Collect and Weigh the Trash
Lesson 4
Grade Levels:
5 and 6
Subjects:
Health, Science, Math
Learner Outcomes:
The student will:
-
Determine the amount of paper waste that is
generated in five classrooms for one day.
-
Weigh the materials collected and get an average
weight/class.
-
Multiply the average weight/class by the number
of classrooms in the school building to get the average weight/day for
your school building.
-
Calculate the amount of paper that could be
recycled in one school year.
Time Frame:
Two thirty minute class periods
Materials:
-
Calculators
-
Recycle boxes (labeled for recycling)
-
Balance scales
Technology Tools:
-
Calculators
-
Office 97, Excel
Teacher Notes:
Students will work in
pairs to place recycle boxes in five classrooms. The students will collect
the waste, weigh and record their data.
Procedures:
-
Students will distribute recycle boxes to five
selected classrooms. They will explain to the teacher of that room,
how all recyclable papers should be collected during the day in the recycle
box.
-
Have students weigh the materials collected
from each class and get and average weight/class. Use the appropriate measurement
scale.
-
The students will then multiply the average
weight/class by the number of classrooms in the building.
-
Average the weight/day for your school building.
-
Multiply the average weight/school by
the number of school days to get the weight/year.
-
Other time increments can be calculated, such
as a week or month.
-
Take calculated amounts and enter into Excel
to create a chart. Students may select various charts to see the
differences between charts. Some charts may not display the results as
well as others.
-
Display charts in hallway.
-
Discuss the importance of recycling in your
home, school, and community, using the calculations determined in Collect
and Weigh the Trash.
Modifications:
Appropriate pairing of
students so students with special needs may be assisted during lesson activities.
Enrichment Activities:
Evaluation:
-
Check for reasonable weight amounts on the charts.
-
Points earned for created chart.
West
Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives:
Mathematics
-
Computation:Estimation 5.11, 6.11
-
Measurement 5.37, 6.46
-
Computer:Technology 5.48, 6.49, 5.50, 5.54,
6.53, 5.55, 6.55
National
Standards
References:
Created by:
Carol
Durnell
Jo
Anne Fenoglietto
Saralie
Sheets
Gihon
Elementary School