways to produce less waste.

Learners investigate recycling by creating receptacles that can hold trash or recyclable items.  In this graphic design instructional activity, students encourage their classmates to help save the environment by using a recycling...

Second graders complete a recycling project to clean-up their school. In this service project activity, 2nd graders assess their campus for litter, set up a recycling project, clean up their campus, and recycle the trash. Students also...

Students different types of reusable trash containers to class. They use the pieces of trash to create something like a bird feeder. They discuss other ways of reusing items to generate less garbage.

Fourth graders explore the topic of waste and recycling. In this useful waste instructional activity, 4th graders classify objects and sort them into most usable and least usable categories. Students complete an activity sheet and have a...

Learners explore how trash decomposes. In this ecosystem instructional activity, students discuss new vocabulary words, such as producers and consumers, and think critically to answer how landfills work.

Students consider the implications of waste. In this waste streams instructional activity, students learn what waste streams are and identify their impact on the environment. Students also recycle waste materials to create functional...

Students work together to make recycled paper. They identify examples of recycled materials and discover what can and cannot be recycled. They explore the history of paper making as well.

Students identify the different sections of a landfill. In this ecology lesson, students brainstorm ways that they can help in proper trash disposal. They write a reflection journal about their thoughts on the subject.

Students examine trash for items to recycle and reuse.  In this trash lesson, students explore how people in the community can use recycled and reused items as they play a recycling game.

Students explore environmental awareness through reusing materials. In this environmental awareness lesson, students use trash to create a "trashasaurus," a large dinosaur sculpture made from waste. Detailed structure and papier-mâché...

Students experience and practice compositing and recycling through hands-on-activities. They distinguish between which items from their trash can be recycled, composted and reused. The process for making recycled paper is also covered in...

Third graders recognize what our natural resources are and their importance. In this natural resource recycling activity, 3rd graders understand why it is important to recycle and conserve natural resources. Students can explain how...

Students list the possible uses of grocery bags. They trace the steps of a grocery bag either to recycle or trash. In groups, students use the grocery bags to create posters promoting reuse.

Learners go on an outing and note garbage near picnic tables. They brainstorm ways to be involved with anti-litter campaigns and write letters to local officials.

Students create an invention, or simple machine, out of items taken from the recycling bin. Students draw diagrams of their proposed inventions, then create simple machines.

Young scholars go through old magazines and select pictures of things which ultimately become a waste product. They paste these pictures into a small "recycling" book. They dictate a story about reuse and/or recycling of these materials.

Students work in teams to identify and sort types of packaging used in food production. They consider ways to reduce the environmental impact of packaging and reflect how consumer choices play a role in trash production.

Students explore the idea of consequence that every individual leaves a daily environmental footprint. They read articles about creative solutions to solid waste issues and then create an artwork from household trash.

Convenience, taste, portability ... what's not to love about bottled water? Apparently, a lot. Scholars analyze the four main arguments supporting and opposing the sale of bottled water. They explore the health, environmental, and...