“Don’t Mess with Krueger” is a unit designed to get our students involved and thinking about conservation and recycling in order to apply this to their everyday lives.

To learn more about conservation of resources, all students will have an active role in cleaning an area of Krueger Middle School’s campus. Each class will be assigned a “zone” to gather, mass, and record waste collection. The results of this data will be used to generate a graph to analyze waste production at school and students will also be encouraged to relate this information as it applies to our environment. Along with the data collection and analysis, the project also requires that each student use Google Earth to create a map of our campus with accurate coordinates and a correctly labeled graph. Students will work on descriptive writing and presentation skills. They will also create an object made from recyclable materials. To conclude the project, groups of prearranged students will produce and edit a presentation with positive messages on recycling and conservation of resources. The goal and expected outcome of this project is to encourage our students to achieve a sense of pride and ownership for their school and community.

Students will practice analytical and descriptive writing in early writing workshops. From there, they will use those writing skills to create paragraphs that describe the conservation/recycling projects (trash pickup, “Recycle Superhero”, etc.) in their other classes (checkpoint # 1). They will then draft 30-60 second public service announcement scripts (checkpoint # 2). In their groups, students will choose and practice a single PSA script for the final presentation.

Students will design their own “Recycle Super Hero.” Students can use a drawing template provided by teacher or can drawn their own Going Green Super Hero. Under the picture they will have to explain what special powers the super hero has (checkpoint #1). Students will read a magazine article entitled “Going Green, One School at a Time”. After reading the article, students will write a letter to Mr. Smith informing him what they think Krueger can do to go green (checkpoint #2)!

Students will use mapping skills (cartography) to create a map of Krueger for use in the final project. Checkpoint # 1 will be to collect data and apply it to the map. Checkpoint # 2 is the creation of a scaled map of their assigned zone of Krueger.

The students will utilize all collected data (recycle/non-recycle) listed in outline provided to complete checkpoint # 1. The student will utilize all collected data converting information into percentages and accurately displaying on a chart to complete checkpoint #2. In their final project, all data will be represented in a Pie Graph form. Students will be graded on accuracy, neatness, and presentation.

Students will have practice using scientific tools in order to mass trash that they have collected from specific zones on campus (checkpoint #1). After collecting and measuring the trash, the students will have an opportunity to sort and categorize what was collected into recyclable and non-recyclable piles prompting a discussion on conservation of resources. Checkpoint #2 will involve the students in designing and creating something from these recyclable items.

Students utilizing MS Access will create a database and design a table displaying data collected and recorded for Science and Social Studies classes (checkpoint #1). Students applying MS Word skills will create two word documents: 1) an informative letter to Mr. Smith for Reading and 2) a short essay describing the conservation/recycling project for English (checkpoint #2). Students will convert collected data into percentages and display in chart form using MS PowerPoint for Math classes (checkpoint #2). Throughout the project students will be taking photos and editing them using Photoshop. In the final project all data will be input into Movie Maker to present a documentary of all the students work.