Trash Talk: Introducing Kids to Proper Garbage Sorting!
Subject:Earth Science
Prepared By: Becca Anglesey, Daelen Gates, Lamiya Kazi, Ting Hin (Glover) Wong
Grade:1
Date:May 24, 2017
OVERVIEW
This lesson is designed to get kids to understand the importance of properly sorting their garbage with a special emphasis on separating food waste and turning it into compost. This will be achieved through visual instruction, fun songs, and a hands on garbage sorting activity!
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this lesson are as follows: 1) to introduce kids to the idea of sorting their garbage at home and in public and why it is important, 2) to teach kids what to do with special recyclables such as batteries and plastic bags, 3) to inspire the children to start a compost pile/bin at home or in their community, and 4) to encourage kids to set a good example for their friends and family by properly disposing of their waste.
PSYCHOLOGY
Construal Level Theory- The idea is to get kids to not think of garbage as something that once thrown away, it doesn't exist anymore. The old saying “out of sight, out of mind” tends to ring true. We want kids to understand that just because we have thrown something away doesn't mean that we no longer have responsibility for it. To emphasize this point the students will be doing a garbage sort activity and will be given a handout on how to make compost at home. By bringing it into the home, it will become more real to them.
Self-Awareness Theory- We want students to be conscious of their own habits regarding garbage sorting. If they are educated on why proper garbage sorting is important and how to do it correctly then they will be evaluating their own habits every time they throw something away and hold themselves accountable to their knowledge.
Informational Social Influence- We want this behavior to spread! By teaching the kids to be a good example to others by sorting their waste appropriately we are hoping that it will create a ripple effect in their families and communities. If the kids sort their garbage right then their siblings, parents, and friends are more likely to do so because they will see the behavior as an informational source on what is correct social behavior.
ACTIVITY
Mini Garbage Sort
Songs to play: “Put it in the Compost” by Michael Ryther; “I Love Trash” by Oscar the Grouch
Break the kids up into groups of 4-5. Set up colorful bins at the front of the room that are clearly labeled for Recycling, Compost, and Garbage. Give each group a small bag of mixed garbage that you collected and approved for cleanliness and safety before class (items should be things the kids see or use often or are easily recognizable). Have the groups come up and sort out their trash at the set up bins. Encourage them to ask questions if they are unsure of what goes where. Be sure to praise correct sorting!
HOMEWORK
Handout on how to make a compost bin/pile at home with parental supervision
Garbage Sorting Coloring Page
Time
Information Guide
Purpose
1-2 minutes
Introduce the teachers
Overview of what we will be talking about
Ice breaker:
-Who knows Oscar the Grouch?
-Why is he a grouch?
-How can we make his garbage can less gross?
Let the kids know who we are and why we are there
To catch students attention into the lesson plan by relating it to a figure they are familiar with.
2-3 minutes
Sorting Recycling
-Why do we recycle? Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
-What kinds of things do we put in the recycle bin?
-Plastic Bags
-Special Recycle locations
-Batteries: short skit on recycling batteries
-Mason Jar
-Special Recycle locations
To show students what items can be placed in the recycle bin and the benefits of recycling
To teach students that plastic bags and batteries are also a different kind of material that has to be recycled and sorted away from other materials.
3-4 minutes
Sorting Compostables
-What is compost?
-Recycling for “organic” stuff
-How can it be used?
-Used as fertilizer to make plants grow big! Has lots of nutrients
-What kind of things go into compost?
-Food Scraps!
-How to make compost
-Pile up organic materials
-Add a little soil and water to give it a head start
-Stir it up a lot!
-When it is ready to use it will look like really dark dirt
Educating students on the importance of compost and keeping food waste out of landfills
To teach students how compost can also be used at home and in their community
To give students an introduction to how easy it really is to make compost at home and when they can start using it.
1- 1 minute 30 seconds
Sorting trash
-What kinds of things do we throw in the garbage?
-Why: These things are not recyclable or compostable materials.
To give students awareness of what items actually do belong in the trash.
5- 7 minutes
Activity: Mini Garbage Sort!
Play music in the background for fun!
Encourage kids to wash hands or use sanitizer after they are done
By this activity we will be able to determine by what the groups of students have grasped from the lesson plan.
3-4 minutes
Introducing the Psychology of the Lesson
-Self Awareness Theory: Now that you have this knowledge, you can think about how to properly sort your garbage every day! Do the right thing for the planet!
-Informational Social Influence- If you do the right thing, your friends, siblings, and parents are more likely to sort their garbage right too by following your example!
-Construal Level Theory- We want you to know that even though you throw something away that you are still responsible for it. By making a compost pile at home we hope you can see this process as being more real than if you sent it to a landfill.
-Segway into homework handouts
This section is meant to subtly teach the students that properly sorting their garbage at home can have a big impact not just on the planet, but on the people around them as well. Setting a good example for others is key.
This section also introduces the idea of bringing the process of sorting garbage into their homes. It illustrates construal level theory by encouraging the kinds to start their own compost pile at home so they can see firsthand what happens to compostable material when properly disposed of and uses for it once is has fully decomposed.
1 minute
Assign Homework
-“How To Make Compost At Home” Handout
-Coloring Handout
To conclude the lesson with information the kids can take home and share with their families and friends.
Also, coloring is fun.
Materials
3 bins; each labeled Recycle, Trash, and Compost respectively
1 small bag of garbage per group consisting of a clean, safe mix of trash, recyclables, and compostable material.
A Mason jar or other appropriate container for batteries
2-5 dead batteries
Photos of Recyclable Materials
Photos of Compostable Materials
Photos of Garbage
Photo of Oscar the Grouch
Coloring Page Handout
“How To Make Compost At Home” Handout
Small Speaker to Play Music on
Hand Sanitizer
Resources
“Put it in the Compost” by Michael Ryther
“I Love Trash” by Oscar the Grouch
Notes
Get the kids involved by asking questions
Be sure to make things colorful and fun!
Prepared By: Becca Anglesey, Daelen Gates, Lamiya Kazi, Ting Hin (Glover) Wong
Grade:1
Date:May 24, 2017
OVERVIEW
This lesson is designed to get kids to understand the importance of properly sorting their garbage with a special emphasis on separating food waste and turning it into compost. This will be achieved through visual instruction, fun songs, and a hands on garbage sorting activity!
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this lesson are as follows: 1) to introduce kids to the idea of sorting their garbage at home and in public and why it is important, 2) to teach kids what to do with special recyclables such as batteries and plastic bags, 3) to inspire the children to start a compost pile/bin at home or in their community, and 4) to encourage kids to set a good example for their friends and family by properly disposing of their waste.
PSYCHOLOGY
Construal Level Theory- The idea is to get kids to not think of garbage as something that once thrown away, it doesn't exist anymore. The old saying “out of sight, out of mind” tends to ring true. We want kids to understand that just because we have thrown something away doesn't mean that we no longer have responsibility for it. To emphasize this point the students will be doing a garbage sort activity and will be given a handout on how to make compost at home. By bringing it into the home, it will become more real to them.
Self-Awareness Theory- We want students to be conscious of their own habits regarding garbage sorting. If they are educated on why proper garbage sorting is important and how to do it correctly then they will be evaluating their own habits every time they throw something away and hold themselves accountable to their knowledge.
Informational Social Influence- We want this behavior to spread! By teaching the kids to be a good example to others by sorting their waste appropriately we are hoping that it will create a ripple effect in their families and communities. If the kids sort their garbage right then their siblings, parents, and friends are more likely to do so because they will see the behavior as an informational source on what is correct social behavior.
ACTIVITY
Mini Garbage Sort
Songs to play: “Put it in the Compost” by Michael Ryther; “I Love Trash” by Oscar the Grouch
Break the kids up into groups of 4-5. Set up colorful bins at the front of the room that are clearly labeled for Recycling, Compost, and Garbage. Give each group a small bag of mixed garbage that you collected and approved for cleanliness and safety before class (items should be things the kids see or use often or are easily recognizable). Have the groups come up and sort out their trash at the set up bins. Encourage them to ask questions if they are unsure of what goes where. Be sure to praise correct sorting!
HOMEWORK
Handout on how to make a compost bin/pile at home with parental supervision
Garbage Sorting Coloring Page
Time
Information Guide
Purpose
1-2 minutes
Introduce the teachers
Overview of what we will be talking about
Ice breaker:
-Who knows Oscar the Grouch?
-Why is he a grouch?
-How can we make his garbage can less gross?
Let the kids know who we are and why we are there
To catch students attention into the lesson plan by relating it to a figure they are familiar with.
2-3 minutes
Sorting Recycling
-Why do we recycle? Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
-What kinds of things do we put in the recycle bin?
-Plastic Bags
-Special Recycle locations
-Batteries: short skit on recycling batteries
-Mason Jar
-Special Recycle locations
To show students what items can be placed in the recycle bin and the benefits of recycling
To teach students that plastic bags and batteries are also a different kind of material that has to be recycled and sorted away from other materials.
3-4 minutes
Sorting Compostables
-What is compost?
-Recycling for “organic” stuff
-How can it be used?
-Used as fertilizer to make plants grow big! Has lots of nutrients
-What kind of things go into compost?
-Food Scraps!
-How to make compost
-Pile up organic materials
-Add a little soil and water to give it a head start
-Stir it up a lot!
-When it is ready to use it will look like really dark dirt
Educating students on the importance of compost and keeping food waste out of landfills
To teach students how compost can also be used at home and in their community
To give students an introduction to how easy it really is to make compost at home and when they can start using it.
1- 1 minute 30 seconds
Sorting trash
-What kinds of things do we throw in the garbage?
-Why: These things are not recyclable or compostable materials.
To give students awareness of what items actually do belong in the trash.
5- 7 minutes
Activity: Mini Garbage Sort!
Play music in the background for fun!
Encourage kids to wash hands or use sanitizer after they are done
By this activity we will be able to determine by what the groups of students have grasped from the lesson plan.
3-4 minutes
Introducing the Psychology of the Lesson
-Self Awareness Theory: Now that you have this knowledge, you can think about how to properly sort your garbage every day! Do the right thing for the planet!
-Informational Social Influence- If you do the right thing, your friends, siblings, and parents are more likely to sort their garbage right too by following your example!
-Construal Level Theory- We want you to know that even though you throw something away that you are still responsible for it. By making a compost pile at home we hope you can see this process as being more real than if you sent it to a landfill.
-Segway into homework handouts
This section is meant to subtly teach the students that properly sorting their garbage at home can have a big impact not just on the planet, but on the people around them as well. Setting a good example for others is key.
This section also introduces the idea of bringing the process of sorting garbage into their homes. It illustrates construal level theory by encouraging the kinds to start their own compost pile at home so they can see firsthand what happens to compostable material when properly disposed of and uses for it once is has fully decomposed.
1 minute
Assign Homework
-“How To Make Compost At Home” Handout
-Coloring Handout
To conclude the lesson with information the kids can take home and share with their families and friends.
Also, coloring is fun.
Materials
3 bins; each labeled Recycle, Trash, and Compost respectively
1 small bag of garbage per group consisting of a clean, safe mix of trash, recyclables, and compostable material.
A Mason jar or other appropriate container for batteries
2-5 dead batteries
Photos of Recyclable Materials
Photos of Compostable Materials
Photos of Garbage
Photo of Oscar the Grouch
Coloring Page Handout
“How To Make Compost At Home” Handout
Small Speaker to Play Music on
Hand Sanitizer
Resources
“Put it in the Compost” by Michael Ryther
“I Love Trash” by Oscar the Grouch
Notes
Get the kids involved by asking questions
Be sure to make things colorful and fun!