Where Does Your Garbage Go?

Project Learning Tree’s Secondary Module “Exploring Environmental Issues: Municipal Solid Waste” has eight great activities to use with high school students or adults. The activity “Where Does Your Garbage Go?” familiarizes students with municipal solid waste at the community level.

As an aquatic extension, look at how your community deals with household hazardous wastes. Research the following questions.

• What type of cleaners and/or toxins are in students’ homes?
  
• How should these be disposed of properly?
  
• Where does this hazardous waste go when it is dumped down drains?
  
• Does it impact aquatic life? If so, how?
  
• Are there alternative methods to these cleaning products? If so, name some.
  

---

Books
Grades 9 – 12
Andersen, T., Kennedy, R. 2002. This Fine Piece of Water : An Environmental History of Long Island Sound. Yale University Press.
DIANE Publishing Company. 1994. Household Hazardous Waste Management: A Manual for One-Day Community Collection Programs. DIANE Publishing Company.
Dolin, J. 2004. Political Waters: The Long, Dirty, Contentious, Incredibly Expensive, but Eventually Triumphant History of Boston Harbor : A Unique Environmental Success Story. University of Massachusetts Press.
Haar, C. 2005. Mastering Boston Harbor: Courts, Dolphins, and Imperiled Waters. Harvard University Press.
Tammemagi, H.Y. 1999. Waste Crisis: Landfills, Incinerators, and the Search for a Sustainable Future. Oxford University Press.

Know Your Legislation: What’s in It for Wildlife?

With the arrival of spring, comes the arrival of new legislation in the state. State representatives and senators have been in session since January 13. Have students explore the role legislation has on wildlife. Project WILD’s “Know Your Legislation: What’s in It for Wildlife?” lets students actively participate in the legislative process.

Contact your state representative and senator to voice students’ opinions. Visit the State of Iowa's legislative website for contact information..

Current Hot Topics in Iowa
Sustainable Funding
Bottle Bill
Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council

---

Book List
Grades 3-5
Binns, T.B. 2002. EPA: Environmental Protection Agency. Heinemann Library.
Priebe, M. 2000. Bald Eagle: Endangered No More. Mindfull Publishing.
Pringle, L.P. 1990. Saving Our Wildlife. Enslow Publishers, Incorporated.

Grades 6-8
Crump, D.J. 1987. Wildlife: Making a Comeback. National Geographic Society.
Geisel, T. 1971. The Lorax. Random House Books for Young Readers.
Goodnough, D. 2001. Endangered Animals of North America. Enslow Publishers, Incorporated.
Jenkins, P. 1996. Falcons Nest on Skyscrapers. HarperTrophy.
Lasky, K. 1999. She’s Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head. Hyperion.
Law, K.J. 1988. Environmental Protection Agency. Chelsea House Publishers.
Netzley, P.D. 1997. Issues in the Environment. Gale Group.
Reading, R.P. 2000. Endangered Animals: A Reference Guide to Conflicting Issues. Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated.
Sonneborn, L. 2007. Environmental Movement: Protecting Our Natural Resources. Chelsea House Publishers.
Stanley, P. 1996. American Environmental Heroes. Enslow Publishers.

Grades 9-12
Bang. M. 1997. Common Ground: The Earth We Share. Blue Sky Press.
Bell, D. 1998. Political Ecology: Global and Local. Taylor & Francis, Inc.
Carson, R. 2002. Silent Spring. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Collard, S. 2000. Acting For Nature: What Young People Around the World Are Doing to Protect the Environment. Heyday Books.
Conrad, R. 1997. Places of Quiet Beauty: Parks, Preserves, and Environmentalism. University of Iowa Press.
Gaughen, S. 2005. Endangered Species. Gale Group.
Gore, A. 2006. An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About it. Rodale Books.
Hoyt, E. 1991. Extinction A-Z. Enslow Publishers, Incorporated.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 2000. Iowa: Portrait of the Land. Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
McClung, R.M. 1993. Lost Wild America: The Story of Our Extinct and Vanishing Wildlife. Shoe String Press, Incorporated.
McConnell, R.L. 1998. Environmental Issues: Measuring Analyzing, and Evaluating. Prentice Hall Professional Technical.
Oleszek, W.J. 2000. Congressional Procedures and Policy Process. Congressional Procedures and Policy Process.
Pomerantz, C. 1971. The Day They Parachuted Cats on Borneo: A Drama of Ecology. Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers.
Roberts, R. 1998. Endangered Species. Gale Group.
Sanderson, J. and M. Moulton. 1998. Wildlife Issues in a Changing World. CRC Press.
Schwartz, M. 1993. Environment and the Law. Chelsea House Publishers.
Van Allsburg, C. 1990. Just a Dream. Houghton Miffin.
Wilkinson, D. 2002. Environment and Law. Taylor & Francis, Inc.

Spring Migration

Some birds’ spring migration takes place as early as February or March. Project WILD Aquatic’s activity “Migration Headache” takes a look at the obstacles birds face while making their journey. As an extension, have students set up a bird feeder outside a classroom window. Record the types of birds that visit the feeder. Note new arrivals, and dates they are first observed at the feeder.

For a detailed list of early arrivals and late departure dates for migrating Iowa birds, visit the Iowa Ornithologists' Union website.

Book List
PreK-2
Allen, K. 2006. Why Do Birds Fly South in the Winter?: A Book About Migration. Capstone Press.
Gans, R. 1996. How Do Birds Find their Way? (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2). Harper Trophy.
Herkert, B. 2001. Birds in Your Backyard(Sharing Nature With Children Book). Dawn Publications.
Lerner, C. 2001. On the Wing: American Birds in Migration. HarperCollins.
Ray, M. 2004. Welcome Brown Bird. Harcourt Children’s Books.
Williams, J. 1990. Life Cycle of a Swallow. Scholastic Library Publishing.

Grades 3-5
Ahlstrom, M.E. and H. Schroeder. 1984. Canada Goose. Silver Burdett Press.
Arnold, C. 2003. Birds: Nature’s Magnificent Flying Machines. Charles Bridge Publishing.
Goodall, J. & Reichstein, A. 2002. Eagle and the Wren: A Fable. North South Books.
Lerner, C. 2001. On the Wing: American Birds in Migration. HarperCollins.
Owens, M. 1993. Counting Cranes. Little Brown.
Penny, M. 1987. Animal Migration. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Ryder, J. 1994. Catching the Wind (A Just for a Day Book). Mulberry Books.
Spinelli, E. 2000. Song for the Whooping Crane. Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company.
Tagholm, S. 2003. The Barn Owl (Animal Lives series). Kingfisher.

Grades 6-8
Arnold, C. 1997. Hawk Highway in the Sky: Watching Raptor Migration. Gulliver Green.
Bishop, N. 2007. The Secrets of Animal Flight. Houghton Mifflin.
Blassingame, W. 1982. Wonders of Egrets, Bitterns, and Herons. Penguin Group (USA).
Cherry, L. 1997. Flute’s Journey: The Life of a Wood Thrush. Harcourt Children’s Books.
Kiesler, K. 2002. Wings on the Wind: Bird Poems. Clarion Books.
Owens, M. 1993. Counting Cranes. Little Brown.
Ryder, J. 1994. Catching the Wind (A Just for a Day Book). Mulberry Books.
Salmansohn, P. & Kress, S. 2005. Saving Birds: Heroes Around the World. Tilbury House.
Schaefer, L. 2004. Arrowhawk. Henry Holt and Co.
Tagholm, S. 2003. The Barn Owl (Animal Lives series). Kingfisher.

Grades 9-12
Arnold, C. 1997. Hawk Highway in the Sky: Watching Raptor Migration. Gulliver Green.
Bishop, N. 2007. The Secrets of Animal Flight. Houghton Mifflin.
Kiesler, K. 2002. Wings on the Wind: Bird Poems. Clarion Books.
Salmansohn, P. & Kress, S. 2005. Saving Birds: Heroes Around the World. Tilbury House.

Trees as Habitats

Winter is a great time to explore how trees provide homes for wildlife. Project Learning Tree’s activity “Trees as Habitats” allows students to take a look at the interrelationships between different organisms that use trees.

Use this activity in combination with “Adopt-a-Tree.” What animals are using the tree now? If they can’t find any, can they find their evidence (tracks, nests, holes, etc.)? Have students visit the same tree in the spring. Do the same animals use the tree? Are there more or less animals in the spring?

Book List
Grades PreK-2
Brenner, B. 2004. One Small Space in a Tree. HarperCollins.
Brett, J. 1989. The Mitten. G.P. Putnam Sons.
Bunting, E. 1994. The Night Tree. Voyager Books.
Costian, M. 2001. Life in a Tree: Focus, Habitat. Tandem Library.
Denver, J. 1990. Alfie the Christmas Tree. National Wildlife Federation.
Fisher, A. 1965. In the Woods, In the Meadow, In the Sky. Scribner.
Hutchins, P. 1972. Good-Night Owl!. MacMillan.
Iverson, D. 1999. My Favorite Tree: Teriffic Trees of North America. Dawn Publications.
Lavies, B. 1989. Tree Trunk Traffic. Dutton.
Pfeffer, W. 1997. A Log’s Life. Simon & Schuster.
Ryder, J. 1989. A Chipmunk Song. Lodestar Books.
Seiffert, P. 1994. Exploring Tree Habitats (Exploring Habitats). Mondo Publishing.
Schwartz, D. 1999. In a Tree. Gareth Steven Publications.
Van Laan, N. 2000. A Tree for Me. Random House.

Grades 3-5
Brenner, B. 2004. One Small Space in a Tree. HarperCollins.
Bunting, E. 1994. The Night Tree. Voyager Books.
Denver, J. 1990. Alfie the Christmas Tree. National Wildlife Federation.
Hutchins, P. 1972. Good-Night Owl!. MacMillan.
Pfeffer, W. 1997. A Log’s Life. Simon & Schuster.
Tresselt, A. 1992. The Gift of a Tree. Lothrop, Lee & Shephard Books.
Wong, H & Vessel, M. 1969. Our Tree. Addison-Wesley.