Trace Your Waste

Where does our garbage go? What is the difference between a recyclable and non-recyclable item? Pose these important, but often overlooked, questions to your class and invite them to consider the lasting and damaging effects of the...

What does your garbage say about you? Young scientists dig through a video about things people cast aside. The narrator shows the fascinating things in George Washington's garbage pile, ancient Roman garbage, and how the landfills we...

Students explore solid waste and its effects on the environment. They explain some of the major problems caused by waste disposal and the use of landfills. They suggest ways to reduce the amount of solid waste going into a landfill.

Students collect and categorize solid waste produced in the classroom. They weigh the waste that has been collected over one week's time, and separate it into recyclable and non-recyclable waste. They talk about the role of engineers in...

In this activity, students work as engineers to build and observe a model landfill. They will understand the process and pitfalls of the use of landfills as a method for the waste disposal.

In this lesson, young scholars explore solid waste and its effects on the environment. They will collect classroom trash for analysis and build model landfills in order to understand the process and impact of solid waste management....

Pupils construct a sanitary mini-landfill and an open mini-dump. Over a thirty day period, they compare the two methods and determine landfills are envorinmentally safer. They observe a demonstration of burning waste. They create litter...

Here you can find an engaging lesson plan on the trash each individual generates over time. Students will learn how trash is generated, how trash is disposed of, and possible ways to reduce the amount of trash.

Students design and build model landfills using materials similar to those used by engineers for full-scale landfills. Their completed small-size landfills are "rained" on and subjected to other erosion processes. The goal is to create...

Visit this landfill in Florida, and learn about the job of this waste management plant. [1:32]