Household Hazardous Waste in the Classroom

What do drain cleaner, bug spray and turpentine have in common?

• They are harmful to our health
• They are harmful to our environment
• They are among hundreds of other household cleaners and products found in every home.
• When thrown away, they become Household Hazardous Waste

Properly managing household hazardous waste (HHW) is a topic that fits well into studies of environment, health, consumerism, communications, biology and chemistry. Teaching students to define hazardous waste, poisons, toxics and identify examples of these products meets learning objectives in addition to introducing students to an issue that could prevent accidental poisoning or environmental damage.

Younger Children - Safety First!

Activities for young students focus on the poison prevention aspect using “Mr. Yuk” stickers placed on a display of products or on pictures cut from a magazine.

Mr. Yuk Stickers can be obtained from regional poison control centers. In the St. Louis area please call:

• Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital Regional Poison Control Center
  314-772-8300.

For more classroom ideas:

• www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/kids/quest/pdf/unit1.pdf - K-1 classroom activity called “Beware of Mr. Yuk”
• www.hsc.wvu.edu/charleston/wvpc/kids.htm - Includes children’s games and puzzles and easy vocabulary related to poisons and toxics

Survey, Categorizing, Graphing

• www.muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/wasteman/wm5002.htm - Download a teacher guide and forms to use in surveying what hazardous products students have in their homes. Survey results can be categorized and class averages can be calculated, graphed and discussed.

  

Middle School and High School - The Big Picture!

• www.epa.gov/superfund/students/clas_act/haz-ed/hazindex.htm - This site offers an EPA curriculum guide, called “HAZ-ED, Classroom Activities for Understanding Hazardous Waste,” which includes a stand-alone activity on HHW. Middle school and high school students can learn the scientific, technical and policy issues related to hazardous waste and the Federal Superfund program.

RSP Classroom Presentation

• Saint Louis County teachers can invite RSP to give 6th -12th graders a presentation that helps students understand hazardous products, learn how to read labels, test the effectiveness of safer, homemade alternatives with commercial brand cleaners and play HHW Jeopardy. Call Mary Patterson, (314) 615-6878

HHW + Source Reduction = A Practical Math Lesson

Teach kids math and how to only buy the amount of paint a job needs!

1. Determine the total square feet of each area to be painted:

A. For each wall, multiply the height by the width:
Height _____ ft. x Width _____ ft. = ______sq.ft.

B. For each ceiling, multiply the length by the width:
Length _____ ft. x Width _____ ft. = _____ sq.ft.

2. Add up the total sq.ft. for all walls and ceilings to be painted:
A + B = _____ total sq.ft.

3. To determine the number of gallons of paint needed for one coat, divide the total sq. ft. by 400:
Total sq.ft. _____ divided by 400 = _____ gallons of paint.

 

 

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