HISD’s Zero-Waste School Program aims to minimize the amount of waste generated on campuses and improve knowledge and awareness among HISD students, staff, and families about the importance of minimizing our waste.

In Part 3 of our 4-part series, we shared resources for projects related to cafeteria school waste.

In this fourth and final newsletter of our series, the provided resources explore concepts of circularity and how students can take action to become environmental stewards.

Student Activity: CELF's Mapping Your School Community Activity

Time Required: 90 minutes

Grade Level: 1st to 12th

Subject Area: Science, Social Studies

Objective: Students will map their school neighborhood to identify its strengths and areas for improvement, fostering a sense of community responsibility. With this map as a guide, they can brainstorm ways to enhance the environment through beautification and waste reduction efforts.

Student Activity: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Guide to School Food Waste Audits

Time Required: 45 minutes

Grade Level: K-12th

Subject Area Covered: Math, Social Studies

Objective: After the food waste lab from the previous newsletter, students can use the data collected to generate ideas on how to minimize food waste through avenues like composting and gardening.

Student Activity: Community Science Through Trash Data by SPLASh

Time Required: 60 minutes

Grade Level: 6th–8th, 9th–12th

Subject Area Covered: Math, Science

Objective: This unit explores marine debris and its impact. In lesson 5, students will learn about waste mitigation strategies and work together to develop a project that educates their school community about these methods.

Design

How can we make a plan to beautify our campus with recycled materials?

Student Activity: Green Ambassadors Video from Young Voices for the Planet series

Time Required: Varies

Grade Level: K-12th

Subject Area Covered: Science, Social Studies

Objective: This video features the Green Ambassador Program, where students empower other students to champion sustainability initiatives. Students can draw from these experiences to design a campus beautification plan using recycled materials.

Student Activity: National Wildlife Federation's (NWF) Build a Schoolyard Habitat Video

Time Required: 45 minutes

Grade Level: K-12th

Subject Area Covered: Science

Objective: Through this video, students will discover that building a school garden not only beautifies their campus, but also plays a vital role in supporting monarch butterflies and other pollinators that help the environment.

How can we recycle, purpose, or repair items that are not recyclable through the regular recycling stream and help to divert waste from the landfill?

Student Activity: NWF's Repurposing and Innovative Recycling Action Card

Time Required: Varies

Grade Level: Varies

Subject Area Covered: Business, Arts, Civics

Objective: Once you're registered as an Eco School, take action. Collect items and get creative by making something new or creating art with an external partner to recycle items that cannot be recycled through your municipal recycling program, such as markers, batteries, and ink cartridges.

Did you try the resources in the Exploring our School Food Waste newsletter?

This offer is for teachers participating in the pilot program.