They can be used separately, but would be most effective if taught consecutively. Working in teams, students collect litter from a variety of different, identify the most common items, record those areas having the most trash, discover who is responsible, what penalties exist, and how litter in each area can be reduced. The recycling process within their own community is explored. Using waste materials produced by the school community, students maintain a record of the compost process and soil temperatures. The resulting composted material may be used by the school's maintenance department, or sold as part of a fundraising to benefit an environmental organization.
Students also brainstorm methods to reduce the amount of waste from product packaging.
This collection of several dozen lesson plans from the Texas Natural Resoure Conservation Commission includes content for primary through high school students. Most lessons are straightforward, requiring limited use of outside resources. The Wilderness Society offers several student-oriented activities, including items for elementary students. This site concentrates on environmental education. Teachers can register to receive classroom education ideas via e-mail.