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.

1. About this theme
2. Learning objectives
3. Activities

1. About this theme

This theme section provides an overview of solid waste management in your community:

• Where does your garbage go?
• Who gets rid of it?
• How do we collect garbage at home?
• Why are these systems necessary?

Students are then asked to RE…Think their attitudes towards their garbage. They are encouraged to realize that everything around them, at home, at school, at play, is potential garbage, and that environmental quality is affected by both the production processes and our efforts to dispose of everything that becomes garbage. They are encouraged to RE…Think their attitudes and behaviour towards the consumption and disposal of products.

2. Learning Objectives

This theme section includes the following major learning objectives:

Knowledge

1. Students will describe, in simple terms, the garbage collection process in their community.
2. Students will identify the health and safety aspects of proper garbage disposal.
3. Students will analyze by weight the amount of garbage produced by an average family over a period of time.
4. Students will describe ways of reducing the amount of garbage we produce.
5. Students will divide garbage into groups.
6. Students will measure garbage by weight and by volume.
7. Students will be able to identify renewable and non-renewable resources.
8. Students will be able to identify and explain the use of the PITCH-IN symbol.

1. Students will use counting and the number line.
2. Students will construct graphs.
3. Students will write stories.
4. Students will paint and make collages.
5. Students will use role-playing.
6. Students will write and conduct imaginary interviews.
7. Students will use grouping, and weight and volume measurement.
8. Students will design and construct models.
9. Students will use problem-solving skills.

Attitudes

1. Students will develop an awareness of the importance of the garbage collection service and personnel in their community and their school.
2. Students will consider the problems of garbage disposal, with specific reference to their own community.
3. Students will realize that some discards are reusable.
4. Students will develop an awareness of the amount of garbage we produce, and consider ways of reducing it.
5. Students will develop an awareness of why we need to reduce the amount of garbage we produce.

Students will realize the importance of individual action and using problem-solving skills.

3. Activities

• #  1    What Happens To Our Garbage?
• #  2    What Is That Noisy Truck?
• #  3    Where Do The Garbage Trucks Go?
• #  4    Let’s Pretend We’re Sanitation Workers!
• #  5    Let’s Interview The Sanitation Worker!
• #  6    Let’s Be Public Health Inspectors!
• #  7    Do You Weigh As Much As Your Garbage?
• #  8    What Is In Our Garbage?
• #  9    Things That Grow; Things That Don’t Grow
• # 10   Renewable Or Non-Renewable?
• # 11   Are There Treasures In Our Trash?
• # 12   How Many Garbage Cans Can We Find In Our School?
• # 13   How Many Garbage Cans Can We Find At Home?
• # 14   Let’s Design And Make A Garbage Can!
• # 15   Put It In The Garbage Can!
• # 16   Solving A Solid Waste Problem

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