Candid Camera
(adapted from Here Today Here Tomorrow...Revisited: A Teacher's Guide to Solid Waste Management.
NJ Dept of Environmental Protection, Div. of Solid Waste Management)

GRADE LEVELS: K-3

SUBJECT AREAS: language arts, art, photography

CONCEPT: Why is litter a problem? What can we do about it?

OBJECTIVE: Students will appreciate the negative effects litter has on their community.

MATERIALS: camera - photographic film - community map

KEYWORDS: litter, community

PROCEDURE:
1. Assign students to investigate areas of unsightly litter in their community for a week. At the end of the week, discuss the various areas and mark them on a community map. Discuss why there is a litter problem there.
2. Divide the class into groups and have them take photographs of the areas.
3. Display the pictures and have the children write reactions to them.
 
FOLLOW-UP:
1. Students can monitor the litter problem in a given area by taking pictures over a period of time.
2. Students can write captions for each photo identifying the area for use at Town Hall or community groups.
3. What are the laws in your area regarding littering?
Back to Solid Waste Activities Grades K-3

Cornell Waste Management Institute ©1991
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
Bradfield Hall, Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
607-255-1187 
cwmi@cornell.edu