INTRODUCTION

Our planet is suffering important changes: climate change, global warming, level sea rising, destruction of rainforests…but we all can do things to help to take care of our planet. For example:

What do you do with your paper waste?

Do you recycle plastic bags?

Today you and your partners are going to become Waste Reduction Experts.

TASK

As Waste Reduction Experts, you will check out the website “Recycle City” and afterwards, you will explore one of the sections in depth.

You will present a final project about what you have learnt to your classmates

PROCESS

1. THE THREE R’s:reuse, recycle and reduce
what are the differences between these words? Search the web and find it out. Include examples to define them.

2. GENERAL VIEW:
visit the website “Recycle City” and check out each of the sections of the city quickly.
Go to “Materials Recovery Centre”: how many things can we recycle there? Make a list.

3. A CLOSER LOOK
You and your partners are going to become experts on a section of the city. Find your section below and answer the questions

- HAZARDOUS WASTE CENTRE
o Visit “Fuel”: how can we recycle it?
o Visit “Paint”: how does the waste centre recycle it?
o What is the government’s superfund?
o Is there anything similar to this centre in your town? Is it similar / different?

- JOE YOSHINO’S AUTO WRECKING
o Visit “Used batteries”: what can we do with them?
o Visit “Flattened cars”: what does Joe do with their metal?
o Visit “Old tires”: does recycle city do anything with them?
o What can you and your family buy there?

- SHAQ’S GARAGE
o Look at the garage: what does Shaq do to take care of our planet?
o Visit “Plump”: make a list of four things we can do to pollute less when we use our cars
o What kind of car is environmental friendlier? What are its advantages or disadvantages?

- MARIA’S MARKET
o Visit “Recycled content”: what can you do as a shopper to protect environment?
o Visit “Bulk food”: What does it mean to buy in bulk? Is there anything you and your family buy in bulk?
o Visit “Recycle plastic bags”: What is the best type of bag we can use?

- SCHOOL
o Looking at the picture: what does Recycle City School do to care of our planet?
o Visit “Paper drive”: what can we do with our old sneakers?
o Visit “The library”: why is it an environmental friendly library?
o Visit “Compost bin”: how does composting help our planet?

RESOURCES

Introducing the topic

www.epa.gov/kids/you.htm
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/recycle.htm

Recycle City Website

www.epa.gov/recyclecity/mainmap.htm

Dictionary & Search engines

www.wordreference.es
www.google.es
www.yahoo.es

Vocabulary related to Environment

http://www.saberingles.com.ar/lists/environment.html
http://esl.about.com/library/vocabulary/blwordgroups_environment.htm

EVALUATION

- Use a word processor to write the answers to the questions and the differences between the R’s. Give it to your teacher.

- Use a word processor or a power point presentation to show your classmates how your section of the city contribute to protect environment

CONCLUSION

With this webquest you have improved your:

- Civic and social competence working as a member of a team
- Information treatment and digital competence searching information through internet
- Learning to learn competence fostering your autonomous learning
- Cultural and artistic competence learning about the environmental issues