The "Do Nothing" Machine - Activity

Provided by: Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation |Published on: May 23, 2024

Activity - Classroom

K-8

Synopsis

This activity explores upcycling, environmental stewardship, and how human beings are connected to their surrounding environment.
Students will complete a project where they create an artistic object that reduces waste, and they will engage in a classroom discussion about the objects they just created.

Related Teaching Resources

Subjects: Visual and Performing Arts, Engineering

Authors: Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation

Region: Global

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

This activity could be very engaging for students who are artistically inclined.
This activity displays a connection between the visual arts, engineering, and environmental science.

Additional Prerequisites

It may be beneficial if students know about landfills and their environmental impact.
It may be helpful if students have read some of the books attached to this resource.

Differentiation

At the beginning of class, teachers can ask their students about upcycling in order to assess prior knowledge.
This activity can fit within a larger unit on global waste management practices and how they're related to greenhouse gas emissions.
This activity can enhance a classroom discussion on how government regulation can alter manufacturing practices and help promote sustainability.
This activity can support a classroom discussion on various strategies for reducing waste on a personal level.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

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Resource Type and Format

About the Partner Provider

Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation

The Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation (CELF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2003 with the mission to make Education for Sustainability (EfS) an integral part of every child's K-12 learning experience. CELF engages educators, students and community leaders through award-winning programs that are designed to succeed in a wide range of education settings, including multi-day Summer Institutes, school professional development workshops, custom curriculum and instruction consulting, green career speaker series, and outdoor learning experiences. CELF's programs aim to help cultivate a society of global citizens with deep understanding of the dynamic interdependencies among human systems nested within natural systems, and the critical role education plays in cultivating healthy, equitable communities in a changing climate.