Unit Topic: Litter/Trash and what we can do about it

Grade level: First Grade

Stage 1 Desired Results

Content Standard/Established Goals(s):
PA State Standards in environment and ecology
S.K-2.B.3.3.1: Identify methods of recycling and reusing resources.
PA State Standards in ELA:
C.1.4.1.W: With guidance and support, recall information from

experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a

question.
CC.1.5.1.A: Participate in collaborative conversations with peers and
adults in small and larger groups.
CC.1.5.1.B: Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information
presented orally or through other media by asking and answering
questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is
not understood.
CC.1.5.1.F: Add drawings or other visual displays when sharing aloud to
clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.

PA State Standards in Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening:

1.1.1.D: Demonstrate listening and reading comprehension /

understanding before reading, during reading, and after reading

through strategies such as think aloud, retelling, summarizing,
connecting to prior knowledge and non-linguistic representations
1.5.1.B: Develop content appropriate for the topic.
Gather and organize information, incorporating details relevant to the
topic.
Write a series of related sentences with one central idea.
1.9.1.A: Use media and technology resources for directed learning
activities.

NCSS

Thematic Standard No.3 - People Places, and Environments

During their studies, learners develop an understanding of spatial

perspectives, and examine changes in the relationship between
peoples, places and environments.
Understanding(s)
Students will understand that:
Litter is a problem because it is
harmful to the environment
Not all trash is actually trash and
that only a fraction of it is actually

Essential Question(s):
What is trash? What is recycling?
What happens to litter? Over
time?
What can we do to help clean up
our neighborhood?

waste
There can be something done
about the litter problem
We can be advocates and
activists in change in our
communities

Student objectives (outcomes):

Students will know
What happens to trash/where it
goes
What it means to recycle
The 3 Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle)
and how to go about doing all of
them

How can we reduce, reuse, and

recycle?
How do we promote this lifestyle?

Students will be able to

Express thoughts on what they
can do about litter
Have conversations on what they
Identify different types of
recyclables and waste
Work together to create posters
on advocating for change
Make connections to the world
around them

Stage 2 Assessment Evidence

Performance Task(s):
Other Evidence:
Each group will take a particular
Class discussions on the litter
topic/aspect of promoting
problem
recycling/not littering to create a
Class created KWL chart on
poster by drawing on the lessons
trash/where it goes
they have had about
Inventory of trash in the
trash/recycling and using
neighborhood/classroom
language from their persuasive
writing unit

Beginning Culminating

Learning Activity

Stage 3 Learning Plan

Objectives/Goals

Formative Assessment

Here Comes the Garbage

Barge! Read Aloud

Use a non-fiction story to

learn the history of trash
and what becomes of it

Observation

Guessing how long litter

takes to decompose

Drawing on their
understanding of time and
reinforcing the harm of
litter
Introducing them to the
idea of ways to reduce
waste
Learning that some things
in the trash can reduced

Discussion/chart

The 3 Rs Read aloud

Trash sorting video

Observation/turn and talk

Discussion

Trash inventory

Brainstorm ways to solve

litter problem

Create a poster to promote

recycling/throwing your
trash away

Noting the different types

of litter on the ground and
raising awareness of how
a lot of it can be reduced,
reused, or recycled
Have a discussion and
generate solutions based
on the knowledge they
acquired
Work in groups, create a
product that will be
showcased at the Earth
Day Celebration

Inventory checklist

Class generated chart

Poster