Presentations E-Team Mini Grants
Recommend Reading Lending Materials
  Poetry Contest

All presentations are free of charge and include take home materials.
 

Meet Mother Earth
(Appropriate for grades K)

Mother Earth visits the classroom to discuss recycling and keeping our earth clean. Students will then participate in a recycling relay race where they will sort plastic, paper and aluminum.
 

Paper From Paper...Not From Trees
(Appropriate for grades 1)

Students will learn how we use limited natural resources like trees to make many products. This presentation will help them understand that we can extend resources through careful use, using them less, reusing and recycling. Students will then work in groups to make recycled paper.
 

Investigating Recycled Products!/Toy Invention Workshop
( Appropriate for grades 2)

Students will view a variety of recycled products such as "Popsi" the pop bottle doll, lumber, made out of milk jugs, and T-shirts, made out of water bottles. They will explore why we make and invent new things and the advantages to the environment by making recycled products. The students will then split into groups to invent a recycled toy.
 

Decomposition of Food Waste-Our Best Soil
(Appropriate for grades 3)

Students will discuss the composition of soil and compost. They will understand the importance of creating a compost pile, and what food waste to compost. They will examine the stages of compost and it's properties such as color, texture and ability to retain water and support plant growth. Students will make a recycled newspaper flower pot and use a compost mix for planting. They will then record plant growth.
 

Recycling - It's Many Changes
(Appropriate for grades 4)

Students will review information on their local recycling program. Then they will examine recycled products and how they were changed into new items. Students will see a physical change when we compost food waste. They will also see a chemical change by combining three materials, glue, Borax and water to make a new material.
 

Recycling: Conserving Natural Resources
(Appropriate for grades 5)

Students will discuss the many natural resources used to make everyday items such as cans, paper, plastic and glass. They will watch a 20 minute DVD on natural resource use and the importance of recycling. Students will then participate in a recycling relay race sorting items by natural resource.

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Poetry Contest

How Do You Love The Earth Contest Guidelines
Printable Poetry Contest Form

MySpace and Orkut Heart Glitter Graphic - 4

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Lending Material and Resource Kits

With limited staff we cannot get to all schools in our districts, therefore we have created some easy to use teacher kits that can be borrowed from our resources room. The following educational materials are designed to help you teach your students about waste management, recycling and litter prevention. Listed are some of our most popular lending materials. They all include an easy to follow lesson plan, and can be adapted for almost all grade levels.

 

Hey I Can Hear You Video and Puppet Kit:

Go on a recycling journey with "Bugsy the Litter Bee" and "Ralphy the Recycling Raccoon." This locally produced video has been enjoyed by students in grades k-4th for many years. This video will show students how recyclables are collected, sorted and made into new materials. Kit includes postcards and puppet patterns of Bugsy and Ralphy.
 

Wartville Wizard Book and Video:
This kit focuses on litter prevention and incorporates a book and video by author Don Madden. Students will discover ways in which to keep garbage in its place.
 

Home Safe Home Kit:

This kit includes a lesson plan on environmental cleaning products. Students will be able to practice cleaning safety with creating alternative cleaning solutions.
 

Recycle Booklet Kit:
Make a recycled booklet with pictures of recyclables. Paper, yarn and stamp pads are provided for this activity. The students will practice writing the words paper, plastic and metal in their booklet. Great for K and 1st grade.

 

Trash Makes History Activity:

This kit included a fun play with speaking parts for 25 + students.
 

Show Em ' Sherlock Kit:

This kit includes background information on natural resources, examples of natural resources, Sherlock playing cards, and magnifying glasses to use in the game.
 

Making Paper Kit:
This kit has instructions and materials needed to make homemade recycled paper. Materials included blender, screens, tubs, shredded paper, and easy instructions.
Further background information for teachers: www.paperrecycles.org and www.afandpa.org

 

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Windows on Waste

Windows on Waste is a hands-on, minds-on activity guidebook, developed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.  
It can be used to explore specific subjects and learning outcomes or to create a thematic interdisciplinary issues-based approach to teaching and learning.  

Hands-on, minds-on activity guidebook, developed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.  It can be used to explore specific subjects and learning outcomes or to create a thematic interdisciplinary issues-based approach to teaching and learning. For sample activities, go to http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/recycling


 
e-teamHere are some projects to get your E-Team started.  Alternatively, you can think up your own spin on these or other activities that promote caring for our environment.

Adopt a Recycling Drop-Off Site – The Solid Waste District hosts drop-off sites in every community.  Locate your recycling bin and keep the site litter free.  Help educate the residents of your community on what can be recycled.

Collect Plastic Bottles From the Cafeteria – Set up a collection bin for plastic where empty bottles can be tossed in for recycling.  Collect the plastic in bags and take them to a drop-off site near your school.

Clean Up Litter – Organize a litter cleanup event for Earth Day.  Select a nearby park or the school grounds to beautify during the warm months.  Register your cleanup with the Solid Waste District’s Great American Cleanup to receive free trash bags and flower seeds.

Build a Scrap Box – Create a reuse bin for paper scraps.  Have your students place paper that is only used on one-side in the bin for reuse.

Restore a Native Area and Start a School Garden – Adopt an area of your school that needs restored.  Pull weeds, plant flowers, and trees.  You can even do some container gardening using large pots or a variety of reused containers.

Build a Worm Bin for Food Composting – This is a great way to teach about decomposition.  Students can feed the worms daily with food scraps to see how compost is made.

Art Awareness Project – Draw large posters on recycling and display them throughout the school.  Have students in your building complete an “I Recycle Pledge Card” with their parents.  Hold a drawing to reward those who pledged to recycle.

Plan a Waste Free Lunch or Snack Day – Display ways to cut down on waste, and then challenge the students to bring a waste free lunch or snack.  Try this weekly or monthly to see how this affects the amount of waste there is in the lunchroom.



ETeam registration form.doc

E-Team

Mini-Grant Program for Schools

E-Team Grants up to $500.00 are available through the Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District.  They are for registered E-Teams to carryout a project at school. E-Teams are a group of students of any age who are ready to take action to become environmental stewards.  All E-Team activities should focus on recycling, reuse, waste reduction, or the promotion of saving natural resources and habitats.  If your E-Team needs money to complete a project and meets the criteria below, you can apply for a grant.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Teachers in Geauga County or Trumbull County who’s students are registered as E-Teams.

MINI-GRANT GUIDELINES:

The Solid Waste District will fund as many projects as possible according to its annual budget.  Please read the following guidelines carefully.

  1. Maximum grant is $500.00.  If your project requires over $500.00, explain how the additional money will be obtained.
  2. Grants may be used for conducting a school project, field trips that enhance the project, purchase of materials to carryout the project, classroom activities, or other educational costs to be specified by the applicant.
  3. Grant requests should try to educate others outside the classroom.  These projects will be given priority over ones that do not.
  4. Your submitted application will not be returned.
  5.  Every awarded grant recipient will prepare a one-page summary and evaluation at the end of the project.  Include student comments and feedback.  These reports must be completed by June 1, 2008. The reports then become the property of the Solid Waste District to share with other educators.

ALL PROJECTS MUST:

·         Relate to recycling, waste reduction, litter prevention, or conservation of resources.

·         Involve students.

·         Include adult supervision.

·         Be completed during the school year.

SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS:

·         Applications will be accepted from November 14, 2007 to April 30, 2008. They will be considered on a first- come, first- serve basis.

·         The District’s Education Specialist and Policy Committee Members will review and award selected applications.

·         Questions? Contact Holly Carine, Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District at 1-800-707-2673 Ext. 102 or E-mail Holly@startrecycling.com.

                     E-Team Mini-Grant Application

 

 

Environmental Eyes: An activity guidebook for preschool and Kindergarten teachers to help the very young learn about important environmental issues. Environmental Eyes introduces topics such as air and water quality, litter prevention, beautification, wildlife, waste disposal, recycling and reuse. This guidebook was produced locally in Trumbull County to target students ages three to five

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Investigating Solid Waste Issues: A state produced secondary, interdisciplinary environmental studies activity guidebook about solid waste, natural resources, and environmental protection. The guidebook introduces students to environmental studies through solid waste management issues, the relationship between science and society, and interdisciplinary hands-on activities.  Go to http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/recycling for educator links for sample curriculum reference indexes.

Solutions...A school guidebook for recycling and reusing: This guidebook is a locally produced manual to give superintendents, principals, teachers and students the necessary information to bring a school into the recycling loop. The manual includes information about recycling paper, managing and reducing cafeteria waste, and purchasing recycled content playground equipment.

Individuals interested in obtaining one or more of the guidebooks must meet with the District educator for a mini-training session. Please call 1-800-707-2673 for more information or email Holly@startrecycling.com.

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The Art and Craft of Papermaking, by Sophie Dawson

The Story of Paper: What is Paper Made Of?, by Okile Limousin

Making Your Own Paper, by Marianne Saddington

The Recycler's Handbook, by the Earth Works Group. Earth Works Press, Berkley, California

50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Recycle, by The Earth Works Group and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources

The Student Environmental Action Guide, by The Earth Works Group. Earth Works Press, Berkley, California

Worms Eat My Garbage, by Mary Appelhof. Flower Press, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Backyard Composting, by John W. Roulac. Harmonious Press, Ojai, California

Blueprint for a Green School, by Jayni Chase. Scholastic, Inc. Broadway, New York

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For more information, please contact:

GEAUGA-TRUMBULL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

5138 Enterprise Boulevard

Warren, OH 44481

Phone: (330) 675-2673 or 1-800-707-2673

Fax: (330) 675-2672

Email: holly@startrecycling.com