Northeast Indiana Solid Waste Management District

The Northeast Indiana Solid Waste Management District (NISWMD) is proud to announce the 4th R program. It is an environmental education program designed to supplement classroom instruction with real world examples. 4th R curriculum is designed for 4th grades across DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble and Steuben Counties. A team of educators present this program using a variety of materials and hands-on activities.

NISWMD prides itself on creating lessons that cover portions of the Indiana Academic Science Standards as well as themes that are presented during ISTEP testing.

Program Objectives

The overall goal of 4th R is to help students become more resourceful, creative decision - makers as they learn about managing our solid waste, evaluating information, creating new products, and protecting our environment. This goal can be reached through the implementation of the following:

Rethinking environmental situations
Exploring environmental topics
Introduction of the 4Rs-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink
Hands-on activities in the classroom and fun family projects
Emphasizing math, science, reading and writing skills

How Does It Work?

4th R will utilize a team of trained educators to present a series of lessons in each classroom. Typically, each participating classroom will be visited by a 4th R team once a week for four consecutive weeks, with each unit taking just one classroom session.

If you are interested in scheduling a 4th R team to visit your school, please contact NISWMD. It is preferred that teachers coordinate their schedules so that the 4th R educator team can visit each of your 4th grade classrooms in succession.

Topics You Will Explore:

History of Trash & Solid Waste Issues

Students will participate in the history of trash with an overview of solid waste issues. Classes will take a closer look at their solid waste to decide what can be recycled, composted, reused or landfilled.

Composting & Landfills

Classes will investigate the composting process and explore the topic of landfills.

Choices, Choices, Choices

Demonstrates how to be "wastewise" shoppers and how to make environmentally friendly choices for you and your family.

Closing the Loop

Students will participate in activities that detail the recycling process from raw material to recycled product.

But Wait, There's More...

4th R program will also make available during the four week period a number of valuable resources in a kit for teachers who want to dig deeper or to make learning more exciting, such as:

A circulating library of books, games, and readings about the environment
Supplemental lesson plans and activities that touch on several areas of the Indiana Academic Standards and ISTEP themes
Free access and borrowing from an environmental library at the NISWMD office

Sign Me Up!

Schools interested in participating in the 4th R program should contact NISWMD at 1-800-777-5462.

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