Nearly every path offers a variety of trash and discards. Each student chooses a topic. These topics include litter, acid rain, pesticides, landfills, the Love Canal, and space junk. Students write to members of Congress, state and local officials. They focus on realistic alternatives to the ways waste is currently being handled.
Students share their information and form small cooperative groups for special projects.
This project can result in community awareness and personal involvement of students, parents, teachers in school, and the neighborhood that ranges far beyond the limits of the classroom. Student self-esteem is greatly enhanced as they telephone, write and interview public officials to gain a solid background of information. It also reinforces student research and analytic skills, gives them insights into public relations and sharpens photographic techniques.