Presentations

Growing Garbage

Used containers, dirt and seeds are just old things to get rid of, right? Wrong! Young gardeners discover that these items can be reused to create new beauty and life.

* This class will be scheduled from March through May.

Garbage Detectives:

Young students love becoming capable detectives by finding the "crazy recycling triangle" on all kinds of familiar objects, including glass, metal and plastic containers.

A great new skill to take home!

First Grade: 45 - minute presentations

Magic Bookmarks

As children begin to experience the magic of reading, they will delight in making their own bookmarks from favorite cereal or snack boxes. These bookmarks are easy to repeat at home, and make quick gifts for family and friends.

Third Grade: 90-minute presentations

Cans & Can'ts

Steel/tincans will be decorated with old calendars, maps and wallpaper samples to create personalized holders that students will enjoy for years.

* Students are asked to supply average-sized cans from home.

Fourth Grade: 2-hour presentations

Kaleidoscopes

Reusing ordinary garbage, students build a functional and decorative kaleidoscope. Their eyes will light up as they experience the magic of imagination inspired by garbage. A little quantum physics included.

* Students are asked to supply an empty toilet tissue tube.

Trash Trivia Game

This lively game show format will pit team against team with questions about trash, garbage and refuse. Prizes for everyone.

Break It Down!

Students create hypothetical situations that illustrate what types of garbage will decompose, how long it will take, and where it will all end up.

The 4 R Magic Show

Magic and science merge as students conduct a number of experiments attempting to rid the world of garbage.

* Students are asked to supply an empty aluminum can.

Our Own Oil Spill

What happens to our environment when accidents happen, when people aren't prepared or don't use good judgment? The Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska and BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico demonstrate what happens when human are careless. Students will recreate this nightmare, and investigate what went wrong and the ensuing consequences.

Fifth Grade: 2-hour presentations

The Throwaway Society (4-hour presentation)

This Greek-style play explores garbage throughout history.

Each student takes on a character's role with the use

of costumes and props.

Yum, Yum: A Garbage Diet (4-hour presentation)

The curtain is about to go up! This modern play,

acted by the students, shows a Livermore family's trials

and tribulations dealing with garbage. A digital video of the performance is also provided.

Serious Package

EEK! brings the grocery store to the classroom. Students learn to make smart shopping choices when it comes to prices, packaging and nutrition.

Planet Building

"The rain in Spain falls mainly on the..." No, no, no. This rain occurs on small planets that the students create in the classroom. It's loads of fun, and full of science.

* Students are asked to supply a 1 or 2-liter plastic bottles.

Napier's Bones

Multiplication can be fun using trash and other goodies to create a simple and effective tool to help learn those pesky tables -- and to help multiply larger numbers.

The Mystery of the Disk

Back by popular demand. Black + white = color?! Kids love optical illusions, especially when reusing old CDs, marbles, water bottle lids and Benham's disk patterns to create spinning color. ROY G BIV lives again!

Presentations

Mailing Your Trash

Everyone loves finding a special letter in his mailbox, and with these cool envelopes made from calendars, maps and wallpaper, students love sending them, too!

A fun craft for kids to repeat at home.

Spectroscope

Reusing cardboard tubes, students learn that white light is actually a combination of different colors and can be sorted into a spectrum. Look inside and see ROY G BIV.