Education
Henry County Solid Waste Management District provides a number of resources for local teachers:
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The ReUse Center- rooms of supplies available for teachers to ‘shop’ for, free of charge. Items include teaching supplies, classroom decorations, office supplies, craft supplies, and containers.
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Education Station- books, worksheets, games, craft ideas, and activities to help teachers bring environmental topics to the classroom for all ages. Ideas for teaching about climate change, recycling, conservation, and zero waste. Items can be checked out for 30 days.
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In-person programs- our educators will bring environmental education directly to your classroom. Presentations are designed to help students recognize the importance of the environment, teach them their role in the environment, and recognize how their choices impact the environment. Our education programs cover Indiana Academic Standards for K-5th grade. We also have other programs available for all ages. Below are the list of programs.
K-12 Education
We offer a variety of standards-based environmental programs to students of all ages from preschool through high school. Programs are brought directly to the classroom for free. All presentations are interactive and cover a wide range of topics such as recycling, resource conservation, pollution and landfill education
Recycling Superheroes
Pre K-K
After story time with a recycling superhero, students will make superhero wristbands from a reuse craft activity.
30 minutes
Squirmy Wormy Vermicomposting
Grades 1-2
Worms eat our garbage! Through this totally interactive program, students learn the importance of worms. Using magnifiers, they can examine these decomposers and find out exactly how worms squirm.
45 minutes
The Three R's
Pre K-K
Students learn the importance and concept behind the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle message using examples and songs.
30 minutes
Musical
Trash
Grades 1-2
A totally fun and educational spin on musical chairs! Each student becomes a type of trash on it’s way to a final destination. Once “out” of the game, they have to decide if they can be recycled, reused, or bound for the landfill.
45 minutes
What Can a Tree Be?
Grades 1-2
You will be amazed at just how many consumer goods are actually made from trees. The class will learn how trees provide humans and wildlife with many benefits as well as the easiest way to protect forests by reducing, reusing and recycling.
45 minutes
Garbage
Monster
Grades 1-2
Students will learn that most of the things we throw away could be recycled instead. Using a story and a fun reuse craft, students will learn more about what items can be recycled, reused, or donated.
45 minutes
Who Polluted the River?
Grades 3-4
Students experience the pollution of a river over time due to rain runoff, personal decisions, and industrial growth. They then propose methods to clean up and protect the river from current and future pollution.
30 minutes
Edible Landfill
Grades 3-4
What goes into our landfills each day? Students become garbologists with edible “trash.” This activity develops an awareness of the final destination of the waste stream and emphasizes the importance of wise personal decisions.
1 hour
Bird Nest Helpers
Grades 3-4
Our waste often has a huge impact on wildlife. The class will then learn how to make a bird nest helper — an upcycled mesh produce bag filled with organic material. It can be hung outside allowing students to observe birds that gather bits of material for their nests.
45 minutes
Earth Cookie
Grades 3-4
Students learn about the limited amount of farmland available on Earth and how their personal decisions and actions can protect the remaining farmland. Students will eat a “piece of the earth” when the project is complete.
45 minutes
Enviro-Survivor
Grades 5-6
Students out-reduce, out-reuse and out-recycle using mental and physical environmental challenges related to caring for their “island paradise.” This series will occur over four different sessions spread throughout one semester and culminating in a fun, year-end celebration.
(45 minutes to an hour per session,
4 sessions per year)
Renewable is Do-Able
Grades 5-6
This lesson creates awareness of natural resources and the difference between renewable and non-renewable. Students will identify types of natural resources, think critically about environmental issues, and discover our impact on the Earth.
40 to 45 minutes
Earth Quest
Grades 3-6
Students will learn how our waste leaves a footprint on Earth. Using a story and an eco-challenge game, students will learn easy solutions to reducing their impact on the environment.
30 minutes
HHW Bingo
Grades 5-6
Students will learn about how to properly dispose of household hazardous waste (HHW) as well as alternatives to using harsh chemicals and toxic products.
30 minutes
Lunch and Learn
Grades 7-12
Topics range from paper or plastic recycling to overseas markets and global recycling issues. Students can bring their lunch and eat while participating in the discussion.
30 to 45 minutes
E-Waste Education
Grades 7-12
Students will learn the issues and problems surrounding the process of e-waste disposal and brainstorm various solutions. The lesson includes a few video components along with some team/class discussion and culminates in a cool upcycle project each student will take home.
45 minutes to 1 hour
Trash Talk
Grades 7-12
Similar to the “Lunch and Learn” program but discussion happens in the classroom setting instead.
ONLINE RESOURCES
There are many fun online games out there to practice your recycling knowledge. Click on a link below to learn more!
Recycling Roundup by National Geographic
Recycling the Waste by Turtle Diary
Learn to Sort and Recycle by ABCYa!
Recycle This! by NASA Climate Kids
Note - Links to third-party sites do not constitute an endorsement of the parties or their products and services. We cannot guarantee all links are active and/or control advertising on the third-party sites.