RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS

Lessons and Activities

LRSWMD offers free resources to schools and educators serving our District towns. Our hands-on experiential lessons (described below) can be tailored to any age group and to match your classroom needs. For more info on scheduling or any questions, email Sarah at outreach@lrswmd.org.

Make Your Own Paper

Activity w/ short presentation (min. 1 hour) + can include a reading of Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax (age rating 4-7 years; additional ~20 min). Requires at least one other adult helper.

We’ll learn about the history of paper (the first paper was actually made from waste rages/discarded clothes!), why trees are so great, and how we can conserve energy and resources by recycling.

VT Standards: NGSS: ESS3.A, ESS3.C

Make Your Own No-Sew Reusable Bag

Activity w/ short presentation (min. 1 hour). LRSWMD can provide the t-shirts and/or students can bring their own from home. Requires another adult helper.

We’ll learn about the history of clothing and fashion, Reduce, Reuse & Recycle ideas for clothes, and the impacts of single-use vs. reusable items.

VT Standards: NGSS: ESS3.A, ESS3.C

Recycling: What, How, Why

Presentation w/ optional activity (sorting game)

We’ll learn what can go in the recycling, where the materials come from, how they get recycled, and what they get made into.

VT Standards: NGSS: ESS3.A, ESS3.C

Compost: Nature’s Recycling System

Presentation w/ optional activity (DIY compost container — will need several weeks’ observation time, ideally could be kept in the classroom)

We’ll learn what happens to our food scraps and how we can make a soil amendment through decomposition, microorganisms (fungi, bacteria, invertebrates) and nutrient cycling and energy transfer.

VT Standards: NGSS: ESS3.A, ESS3.C; LS2.A; LS2.B

Technical Assistance

Sustainability & Act 148 Compliance Assessment

LRSWMD can help schools ensure that their current trash, recycling, and composting programs are in compliance with state disposal laws and requirements. If you’re a school faculty or staff member interested in learning more, reach out to us at 802-888-7317 or outreach@LRSWMD.org. We’d love to meet you, conduct a walk-through visit, and provide suggestions for improving sustainability, reducing waste, and helping you comply with the disposal laws that are meant to keep us all safe.

LRSWMD offers free trainings and technical assistance to administrators, staff, and school-wide disposal programs. For more info on setting up a meeting or with any questions, email Sarah at outreach@lrswmd.org.

Staff & Faculty Training

We provide training for school staff and faculty on what’s recyclable, what’s compostable, and how to manage special materials like batteries or hazardous waste. Not only can this help the school’s disposal programs run more efficiently, it also helps staff and faculty set good examples for students as they improve their own sustainability efforts. Interested in staff & faculty training for your school? Call 802-888-7317 or email outreach@LRSWMD.org.

Cafeteria Sorting Stations - Resources

Reducing Food Waste in Schools - Resources

  • Food Sharing Tables - Guidance for Schools from the Vermont Agencies of Education & Natural Resources and Department of Health

  • Bulk Milk (instead of cartons) - Resources, best practices, and grant application

Hazardous Waste Management in Schools - Resources