Waste: What do we do with it?

Victoria D’Apolito

In this unit students will learn various methods used in the United States for waste management. Students begin by learning what municipal solid waste is and the role the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state and local governments have in waste management. Students learn the systematic layering that must be used when maintaining landfills and work in groups to create their own landfill model. Then, students will learn about the incineration process as it is used in waste management. This is done using a diffuser to represent the mass combustion. Colored water vapor represents the harmful gases that are released during the process. Recycling is briefly touched on, as students generally understand that concept. Composting is also discussed. After reading about it, students create their own compost bag. The unit ends with students creating a poster displaying what they think should be done with our waste. This unit addresses Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). This unit is intended for third grade but can be modified for grades 1-5.