Sixth Graders Showcase Creative Waste Solutions

The interdisciplinary unit began with Mulligan's novel, which follows a group of boys who live and work in a landfill, surrounded by discarded items. Connecting the story to their own community, students visited a landfill in Johnson County to learn what happens to trash after it is thrown away.

After returning from their field trip to the landfill, sixth graders practiced their research skills by studying preselected sources about different types of waste, including plastic, food and textile waste, and their effects on the community and environment. Each group focused on one type of waste before sharing what they learned with other groups. Students also learned about the scientific method through an activity in which they built towers from spaghetti and marshmallows, practicing a process they would later use when developing their own solutions to waste-related challenges.

Throughout the quarter, students built on their knowledge of waste, brainstorming ideas for businesses or products that could reduce the amount of waste entering waterways or ending up in landfills. They developed business plans modeled after “Shark Tank,” estimating costs and presenting the potential impact of their proposed solutions. Using the materials and equipment available at IDEA Space, students designed and built prototypes to demonstrate their ideas, applying the scientific method to develop and evaluate their proposed solutions. One group designed a device to filter plastic from waterways. Another planned a playground layout built from recycled and repurposed materials. A third group designed dog beds using fabric from clothing discarded by department stores.

Students also created informative displays with infographics explaining how their products or ideas work and the results they hoped to achieve. For example, the group that developed recycled textile dog beds explained that four in 10 people discard their clothes instead of donating or upcycling them. They also noted that, because 60% of clothing contains plastic, their product could help keep plastic out of landfills by giving that discarded clothing a new purpose.

On Wednesday, Oct. 22, sixth graders presented their ideas to family members, friends and other visitors during a showcase at IDEA Space. Guests with expertise in waste reduction also attended to offer feedback on the students' projects.

To wrap up the unit, sixth graders traveled to Rock Springs Ranch in Junction City, Kansas, for an overnight trip. Students spent time outdoors and reflected on what they had learned about trash, waste and the environment. In addition to providing an opportunity to connect with the natural world, the trip gave students a chance to build stronger relationships with their classmates as they move through middle school together.