Trash Trackers: Collaborative Community Cleanup Initiative

Lesson Plan for Ontario Grade 6 Social Studies

Prepared by M. Lavoie

OVERVIEW & PURPOSE

Students will learn about the different types of plastic packaging symbols and be able to classify types of waste. They will collaborate on a web map by collecting field data using the Trash Tracker survey created with Esri’s Survey123 on mobile devices. This data can then be used as a feature layer in later projects involving Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The data is separated into two categories: WHAT (Classification of Waste, Describe and Take a Picture) and WHERE (Area Characteristics and Specific Location). “Trash” will be classified as: Recyclable, Waste, or Organic Material. Options are nested beneath each option, so that students can begin to independently determine if their choice was accurate, and learn more about the different classifications as they collect. Finally, they will use this data to inform their action plan to solve a problem in their community while thinking about connections to the global community by contributing to a collaborative web map.

EDUCATION STANDARDS

Social Studies - PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENTS: CANADA’S INTERACTIONS WITH THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY

Ontario Curricular Specific Expectations

• B1.3 explain why some environmental issues are of international importance and require the participation of other regions of the world, along with that of Canada, if they are to be effectively addressed (e.g., issues such as global warming, disposal of electronic waste, etc)
• B2.1 formulate questions to guide investigations into global issues of political, social, economic, and/or environmental importance (e.g. climate change), their impact on the global community, and responses to the issues
• B2.2 gather and organize information on global issues of political, social, economic, and/or environmental importance, including their impact and responses to them, using a variety of resources and various technologies

MATERIALS NEEDED

Technology

1. Google Site
2. Esri ArcGIS Online Public Account (see Google Slides entitled “Esri ArcGIS Online Teacher Account Creation / Login” for step-by-step instructions)
3. Tablets (or mobile phones) with Esri’s Survey123 app installed (see Google Slides entitled “Esri ArcGIS Online Teacher Account Creation / Login” for step-by-step instructions)

Community Cleanup

1. Garbage / recycling bags
2. Gloves
3. Safety vests

ACTIVITY

Part 1 of this lesson aims to build knowledge about plastics, how they impact the environment and to introduce the concept of formulating a research question. Part 2 is a hands-on design activity, where students engage in data collection in the field using the mobile app Survey123 and the Trash Trackers survey.

Use the Google Site provided to guide you.

Part 1

1. Trash Trackers Collaborative Inquiry page on Google Site - follow directions as stated
2. Students will use the Student Resources page on Google Site as a source of research

Part 2

1. Trash Trackers: Action Plan page on Google Site - follow directions as stated
2. Trash Trackers: Reflection page on Google Site - follow directions as stated

Assessment

1. Anecdotal notes / observation

Assessment page on Google Site - follow directions as stated

Esri ArcGIS Online teacher account creation / login

Below you will find Slides on how to set up your ArcGIS Online account in order to participate in the field data collection portion of the activity.