The Day the Trash Came Out to Play
Lesson Plan Extensions
The following are some good lesson plans to implement while reading The Day the Trash Came Out to Play:
Concepts: pollution prevention, human disrespect for nature, litter, environmental protection – citizen participation, recycling
- Discuss as a class what types of litter you may have seen. Discuss where you have seen litter. Discuss how the litter makes you feel. Discuss what can be done about litter (prevention and cleanup – use some of the notes at the end of the book to assist with this).
- Categorize types of litter one may cleanup (suggestions are for items that are reusable, items that can be recycled, and items that can not be reused or recycled and need to be disposed of properly).
- Discuss how litter is harmful to wildlife on the land and in the water (e.g. how Styrofoam can harm birds, how small animals can get trapped in bottles, jars and cans, and how six pack rings can choke turtles, etc.). Ask a Park Ranger from a nearby local park to come and speak to the class about wildlife in your area.
- As a class, walk around your school and take notes about where litter is found on the school grounds, what litter is found, and how much litter is found. Categorize the litter as in the second bulleted item above, and clean it up. Map and/or chart your findings and share this information with the entire school population (e.g., via a bulletin board or assembly).
- Make an effort to start a no litter club/campaign at the school. Check this link for more info about starting a club (although this site is geared toward middle school students, you can get a lot of useful information on starting a club, assessing how to think through the project you have in mind, and fundraising if needed).
- Design and create litter prevention posters to hang up around the school (perhaps hold a poster contest in conjunction with this effort).
- Have students write a story in rhyme or poem of their own about litter and/or recycling, and share them in class.
- Have a local Recycling Coordinator or Keep America Beautiful affiliate come to your school to speak about recycling and litter prevention in your community.
- As a class and with the parents of the students, get involved with a local community litter cleanup in a neighborhood, park or nearby beach.
Related Links on Earth 911:
- General Recycling Information Section
- Household Hazardous Waste Section
Related Links:
