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.

As our environmental awareness increases, litter is seen not just as an unsightly, sometimes dangerous or  polluting nuisance, but also as a symptom of an irresponsible, uncaring attitude toward our environment. In this theme section, students are encouraged to take personal responsibility for helping to look after our environment and the other creatures that inhabit it. That environment includes not just the wilderness area we might visit occasionally but also our neighbourhoods, our parks and playgrounds, our school grounds and our backyards.

This theme section includes the following major learning objectives:

1. Students will consider the origins of litter.
2. Students will be able to identify the seven sources of litter.
3. Students will consider actions that will help to control the sources of litter.
4. Students will consider the effects of littering on their environment.
5. Students will be able to identify recyclable litter (as applicable in their community).
6. Students will be able to identify dangerous litter.
7. Students will be able to identify and explain the use of the PITCH-IN symbol.

1. Students will write a story.
2. Students will conduct an experiment.
3. Students will design, draw, and colour.
4. Students will count and follow the dots to 20.
5. Students will use a map.
6. Students will role-play.

1. Students will examine their attitudes to litter through word-associations.
2. Students will explore the concept of "away".
3. Students will develop an awareness of environmental quality.
4. Students will develop an awareness of how littering reflects an attitude towards the environment.
5. Students will realize that personal attitudes and values are important when making decisions that affect their environment.
6. Students will realize that their actions can have serious consequences for their environment.
7. Students will develop an awareness of the importance of the PITCH-IN symbol.

3. Activities

• # 1        What is Litter?
• # 2        A Garbage Story
• # 3        Where Does Litter Come From?
• # 4        Where is "Away"?
• # 5        A Plague of "Litterbugs"!
• # 6        Let's Be E.Q. Inspectors! (K-1)
• # 7        Let's Be E.Q. Inspectors! (2-3)
• # 8        Is Some Litter Recyclable?
• # 9        A Garbage Play
• # 10      Litter Can Be Dangerous!
• # 11      Let's Think About Dangerous Litter!
• # 12      The Hunt for Dangerous Litter
• # 13      Let's Make a Car Litterbag!

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