In this unit students
• identify wastes produced within their community and learn the methods used for disposal
• learn that some waste materials are biodegradable, that some are reusable, and that others are toxic
• recognize that human activity can lead to the production of wastes
• identify wastes produced within their community and learn the methods used for disposal
• learn that some waste materials are biodegradable, that some are reusable, and that others are toxic
• recognize that human activity can lead to the production of wastes
Natural waste:
What happens to waste in nature?
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In natural communities and processes, nothing is useless or worthless. When an antler is shed, when a plant dies, when a bird abandons its nest – all these materials are used again and woven back into the complex tapestry of life. What goes around, comes around. Concepts such as recycling and re-using are not recent phenomena in the natural world; they have been part of planet’s natural processes since the beginning of time! Humans are another story. We are the species that invented the concept of waste, and we have not found adequate ways of dealing with the challenges associated with it. Are there lessons that we can learn from the natural environment?
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Think:
What happens to all the animals when they die? What happen to all the leaves that fall from the trees every year?
What happens to all the animals when they die? What happen to all the leaves that fall from the trees every year?
Biodegradable :
Something that is able to break down (rot, decay, decompose) through natural processes.
What is decomposition?
Decomposition is the natural process of dead animal or plant tissue being rotted or broken down. This process is carried out by invertebrates, fungi and bacteria. The result of decomposition is that the building blocks required for life can be recycled. |
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Decomposition is an important part of all ecosystems.
Decomposition is an important of all life cycles. In a forest, dead leaves that fall from deciduous trees in the autumn form a thick carpet on the forest floor. Decomposition reduces these leaves first into a compost and then into nutrients which return to the soil and enable new plant growth to take place.
It is not just on a forest floor that decomposition is important. Death and decomposition are an essential part of all life cycles on earth. To enable successful birth and growth of young plants and animals, older specimens must die and decompose.
Decomposition is an important part of all ecosystems.
Decomposition is an important of all life cycles. In a forest, dead leaves that fall from deciduous trees in the autumn form a thick carpet on the forest floor. Decomposition reduces these leaves first into a compost and then into nutrients which return to the soil and enable new plant growth to take place.
It is not just on a forest floor that decomposition is important. Death and decomposition are an essential part of all life cycles on earth. To enable successful birth and growth of young plants and animals, older specimens must die and decompose.
Producers, Consumers and Decomposers
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• Producers: Green plants that are able to make their own food using energy from the sun.
• Consumers: Any living organism that cannot make its own food and must eat plants and animals to get the energy it needs for survival; consumers can be herbivores (plant eaters), carnivores (animal eaters), or omnivores (plant and animal eaters).
• Decomposers: Living organisms, including bacteria, fungi and insects, that break down the remains and waste products of plants and animals.
• Consumers: Any living organism that cannot make its own food and must eat plants and animals to get the energy it needs for survival; consumers can be herbivores (plant eaters), carnivores (animal eaters), or omnivores (plant and animal eaters).
• Decomposers: Living organisms, including bacteria, fungi and insects, that break down the remains and waste products of plants and animals.
Food chain
Click here- Have Fun! Food chain activity
Game- Producer, consumer, decomposer
How much you know?
Mould on food
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What is mould ?
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Grow your own mould.
Activity: Making Mould
Why are we doing this?
Prediction:
Mould grows best when it is Light Dark
Mould grows best when it is Dry Wet
Materials and steps:
2. Each group needs 4 ziploc sandwich bags and 4 pieces of masking tape.
3. Use a Sharpie to label the bags- Dark, Dry
Dark, Wet
Light, Dry
Light, Wet
4. Place a slice of your food in a bag.
- To observe mould growing.
- To learn what mould does to the thin on which it grows.
- To learn how mould best grows.
Prediction:
Mould grows best when it is Light Dark
Mould grows best when it is Dry Wet
Materials and steps:
- The class will divide into groups. Each group will bring in four samples from four different food groups ( Grain, Fruit and vegetables, Milk and alternatives, Meat and alternatives). For example, if you chose to bring fruit and vegetables, you may bring 4 pieces of an apple. Or if you choose to bring grin products, you may bring 4 pieces of bread.
2. Each group needs 4 ziploc sandwich bags and 4 pieces of masking tape.
3. Use a Sharpie to label the bags- Dark, Dry
Dark, Wet
Light, Dry
Light, Wet
4. Place a slice of your food in a bag.
Journal Entry: What do I know about mould?
“Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for people of understanding. Those who remember Allah (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! ”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:190, 191]
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:190, 191]
Human Made Waste
Household waste: what can you reuse and recycle?
Reusable Household Items:
We can reuse our cloths, reusable bags, other side of papers, toys, furnitures, bottles, jars, containers and many more!
Recyclable Household Items & Materials:
Junk Mail and Cards, paper, disposable plates and cups,beverage containers,food Jars, bottle caps, and many more.
Look for recycling sign.
Look for recycling sign.
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Where does it go?
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Hazardous waste
Household Hazardous Waste:
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Let's find hazardous hotspot: Which area in a home is likely to have the most hazardous product?
Journal entry: Use the class result to create a data table and make a tally of number of hazardous product found in each room of your home. ( Math and LA connection)
Symbols of hazardous waste:
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Journal entry: This is an extension of previous journal entry. In your journal draw and write each hazard type and their definition and sort the examples you found in your house. Their should be minimum 4 paragraphs (one for each of four types of hazards).
HHW management:
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Where does our garbage end up? : Landfill
How does a modern landfill work?
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3 Rs: Reduce- Reuse- Recycle
What are 3Rs?
How can I reduce- reuse - recycle?
Reuse and recycle papers to save trees-
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Hope for Future
My Green Plan: