This year-long project blends science and social studies as students examine the relationship between human production/consumption patterns and the health of our local environment. Zooming in on Summers-Knoll and the wider Southeast Michigan area, students will be immersed in authentic research as they begin by evaluating the culture of waste at school: What are we throwing away? How much? How often? And most importantly: Where is “away”, and what happens when our stuff arrives there?
First, students will create posters that expose the Summers-Knoll community to the true life cycle of our “things” in order to raise awareness of how choices made at the local level have consequences at the global level. Next, the focus shifts to food waste in particular, as students compare human consumption patterns of past and present, explore the life cycle of everyday food products, and learn about different methods to compost food scraps. Students will work in teams to create and implement plans for a decentralized composting system at Summers-Knoll. Related books include I ’m Not A Plastic Bag, Me and Marvin Gardens.
Trips / Workshops / Local Partners
The Ecology Center, The Brinery, Recycle Ann Arbor