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| journal page pdf |
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The Wolf Ridge Living Lightly class provides many extension possiblilites for the classroom. Tie-ins can be made to a variety of topics including resource use, energy types and production, informed consumerism, recycling, and more. In addition, there is a sample performance package for MN Grad Standards for grades 6-8. Visit this page periodically as we will add new activities and links suggested by Wolf Ridge visiting school teachers, and eventually our own interactive on-line activities.
1. Break students into working groups of 4 - 6. Have the students explore the different methods of garbage disposal “in the old days,” by conducting an interview with a grandparent (or visit a senior center to conduct interviews). Have each group plan and carry out a three minute summary about the different ways people disposed of their trash in “the old days.” The presentation should include a flow chart of work to be done, the interviews, and a sharing of responsibility for the presentations.
Graduation Standards:
4-5th Write and Speak: Speaking 1 a-d.
2. Tour a solid waste facility and learn how your city or county solid waste and recycling is handled. Have students work in small work groups and ask them to discuss where the trash goes after they throw it away, personal actions they can accomplish to reduce the amount of trash they are contributing to the waste stream, costs that are associated with the collection and disposal of common household goods, trash and recycled products. Have each work group present their thoughts and findings to the entire class in a three minute presentation with shared speaking responsibilities.
Graduation Standards:
6 -8th Write and Speak: Interpersonal Communication 1, 3, 4.
3. Break students into small work groups of 4-6. Have each group develop a research project centered around the use of water. Ideas include the use of water in producing an agricultural crop, use of water in producing meat (hogs, beef cattle, dairy cows, turkeys, chickens, etc..), the use of water in the household, the attainment, treatment, delivery and use of municipal water, lawn care and water, groundwater flow and drinking water, etc.. Students must write a report about the use of water in a situation, describing water conservation alternatives they identify, and give an informal oral presentation on the paper they have written. The presentation should include a minimum of three visual aids and use computer technology to research and/or present visual aid.
Graduation Standards:
H.S. Write and Speak: Academic Writing A-D, Public Speaking A-F.
H.S. Resource Management: Technical Systems B.
1. Conduct a “Living Lightly” household plan for your family. Be sure to cover family alternatives to transportation choices, recycling, recreation choices, purchasing choices in shopping (clothing, food, gifts), landscaping and yard care, household hazardous waste disposal, energy use, water use. In addition to the household family examination, each student should spend two hours at a parent or relative’s workplace and conduct a “Living Lightly” workplace plan. This can include photocopying choices, paper purchasing choices, lunch and snack choices (packaging and serving methods), transportation choices for commuting to and from work, workplace hazardous waste disposal, lighting, and others.
Graduation Standards:
4-5th Sciences: Living and Non-living Systems A (4), B (4).
6-8th Resource Management: Personal Resources 1, 4, 6, 7.
2. Conduct a product investigation from field to fridge. Have students self select small work groups of 4-6 students. Have each group pick a fruit, vegetable, dry good (flour, sugar, oats, barley, wheat, etc..) or meat (chicken, pork, beef, buffalo, turkey) and investigate the production of this product. The investigation should include maps of major production areas, wholesale prices, transportation routes, packaging of the product, historical perspectives on the production of the product, government programs concerning the product (both federal and state), alternatives to the product, among others. The investigation should be presented in a written report format (three to five pages) with five minute oral presentations including at least three visual aids and include demonstrated use of the computer in the investigation and/or the visual aids.
Graduation Standards:
H.S. Write and Speak: Academic Writing A-D, Public Speaking A-F.
H.S. Resource Management: Technical Systems B.
H.S. Resource Management: Economic Systems A, C-E.
Under construction.
Class Description:
In this human culture class, students will examine energy and resource use at Wolf Ridge. They will recycle and compost solid waste, examine dorm water use and efficiency, and be introduced to the Wolf Ridge wind generator and wood boilers. Energy efficiency will be illustrated using photovoltaics and an energy bicycle. Finally, students will consider the impact of human population and our individual lives upon global resources, and determine ways to conserve and use resources sustainably.
Total time: 3 hours (1 hour outdoors)
Audience: 6-20 students, 4th grade through adult
Activity level: easy
Travel: 1/4 mile
Total uphill travel: 30 feet
Outcomes
Upon completion of the Living Lightly class students will be able to:
- The sun is the primary source of energy for life on earth.
- There is no such place as “away.” (Matter is not created or destroyed, but only changes forms.)
- "Whatever we throw away, we will drink or breath later." (Rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle.)
- “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” (Renewable resources must be used at a sustainable level to remain available.)
- A growing human population is making increasing demands on natural resources.
Minnesota Graduation Standards
The Living Lightly class will provide students with guided practice, in an authentic setting, to support the following Graduations Standards. We have chosen one to three “major focus” standards per grade level. Due to the holistic nature of environmental education, several other standards, not listed here, are addressed as well.
Download sample performance package for grades 6-8, based mostly on completeing the Wolf Ridge Living Lightly class and pre and post activities.
Task Management Skills: Resource Management
• H.S. Sciences : Environmental Systems (A, D, E, G)
• H.S. Managing Resources: Economic Systems (A, C)
• 6-8th Managing Resources: Personal Resources (1-7)
• 6-8th Managing Resources: Informed Consumerism (2, 6)
• 4-5th Sciences: Living and Non-living Systems (4, B4)
Wolf Ridge Curriculum Concepts