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Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse
Math in a Bottle
Lesson Description:
- Explain the need to reduce the amount of trash they generate, and describe ways in which they can make changes in their actions to support waste reduction.
- Predict, observe, record, and draw logical conclusions during simple investigation.
- Communicate their ideas in writing and inform readers about their actions to reduce waste.
- Identify and describe the life cycle of consumer products.
- Collect, record, organize, interpret and analyze data using a variety of graphic representations and draw logical conclusions.
Lesson Type:
- Other
Sustainability Topic:
- Waste Reduction
GEF Program Category:
- Waste Reduction Challenge
Time Needed:
Two 40 minute session on two different days
Two 40 minute session on two different days
Standards Addressed:
Geography Standard 16: Understand the changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution and importance of resources.
Geography Standard 18: Understand global development and environmental issues.
Science Standard 12: Understand the nature of scientific inquiry.
Language Arts Standard 8: Use listening and speaking strategies for different purposes.
Mathematics Standard 3: Use basic and advanced procedures while performing the process of computation.
Mathematics Standard 6: Understand and apply the basic and advanced concepts of statistics and data analysis.
Geography Standard 16: Understand the changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution and importance of resources.
- Benchmark # 5: Know advantages and disadvantages of recycling and reusing different types of materials.
Geography Standard 18: Understand global development and environmental issues.
- Benchmark # 2: Know ways in which resources can be managed and why it is important to do so (e.g., conservation practices, recycling non-renewable resources).
Science Standard 12: Understand the nature of scientific inquiry.
- Benchmark # 3: Plans and conducts simple investigations.
Language Arts Standard 8: Use listening and speaking strategies for different purposes.
- Benchmark # 3: Respond to questions and comments (e.g., gives reasons in support of opinions).
Mathematics Standard 3: Use basic and advanced procedures while performing the process of computation.
- Benchmark # 5: Perform basic mental computations (e.g. addition and subtraction of whole numbers).
- Benchmark # 6: Determine the effects of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division on the size and order of numbers.
Mathematics Standard 6: Understand and apply the basic and advanced concepts of statistics and data analysis.
- Benchmark # 1: Understand that data represents specific pieces of information about real-world objects or activities.
- Benchmark # 4: Organize and display data in simple bar graphs, pie charts and line graphs.
- Benchmark # 5: Read and interpret simple bar graphs, pie charts and line graphs.
- Benchmark # 6: Understand that data comes in many different forms and that collecting, organizing and displaying data can be done in many ways.
Materials Needed:
- An empty plastic water bottle
- Reusable water bottle
- Interview form provided below
- Math worksheet provided below
- Worksheet with cut outs of plastic bottles or reusable bottles provided below
- A copy or multiple copies of “Where Does the Trash Go ?: Revised Edition” by Paul Showers
Submitted By:
Green Education Foundation (GEF)
Green Education Foundation (GEF)
School or Group:
Green Education Foundation (GEF)
Green Education Foundation (GEF)
Contact Email:
service@greeneducationfoundation.org
service@greeneducationfoundation.org
