PITCH-IN CANADA
Resource Centre

Re-Think
An educational Unit for children up to Grade 4
Written by Valerie Thom, B.Ed. and edited by Allard W. van Veen, APR, Fellow, CPRS

This unit has six chapters, each filled with information, ideas and projects.

We recommend that you let the parents know that you will be studying the solid waste problem in class, and solicit their cooperation and help, which will be needed for some activities. Also, their children will want to discuss the new concepts being learned with their families. APPENDIX 1 provides you with a sample letter which can be sent home at the beginning of the unit.

1. Scheduling
2. Subject integration
3. Class "junk" pile
4. Expansion activities for this unit

1. Scheduling

Most activities will take about one class period. Some activities need some advance preparation, for obtaining materials or information. Though most of the activities in this unit can be done at any time during the year, some of the activities are most effective if carried out in conjunction with the annual PITCH-IN CANADA WEEK or other local environmental clean-up campaigns (usually held during the end of April--beginning of May), as that is when most communities schedule special garbage pick-ups, and the weather usually allows the outdoor activities to be carried out as well.

Activities that will require more than one period, significant advance preparation (other than just gathering needed supplies), or special scheduling are marked with ***.

As some of the activities are more difficult and some are designed for young students, as indicated by the suggested level, you will probably not do all of the activities in the unit. Select those that best suit your class, and your time frame.

As already stated, these activities are only BEGINNINGS. As your students become involved with the problems and issues, their interest and enthusiasm will lead you into further explorations.

2. Subject Integration

The activities can be integrated into at least one, and usually several if not all, of the following areas:

• Language Arts
• Social Studies
• Arithmetic
• Science
• Art

3. Class "junk" pile

Reference is made to some activities utilizing materials from the class "junk" pile. This pile is "created" as part of activity RECYCLING: ACTIVITY 3, if you do not already have such a resource in your classroom.

4. Expansion Activities for this Unit

There are many activities, more general in nature, that can be applied to each of the three themes which have not been described in detail in the unit. You may wish to do some or all of the following with your students as you work through this unit:

• Show a related film or video
• Discuss or read a book
• Keep an ongoing display
• Invite guest speakers from local authorities, non-profit agencies, environmental groups, etc.
• Appoint a class reporter to keep a file or related newspaper and magazine articles
• Have students address a school assembly
• Write and perform a play
• Write stories, poems, newspapers, magazine articles, for real or imaginary publications
• Make posters, draw pictures, take photographs or videos to illustrate what is being studied
• Write letters to local authorities
• Visit a library, a recycling centre, a landfill site, a municipal works yard, a nature reserve
• Make up a survey on environmental attitudes and/or knowledge, then use it with the other students and/or parents and teachers
• Write ads, jingles, songs
• Draw cartoons or comic strips
• Use the class "junk" pile to make sculptures, collages, jewellery, Christmas ornaments, toys, dolls, puppets, games, board games, decorative containers, musical instrument, bird feeders
• Design a board game about Solid Waste Disposal, Recycling and Reusing, or Litter
• Make up a "Garbage Dictionary"

Click here to return to the Index for Re-Think