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Sustainable Forest Initiative: Project Learning Tree in Virginia

Project Learning Tree offers PreK-12 environmental education curriculum to promote critical thinking and informed decision-making on environmental issues. Modules cover waste management, recycling, composting, and more. Contact PLT State Coordinator for details.

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Sustainable Forest Initiative: Project Learning Tree in Virginia

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  1. “Teaching children how to think, not what to think.”

  2. Project Learning Tree is a program of the Sustainable Forest Initiative. In Virginia, PLT is sponsored by:

  3. Project Learning Tree is A Comprehensive EE Program • High quality, PreK-12 EE curriculum materials • Diverse, international network of partners • Implementation via a successful delivery system of professional development

  4. PLT’s Mission PLT uses the forest as a “window on the world” to: • Increase students understanding of our complex environment • Stimulate critical and creative thinking • Develop the ability to make informed decisions on environmental issues • Instill the confidence and commitment to take responsible action

  5. PLT Curriculum • PLT for PreK-8 • Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood • PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide • Energy and Society • 5 GreenSchools! Investigations • PLT for Secondary • 6 printed modules • 5 online modules

  6. Municipal Solid Waste • The main goals of this module are to • Generate an awareness, interest, and • understanding of waste management issue and options • Provide hands-on experiences that the show the interrelationships among waste generation, natural resource use, and disposal • Provide opportunities for exploring a variety of waste management strategies and solutions • Provide the tools necessary for making informed decisions and choices regarding waste issues

  7. Activity 1- Introduction to MSW: The Waste Stream This activity helps students to develop an understanding of MSW management, its importance, and the role it plays in their community. Students will develop a historical sense of solid waster, thereby learning how people have managed it throughout time. Students will be introduced to their school’s solid waste management system and investigate it by collecting, analyzing, and graphing data.

  8. Activity 2 – Source Reduction Student will learn about the importance of source reduction, or of generating less waste in the first place. They will analyze various products in terms of packaging, waste generated, and toxicity. They will look at household hazardous waste products and ways to reduce the use of toxic products at home.

  9. Activity 3 – Recycling and Economics This activity familiarizes students with recycling, as well as the various economic factors that influence waste management programs. By conducting field research, students will determine the extent of recycled and recyclable products available in their community. They will also consider market forces of supply and demand with respect to recycling.

  10. Activity 4 - Composting Students will explore the value of composting as part of a community solid waste management program and will learn about the chemical reactions that occur during decomposition. By creating their own compost containers, collecting compostable waste and creating actual compost, students will apply their knowledge in hands-on, practical experiments.

  11. Activity 5 – Waste-to-Energy Students will learn how a waste-to-energy facility functions by using a case study approach. Participating in a democratic decision making process, students will discover the many factors involved when a community makes decisions regarding municipal solid waste facilities.

  12. Activity 6 – Landfills Students will create “miniature landfills” to simulate the movement of leachate in a landfill and demonstrate the importance of liners. By experimenting with different soil types and liners, students will learn about how landfills are constructed to prevent pollution. In addition, students will learn about the many considerations that must be taken into account when identifying a landfill site.

  13. Activity 7 – Where Does Your Garbage Go? Students will consider the waste management program of a typical municipality, then will study their own community’s program. Through exchanging data with students in another community, both groups will gain additional insights into different waste management programs.

  14. Activity 8 – Take Action: Success Stories and Personal Choices Students will analyze and try to improve their own waste generation habits. In addition, they will develop and implement a plan to reduce waste generated in their school.

  15. Page Hutchinson page.hutchinson@dof.virginia.gov PLT State Coordinator

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