Educational Outreach

Here is a listing of fun, creative, educational outreach programs serving K-12 with a focus on litter prevention and recycling through conservation and preservation. Please contact our educators Linda or Beth for more information or scheduling!
 

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• School list by Educator

Elementary School

Preschool or Kindergarten (30 to 45 minutes) 

Rigsby’s Cleanup Surprise (Science SOL K.9, K.10, & Civics SOL K.7)
Students will identify differences between natural and human-made objects. They will recognize that they have control over litter. Students investigate a park that’s been littered and meet “Rigsby”, the Raccoon, who teaches the harm that litter brings to all of his park pals.  They will learn what kinds of litter can be recycled.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Litter, Natural Objects, Man Made Objects, Recycling

• Equipment needed: None

Who Polluted the River? (Science SOL K.10, 1.8, 2.5, 2.7,3.9,3.10,3.11)
Can be adapted for grades K – 3
Students will identify sources of pollution and how they get into the river. A pickle jar is used to represent the river, and students help “pollute” the river. Prevention of water pollution is discussed, to include recycling, reusing, and reducing waste.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Litter, Natural Objects, Man Made Objects, Recycling;
  (For grades 2-3:Pollution, Acid Rain, Sewage, Pesticides, Fertilizer)

• Equipment needed: None

Grade 1  (45 minutes)

Think Earth (Science SOL 1.8 Economics 1.10,1.11)
Students identify natural resources which are found in the Greater Roanoke Valley and consider ways that they can personally reduce consumption of these resources.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Natural Resources, Conservation

• Equipment Needed: VCR

Wartville Wizard (Science SOL 1.8, Economics 1.10,1.11)
Students will identify the components of a community: human resources, natural resources, capital resources used to produce goods. A 35-mmslide story explores litter as being an undesirable component.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Community, Litter

• Equipment Needed: Slide projector, Cassette Player

 The Truth about Trash (Science SOL 1.8)
Students will discover that trash has better uses than just throwing it in the “regular” trash can. Using Pokemon posters and a bag of collected trash, students will find better uses for trash.  Optional activity: Using plastic drink bottles, students will create toys from trash.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Litter, Solid Waste, Natural Resources

• Equipment Needed: None
   

Grade 2  (45 minutes)

Kids-Eye View (Science SOL 2.5, 2.8)
Students will define ECOLOGY and will focus on ways in which they can care for their environment. A list of “25 Things Kids Can Do” is part of the program.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Ecology, Environment

• Equipment Needed: VCR

The Lorax (Science SOL K.5, 2.5, 2.8, 3.6, 3.10)

Students will listen to Dr. Seuss’ story of the “Lorax” to learn about the human effects on animals and the environment.  They will recognize that they have control over their consumption of natural resources.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Conservation, Environment, Ecology, Natural Resources, Pollution

• Equipment Needed: VCR

Travelin’  Trash (Science SOL K.5, 1.8, 2.5, 3.6, 3.10)
Can be adapted for grades K–3
A series of activities/demonstrations that demonstrate the characteristics of marine debris, and how these characteristics affect where marine debris is found in the environment. Students will determine whether or not trash can float, be moved by the wind, or wash away.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Buoyant, Marine Debris

• Equipment Needed: None

Grade 3 (45 minutes)

Think Earth, "e" (Science SOL 3.6, 3.10)
Students will examine the 3 R's as a means to conserve identified natural resources.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

• Equipment Needed: VCR

 The Rotten Truth (Science SOL 3.10)
Solid waste disposal is a major industry. Students learn different methods of waste disposal and ways they personally can reduce the waste stream.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Solid waste disposal, Landfill, Compost, Waste stream

• Equipment Needed: VCR

Grade 4 (45 minutes)

Aluminum (Plastic, or Paper) Recycling (Science SOL 4.2, 4.8)

Students will follow a can to a recycling center and learn about recycling, how it works, why it’s important, what they can do to help. Trash can be dangerous when it’s not in its proper place: the garbage can or recycling can. Students will keep one piece of litter (aluminum can) in mind as they follow it from the street to a newcontainer or usable item.  This program can also substitute  “Paper Recycling” or  “Plastic Recycling” for the title.  Students will see a variety of new materials that were recycled from other materials.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Recycling, Reduce, Reuse, Natural Resources, Machines

• Equipment needed: VCR

Environmental Bingo (Science SOL 3.11,4.8)
Students will examine aspects of recycling and solid waste management, and then play a fun interactive game reviewing what they have learned.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Litter, Recycle

• Equipment needed: None

Grade 4 - 5 (45 Minutes)

Watersheds to Oceans (Science SOL 4.8, 5.6; English SOL 4.2, 5.1, 5.8; Math SOL 4.12, 5.11)
Students will identify watersheds and map the movement of solid waste from storm drains to the ocean. The Enviroscape (or Watershed demo Pan) will show the effects of erosion, pesticides, fertilizers, and litter on waterways and bodies of water.  The effects of natural disasters and litter will be compared and contrasted.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Litter, Solid Waste, Pollution, Watershed, Erosion, Pesticides, Fertilizers, Natural Disasters

• Equipment needed: None

The Trash Train (Science SOL: 3.11, 4.5, 4.8, 5.6, 5.7)
Students will follow trash as it is brought in by localities (Roanoke City, Roanoke County, and Vinton) as it is dumped on the transfer station floor for inspection, loaded onto “Trash Train” rail cars, and travels to the Smith Gap Landfill. Ways of decreasing the amount of trash will be addressed.

• Vocabulary: Recycle, Decompose, Biodegrade, Ventilation, Wasteline Express, Synthetic, Leachate, Natural Buffer, Compost,

Grade 5 -7 (45 Minutes)

Oceans of Trash (Science SOL 5.4, 6.9, LS.4, LS.7, LS.10, LS.11, LS.12)
A 35 mm slide presentation and discussion review Roanoke Valley's connections to the ocean and ocean characteristics. Marine debris is a health hazard, presenting
a threat for entanglement by marine mammals and aquatic life.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Salinity, Estuary, Riparian

• Equipment Needed: Slide projector/ Screen (or blank wall), Overhead Projector

Middle School

Grade 6-9 (45 minutes)

Drains to Rivers! (Science SOL: 6.8, 6.9, LS.11, LS.12, ES.9)
Students will discover what happens to common household waste, as it becomes “runoff”. Solutions for cleaner and less runoff will be explored, using a model that represents individual parts of a community.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Litter, Solid Waste, Natural Resources, Storm Drain, Runoff, Nonpoint Source Pollution

• Equipment Needed: None

• *Excellent Precursor to Reeling in Runoff Program

Reeling in Runoff (Science SOL: 6.8, 6.9, LS.11, LS.12, ES.9)
Students will discover practical solutions for preventing water pollution.  Best Management Practices (BMPs) are systems, activities, and structures that can reduce and prevent nonpoint source pollution. Solutions for cleaner and less runoff will be explored, using a model that represents individual parts of a community.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Litter, Solid Waste, Natural Resources, Storm Drain, Runoff, Nonpoint Source Pollution, BMPs

• Equipment Needed: None

High School

Grade: 10 –12 (45 minutes)

Water: Woes to Wonders (Science SOL: BIO.9, CH.1, CH.6, PH.4, English SOL: 9.4, 11.4)
Students will discover why the overuse of groundwater has been described as a non-renewable resource that is being  “mined”.  Wetlands will be described and students will see what makes wetlands awesome natural wonders.  Activities and demonstrations will discuss their watershed address, and suggestions for the quality and quantity of water preservation will be discussed.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Solid Waste, Natural Resources, Storm Drain, Runoff, Nonpoint Source Pollution, Groundwater, Water Conservation, Wetlands, Riparian, Watershed Address

• Equipment Needed: Overhead Projector, VCR

 How Much is 6000 cubic km of Water? (Science SOL: BIO.9, CH.1, CH.6, PH.4, Mathematics SOL: A.10, English SOL: 9.4, 11.4)
Students will discover that the water cycle is the most impressive geothermal cycle on earth. The transfer and storage of water on a global scale gives the appearance of an abundance of water, but with only 1% available for people, plants, and animals we need to be extremely careful in managing Earth’s water resources. Activities and demonstrations will address the causes of water pollution and suggestions for the quality and quantity of water preservation will be discussed.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Solid Waste, Natural Resources, Storm Drain, Runoff, Nonpoint Source Pollution, Water Conservation, Watershed Address

• Equipment Needed: Overhead Projector, VCR

After the Storm (Science SOL: BIO.9, CH.1, CH.6, PH.4; English SOL: 9.4, 11.4)
Students will discover what happens after it rains, and what ends up in our streams, lakes, rivers, and oceans. How ecosystems can collapse due to turbidity and low oxygen levels will be outlined and suggestions for filtering runoff by use of wetlands and green roofs will be discussed.

• Vocabulary Introduced: Solid Waste, Natural Resources Storm Drain, Runoff, Nonpoint source, Fecal Coliforms, Hypoxic, Groundwater, Water Conservation and Quality, Wetlands, Green Roof, Watershed Address

• Equipment Needed: Overhead Projector, VCR