GreenStar Schools

Implemented a Zero Waste Unit and Assessed Classroom Waste

May 20 2020

Ms. Gonzales implemented a zero waste unit lesson and as part of that unit the students assessed the waste generated by students at their school and in the classroom. Link to the Zero Waste - Sorting and Composting Unit can be found here:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1an5MvCk-yTW2bB_uexDkByZFmMxGkIKosMlMhmBbaoM/edit. 

Summary

Ms. Gonzales developed a Zero Waste - Sorting and Composting Unit lesson during the 2019-2020 San Mateo Environmental Learning Collaborative (SMELC) Summer Institute at the San Mateo County of Education: https://sites.google.com/smcoe.org/smcoe-environmental-literacy/programs/smelc-fellowships/smelc-teacher-fellowships. As a result she implemented this lesson with her students in the classroom.

One part of this lesson was having San Mateo County Office of Sustainability (OOS) staff visit her classroom to introduce her students to the 4R's and sorting waste into recycling, compost, and landfill (garbage) bins by playing the 4R's game . Additionnally, OOS staff introduced her students to composting by facilitating a classroom worm composting workshop.

After gaining knowledge about the 4R's and waste reduction, students assessed the waste generated by them at school and in the classroom. This was based on the following essential question, "What is waste and how can it be sorted?" As a result, students determined that they needed to implement composting in the classroom and increase recycling.

Photos

Students Learning Play

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