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Elementary School Outreach Programs
Preschool or Kindergarten (30 to 45 minutes)
LET'S RECYCLE!
SOL: Science- K.11, 1.8
Readings from books like Michael Recycle, The Day the Trash Came Out to Play, Johnny Green and the Little Green Man, or All the Way to the Ocean (choose one) will help students learn about recycling, how it works, why it’s important, and what they can do to help. Trash can be harmful when it’s not where it belongs.
Vocabulary Introduced: Litter, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Conserve, Resources
Equipment Needed: None
RIGSBY'S CLEANUP SURPRISE
SOL: Science- K.11, 1.5, 1.8
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?
SOL: Science- K.5, K.11, 1.8
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
SOL: Science- 1.5, 1.8
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
SOL: Science- 1.5, 1.8
Students will identify the components of a community: human resources, natural resources, capital resources used to produce goods. A 35-mm slide story explores litter as being an undesirable component.
Vocabulary Introduced: Community, Litter
Equipment Needed: DVD or Screen and Cassette Player
TRASH OR TREASURE
SOL: Science- 1.8
Students will discover that trash has better uses than just throwing it in the “regular” trash can. Using the book “A Pig Tale” and / or Pokemon posters, and a bag of collected trash, students will find better uses for trash. Interactive activity: Using plastic drink bottles, students will create toys from trash.
Vocabulary Introduced: Litter, Solid Waste, Natural Resource
Equipment Needed: Craft Items for Students (examples: wiggly eyes, pipe cleaners, construction paper, pom poms, stickers, etc...)
TRAVELIN' TRASH
Students will see a series of activities 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 be washed away.
Vocabulary Introduced: Buoyant and Marine Debris
Equipment Needed: None
Grade 2 (45 minutes)
NEW! ALL ABOUT NATURAL RESOURCES
Students will define NATURAL RESOURCES and will focus on ways in which they can care for their environment. A list of DEQ"s “25 Ways to Help Virginia's Environment” is part of the program.
Vocabulary Introduced: Natural Resources, Environment, Citizen, Wetlands, Pollution, Energy, Runoff, Compost, Habitat
Equipment Needed: DVD
THE LORAX
Students will listen to Dr. Seuss’ story “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 and Pollution
Equipment Needed: VCR
TRAVELIN' TRASH
Students will see a series of activities 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 be washed away.
Vocabulary Introduced: Buoyant and Marine Debris
Equipment Needed: None
THE GREEN GAME
Students will focus on ways in which they can care for their environment by playing a fun interactive game. The game format is a “greenopoly” board game played in up to 6 groups.
Vocabulary Introduced: Litter, Recycle, Conservation, Environment, Ecology, Natural Resources, Pollution
Equipment Needed: None
THE WATER GAME
Students will play an interactive giant ground version of a board game that focuses on ways to preserve, conserve, and share ourwaters. The game can be played indoors or outdoors.
Vocabulary Introducted: Conserve, Preserve, Natural Resources, Water Pollution, Water Cycle, Hydrologic Cycle, Surface Water, Groundwater, Consumers, Desalination, Watershed.
Equipment Needed: None
Grade 3 (45 minutes)
GROUNDWATER: WHAT GOES DOWN, MUST COME UP
Students will use the Bedrock Simulator and Rainmaker models to examine the complete water cycle, and discover the movement and storage of water from the surface through belowground soil and bedrock. The flow of water will be traced, covering basic groundwater concepts. Students will see the immediate effect of groundwater contamination. The Rainmaker will demonstrate the Water Cycle as part of the surface to groundwater cycle.
Vocabulary Introduced: Aquiclude, Aquifer, Bedrock, Subsoil, Topsoil, Clay, Runoff, Groundwater, Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, Nonpoint Source Pollution, Point Source Pollution, Sand, Soil, Water Conservation and Wetlands
Equipment Needed: Paper towels, Sink
SOIL: WHO NEEDS IT?
Students will discover why soil is important while viewing the DVD, Soil: Who Needs It? The DVD focuses on why we are losing billions of tons of soil each year to erosion and what we can do to save our soil. The DVD is followed by an energetic game of TRASH to SOIL. The object of this activity is to create a viable compost pile using only green and brown materials while keeping the pile free of inappropriate items, and helping to build a better understanding of soil properties.
Vocabulary Introduced: Erosion, Humus, Organic, Inorganic, Decompose, Compost
Equipment Needed: DVD
THINK EARTH "e"
Students will examine the 3 R's as a means to conserve identified natural resources, decrease the amount of waste, and prevent air and water pollution.
Vocabulary Introduced: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Equipment Needed: VCR
THE ROTTEN TRUTH
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
THE GREEN GAME
Students will focus on ways in which they can care for their environment by playing a fun interactive game. The game format is a "greenopoly" board game played in up to 6 groups.
Vocabulary Introduced: Litter, Recycle, Conservation, Environment, Ecology, Natural Resources, Pollution
Equipment Needed: None
THE WATER GAME
Students will play an interactive giant ground version of a board game that focuses on ways to preserve, conserve, and share our waters. The game can be played indoors or outdoors.
Vocabulary Introducted: Conserve, Preserve, Natural Resources, Water Pollution, Water Cycle, Hydrologic Cycle, Surface Water, Groundwater, Consumers, Desalination, Watershed
Equipment Needed: None
Grade 4 (45 minutes)
ALUMINUM (PLASTIC, PAPER, or GLASS) RECYCLING
Students will 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 new container or usable item. This program can also substitute “Plastic Recycling” "Paper Recycling" , or "Glass 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 or ActivBoard
ENVIRONMENTAL BINGO
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
THE GREEN GAME
Students will focus on ways in which they can care for their environment by playing a fun interactive game. The game format is a "greenopoly" board game played in up to 6 groups.
Vocabulary Introduced: Litter, Recycle, Conservation, Environment, Ecology, Natural Resources, Pollution
Equipment Needed: None
THE WATER GAME
Students will play an interactive giant ground version of a board game that focuses on ways to preserve, conserve, and share our waters. The game can be played indoors or outdoors.
Vocabulary Introducted: Conserve, Preserve, Natural Resources, Water Pollution, Water Cycle, Hydrologic Cycle, Surface Water, Groundwater, Consumers, Desalination, Watershed
Equipment Needed: None
THE TRASH TRAIN
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 Introduced: Recycle, Decompose, Biodegrade, Ventilation, Wasteline Express, Synthetic, Leachate, Natural Buffer and Compost
Equipment needed: VCR or DVD
GROUNDWATER
Students will use the Bedrock Simulator and Rainmaker models to examine the complete water cycle, and discover the movement and storage of water from the surface through belowground soil and bedrock. The flow of water will be traced, covering basic groundwater concepts. Students will see the immediate effect of groundwater contamination. The Rainmaker will demonstrate the Water Cycle as part of the surface to groundwater cycle.
Vocabulary Introduced: Aquiclude, Aquifer, Bedrock, Subsoil, Topsoil, Clay, Runoff, Groundwater, Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, Nonpoint Source Pollution, Point Source Pollution, Sand, Soil, Water Conservation and Wetlands
Equipment Needed: Paper towels, Sink
WATERSHEDS TO OCEANS
Students will identify watersheds and map the movement of solid waste from storm drains to the ocean. The Enviroscape (or Watershed Demo Pans) 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 ROTTEN TRUTH
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 5 (45 Minutes)
WATERSHEDS TO OCEANS
Students will identify watersheds and map the movement of solid waste from storm drains to the ocean. The Enviroscape (or Watershed Demo Pans) 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
OCEANS OF TRASH
A 35 mm slide or powerpoint presentation and discussion review of ocean characteristics and Roanoke Valley's connections to the ocean. Marine debris is a health hazard to marine mammals and aquatic life, presenting threats such as entanglement.
Vocabulary Introduced: Salinity, Estuary, Riparian
Equipment Needed: Projection Screen / or ActivBoard
GROUNDWATER: WHAT GOES DOWN, MUST COME UP
Students will use the Bedrock Simulator and Rainmaker models to examine the complete water cycle, and discover the movement and storage of water from the surface through belowground soil and bedrock. The flow of water will be traced, covering basic groundwater concepts. Students will see the immediate effect of groundwater contamination. The Rainmaker will demonstrate the Water Cycle as part of the surface to groundwater cycle.
Vocabulary Introduced: Aquiclude, Aquifer, Bedrock, Subsoil, Topsoil, Clay, Runoff, Groundwater, Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, Nonpoint Source Pollution, Point Source Pollution, Sand, Soil, Water Conservation and Wetlands
Equipment Needed: Paper towels, Sink
THE GREEN GAME
Students will focus on ways in which they can care for their environment by playing a fun interactive game. The game format is a "greenopoly" board game played in up to 6 groups.
Vocabulary Introduced: Litter, Recycle, Conservation, Environment, Ecology, Natural Resources, Pollution
Equipment Needed: None
THE WATER GAME
Students will play an interactive giant ground version of a board game that focuses on ways to preserve, conserve, and share ourwaters. The game can be played indoors or outdoors.
Vocabulary Introducted: Conserve, Preserve, Natural Resources, Water Pollution, Water Cycle, Hydrologic Cycle, Surface Water, Groundwater, Consumers, Desalination, Watershed
Equipment Needed: None
