Waste management teaching kit
An educational kit for teachers on residual materials management
We’re pleased to share with you our educational kit on residual materials management (WM).
Designed specifically for teachers in First Nations elementary schools in Quebec and Labrador, the kit contains five fun, turnkey challenges for the classroom. These activities will enable students to develop their knowledge of several waste management themes, including: waste sorting, the zero waste principle, household hazardous waste, composting and the ecological footprint.
In 2019 and 2020, our team toured 34 First Nations elementary schools to deliver a physical version of the teaching kit. If you’re a teacher and would like a complete kit, check with the school administration to see if the school already has one. Otherwise, contact us directly at matieresresiduelles@iddpnql.ca.
You’ll find the virtual version of the teaching kit on this page. Simply follow the steps to complete the kit.
Creating a green brigade
To make the most of our educational kit, we invite you to form a green brigade with your students. The aim of creating a brigade is to give students as much responsibility as possible in carrying out the challenges. Here you’ll find all the information you need to set up your own brigade. We’ve provided a step-by-step guide, but it’s up to you to adapt it to your specific situation!
Introduction to WM
The aim of this first activity is to explain the basics of waste management to students through a short power point presentation. You can then print out and distribute the Theria and Larinie activity book to help students deepen their knowledge while having fun.
Challenge 1: Where does it go?
With this first challenge, you’ll be able to officially launch the Residual Materials Management Survey to help you sort materials properly when the time comes to dispose of them. Students will gain a better understanding of ecocenters, recycling and composting. You’ll find all the instructions for 2 classroom games in the description sheet: Relay Race and Vote!
Challenge 1 fact sheet
Power point Challenge 1: Sorting our waste properly
Video 1: Investigating
Video questionnaire
Challenge 1 Brigade sheet
Challenge 2: Zero waste
This second challenge involves reducing the amount of waste produced by your class. You’re invited to conduct a characterization of your class’s residual materials, i.e., dig through the garbage to see the quantity and types of materials generated. You might even decide to challenge your colleagues and see which class manages to generate the least waste.
Challenge 2 fact sheet
Power point Challenge 2: Reducing our waste
Video 2: Garbage
Video questionnaire
Challenge 2 Brigade sheet
Challenge 3: My HHW box
Since household hazardous waste (HHW) can have serious consequences for our health and that of the environment, it’s important to make young people aware of the issue. The HHW box is a simple, fun and environmentally-friendly way to collect used batteries, burnt-out light bulbs, small electronics and leftover household products from around the house, and take them to your nearest collection point. The activity consists in helping participants create their own box. They can then take it home to educate the whole family and recycle HHW safely!
Challenge 3 fact sheet
Power Point challenge 3: HHW
Video 3: Recycling
Video questionnaire 3
Challenge 3 Brigade sheet
Challenge 4: Composting
With this challenge, students have to put the scientific approach into practice to understand the magic of composting. You can carry out an experiment in class to analyze the process of biodegradation of organic matter. In just a few weeks, you’ll be able to watch food scraps transform into rich black earth!
Challenge 4 fact sheet
Power Point Challenge 4: Composting
Video 4: Composting
Video questionnaire 4
Challenge 4 Brigade sheet
Challenge 5: My ecological footprint
Did you know that if everyone consumed as much as Canadians, it would take more than 3 planets to meet human needs? With this challenge, students can gently reflect on the impact of their consumption on nature with a simple game on the lifespan of materials. You could end this last challenge by offering young people the opportunity to act now by doing a big schoolyard clean-up!