Middle School Looks for Solutions to "Trash"

On Monday, sixth grade students and faculty spent the day unpacking the projects they will create focused on the novel, "Trash," by Andy Mulligan. The book prompts readers to explore a world in the not-so-distant future where three “dumpsite boys” make a living picking through the mountains of garbage on the outskirts of a large city. 

The story and its conflict are a starting point for interdisciplinary learning focused on human-environmental interaction. Students began the day meeting with Rick Caplan at IDEA Space. Caplan is a social entrepreneur collaborating on the project through an EcoSpark grant from the  Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Solid Waste Management District.

"He threw a problem our way. We then broke apart that problem and came up with one question, that will drive our learning in Writers Workshop, geography, science, and English," Carson Ferren, grade 6 social studies teacher, said. " 'How can we, as innovators, redesign materials to help solve a problem in our community?' We then took this question and began brainstorming need-to-know questions. We wrapped up our day conducting preliminary research, experimenting with the design thinking process, and better understanding our own personality compass." A personality compass is a self-awareness inventory that uses north, south, east and west as tools to identify traits such as leadership, innovation, flexibility, listening and planning. 

The unit culminates with the Sixth Grade Environmental Showcase at IDEA Space on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. where groups will oresent innovative solutions to a variety of environmental waste challenges.