The Ecology Center Education Team builds strong support for zero waste through EC led workshops, classroom curricula, educator trainings, and printed resources.
Recycling System Trainings
Just starting to recycle at your school? Or looking for a refresher on what can be recycled and what happens to that useful waste? Consider one of our programs specifically designed to provide age-appropriate and interactive orientation to your school’s recycling service. Programs for all grade levels and adult audiences are available.
Program Descriptions
Wee Recycle (PK/K): Available Online or In-Person
MI Science Standards: K-ESS3-3, K-2-ETS1-3, MI Social Studies Standards: K-G5.0.1
Through games, story, and song, students learn about recycling and how to reduce waste. Featuring song and story with ReEco and friends, and a follow-along, hands-on component where students can sort their own waste at home to learn the rules of recycling.
Compostability (1st): Available Online or In-Person
MI Science Standards: 1-LS1-1, MI Social Studies Standards: 1-G2.0.1, 1-G5.0.1
Through games, poetry, story, and song, students learn about organic waste and the role of nature's recyclers. Featuring interactive questions, song and story with ReEco the Recycling Raccoon, a follow-along, hands-on component where students can create their own compost using household items.
Grow, Eat & Throw (2nd): Available Online or In-Person
MI Science Standards: 2-PS1-2, MI Social Studies Standards: 2-G1.0.1, 2-G4.0.2, 2-G5.0.1, 2-E1.0.3, 2-E1.0.5
Explore life cycles of common food products and propose alternative systems to reduce the impact of food waste. Featuring a fun, engaging draw-on-the-screen portion where students identify zero waste packaging options, and a hands-on component where students look at packaging waste in their own home and report back!
Storm Water Mystery (2nd and 3rd): Available Online
MI Science Standards: 3-ESS2-1, 3-ESS3-1, MI Social Studies Standards : 3 - P4.2, 3 - G5.0.1
Decipher the clues to storm water pollution, and discuss everyday solutions. Students help Detective Frog and his assistant, Yoshi, solve a mystery through: interactive questions, a fun, engaging draw-on-the-screen portion, and singing with Detective Frog and friends! Students receive the Stormwater Detective Badge for completing the lesson.
Time for Waste (3rd): Available In-Person
MI Standards: 3-LS4-1, 3-LS4-4, 3-H3.0.2, 3-H3.0.5, 3-H3.0.7, 3-E1.0.1, 3-G5.0.2
This simulated archaeological dig allows students to compare the nature of waste from Native Americans to present day and critically examine how waste is related to culture.
Project Recycle (4th): Available Online or In-Person
MI Science Standards: 4-ESS3-1, MI Social Studies Standards: 4-G4.0.3, 4-G5.0.1, 4-E1.0.1, 4-E1.0.3
Students learn about our waste system and how consumer choices impact the recycling market. Featuring a video of the Materials Recovery Facility and a draw-on-the-screen sorting activity!
Mapping Materials Markets (4th): Available In-Person
MI Standards: 4-G4.0.3, 4-G5.0.1, 4-E1.0.1, 4-E1.0.3, 4-E1.0.4
Examine maps and models to identify how recycling influences the economy and environment.
The 3 C's: Compost, Carbon, and Climate (5th): Available Online or In-Person
MI Science Standards: 5-PS1-3, 5-LS2-1, 5-ESS2-1, 5-ESS3-1
Use evidence to identify how the biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere interact during decomposition.
Our Material World (6th): Available Online or In-Person
MI Social Studies Standards: 6-G1.3.1, 6-G2.2.3, 6-G3.2.2, 6-G4.1.4, 6-G4.4.1, 6-G5.1.1
Analyze images and statistics from countries across the world that reflect cultural and environmental differences, while raising questions about social equity.
Hungry Planet (7th): Available Online or In-Person
MI Social Studies Standards: 7-G4.4.1, 7-G4.2.1, 7-G4.4.2, 7-G4.3.1, 7-G4.3.2, 7–G3.1.1, 7-G5.1.2, 7-G5.1.3, 7-W4.1.3
Compare food systems of the past with our modern global system and more-sustainable alternatives in order to write a persuasive argument for improving our food system.
Free Download! Researching Sustainable Systems (High School): Available Online
MI Social Studies Standards P1.1, P1.5, P3.4, CG2, MI Science Standards: HS-ESS3-1, HS-ETS1-1, HS-ETS1-3
Give students an age-appropriate introduction to published research with a focus on sustainable resource management. Provides practice with skills such as data analysis, graphing, and reasoning, while asking students to think deeply about the relationship between social inequities and environmental and human health.
How do I request a program?
We are currently funded to provide solid waste education FREE to private and public schools in select Washtenaw County schools. For more details or to request a free program, visit these links:
Classroom visits and virtual resources are available to other communities on a case by case basis. Contact us to request a quote. We tailor all programming to meet your community and classroom needs, and often work with municipalities or community groups to secure funding for district-wide education.