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Re-Think Activities
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. Words in bold and in italics are featured in the glossary which you can reach by clicking here

LITTER AND OUR ENVIRONMENT: ACTIVITY 12 -  ***The Hunt For Dangerous Litter                 2 – 3

Skills: using a map

Time: two to three class periods on two separate days

Learning Objective: students will look for dangerous litter in their environment.

Materials and Equipment: map of the area to be searched (one per two students); an overhead projection of the map.

1. Review LITTER: ACTIVITY 10 if done. If not, discuss the concept of dangerous litter: what is dangerous litter, how is it dangerous, to whom, how does it get where it is. (See APPENDIX 10 for more information.)

2. Explain to the students that they are going to go on a "Dangerous Litter Hunt".

3. Provide each pair with a map of the area to be searched. (If possible, search a local park, seashore, riverbank, lakeshore, etc.)

4. During the search, have students mark on a map the location of dangerous litter that they see. They should use a symbol or write in the type of dangerous litter found.

5. In the classroom, on a large or overhead copy of the map, mark what was found where.

6. Discuss:

• What did we find?
• Where did we find it?
• How do you think it got there?
• What can we do about it—SAFELY?

7. Follow up on the students’ suggestions on how to get rid of the dangerous litter safely.

8. Have students make a display of this project. Include the large map, sample (if practical) of the dangerous litter or drawings or photographs of what was found.

9. Have students include explanations of why each item can be considered dangerous.

RE…Think

Discuss with the students:

• Were the students surprised at some of the items being classified as dangerous?
• Can the students think of any other items, which could be dangerous if littered?

Discuss with the students how they can help prevent dangerous litter at school, at home, in their communities, in the outdoors, etc.

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