Humans played a major role in environmental pollution for many years and now that the damage is clear we have started the clean up process. People became accustomed to throwing things “away” and never realized where “away” was. Waste is something left over or not used. Solid waste was thrown away into trash containers, dumped into landfills, compacted and covered with dirt. It was assumed that the garbage would break down and mix with the soil. However, over the years the garbage became a major problem. It wasn’t breaking down and landfills were beginning to overflow. This overflow of garbage in the landfills can lead to the release of hazardous gases and can contribute to water pollution. The realization that our planet was fragile and our environment was in danger became apparent. Attempts to preserve the environment became a priority.
This unit is divided into four sections. The introduction provides students with an awareness of “waste” and the present environmental dilemma. The first section presents an overview of recycling and its benefits. The next two sections discuss composting as a method of recycling and using earthworms as nature’s recycler. The unit is designed for students in grades five through eight and can be used as a supplement to the existing science curriculum. Through the information provided in the background text and lesson plans the student will:
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Identify the similarities and connections between natural and human recycling.
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2.
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Discover the importance of recycling and the preservation of natural resources.
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Learn about the biochemical process of decomposition and compost piles.
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4.
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Study and observe the earthworm as one of nature’s important recyclers.
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About twenty years ago communities began to make their citizens aware of threats to the environment. At the same time legislators started to enact laws and regulations to protect and preserve the environment. The need to teach about changing our wasteful actions into ones of re-use was evident. Habits are difficult to break or change so proper education is a necessity and a useful tool available to us.