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Suggested level:
Grades 4-6
Objectives:
Students will...
-quantify their paper use
-discuss alternatives
-begin to think about paper waste reduction
Materials:
Worksheet
Computer diskette (optional)
CD-ROM (optional)
Online computer (optional)
Helpful links:
Research-It!
WWW Virtual Library
M.C. Public Library
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Drowning in paper
Background:
According to the EPA, paper is the
largest part (38%) of solid waste, about 78 million tons, or about 560
lbs. for every American. Not all recyclable paper products are being
recycled and, even if they were, we should think about reducing their use.
Recycling requires labor and resources: someone must collect and sort
the paper; transporting it to a mill burns fuel, creating air pollutants;
de-inking and milling the paper is an expensive process which also
pollutes, as does any kind of manufacturing.
Activities
- Encourage the students to imagine a day without paper: no books,
notebooks, magazines, newspapers, TV guide, etc. They will begin to
understand how dependent we are on paper products.
- Give each student a worksheet. Students should
place a checkmark in the second column for each paper use in the first
column that is applicable to them. In the third column, students can
write yes or no if the paper product had been used before,
e.g., writing on both sides of a sheet of paper. Students might be
organized into groups to brainstorm alternative ideas for paper use and
jot them down in the fourth column, e.g., using dishcloths instead of
paper towels to wipe up spills; sharing or rotating comic books. Visit the
District's
Precycling page
for more ideas.
Optional: If you would like to incorporate some math into the
lesson, have the students list the number of sheets used per category,
then multiply that number by days and months. The final number can even be
converted to pounds (about 145 sheets = one pound).
- Bring a computer diskette and any kind of CD-ROM to class.
Whether you use them or not, students will probably be surprised that an
entire book can fit on a 1.4 MB diskette, and an entire set of
encyclopedias on a single CD-ROM (with sound and video included). As
an alternative to paper use, students might one day turn in their homework
assignments on diskette (or already are doing so). For students who do not
have access to a CD-ROM encyclopedia, try some of the helpful links listed
on the left side of this page.
Questions
Did you use recycled paper, and did you recycle every piece of recyclable
paper?
Why is waste reduction or precycling preferable to recycling?
Why else should we try to reduce paper waste?
What can each of us do to reduce paper use?
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