Solid Waste Management - A WebQuest

Teacher's Notes

This WebQuest is designed to introduce students to the problems associated with the disposal of solid waste. They will investigate ways in which the amount of solid waste generated by both individuals and businesses can be reduced using the 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle). They will also investigate alternatives to landfilling waste such as incineration and composting. The students will develop a waste management plan for a city that is facing a shortage of landfill space.

Timeline

Day 1 - Introductory Activity

In this activity students are introduced to what solid waste is, where it comes from, and how much we produce. Students use online resources to answer a short set of questions.

Days 2 and 3

Students are introduced to the task they will undertake. They will work in groups of four. Each member of the group will research a separate aspect of developing the solid waste plan.

Days 4 and 5

Students will reconvene as a group to develop their plan based on the individual research from the previous two days. At the conclusion of this work a written plan is submitted for the group.

Assessment

Students are assessed individually based on their performance during the process of writing the proposal. Here is the rubric used to assign an individual grade.

Students are also assigned a group grade based on the final written proposal that they submit. Here is the rubric used to assign the group grade.