Waste Management: Design Thinking Lesson
Lesson Plan
1 hour 10 minutesGrades6, 7, 8Engineering
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Written by Clarissa Torres
About this lesson
In this lesson, students explore the components of a landfill, focusing on how landfill liners prevent leaks and learning how solid waste is one of the causes of climate change.
Inquire: Students learn how long it takes for a plastic bottle to decompose and the importance of landfill design to protect groundwater.
Investigate: Students learn the components of landfill designs.
Inspire: Students experiment with different materials to find out which material is best at preventing water leakage and relate the experiment to landfill engineering.
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Everything you need to teach it
How to edit these materials (video)Teaching tips
Positives
- This lesson aligns with Hawai’i’s Nā Hopena A‘o HĀ-BREATH Framework.
- This can be extended into a project-based learning activity.
- Teachers can invite a local waste management professional or environmental engineer to speak about landfill design and groundwater protection.
- Students can complete the activity in the Inspire section outside to minimize water being spilled in the classroom.
- Students can work individually or in pairs during the Investigate and Inspire sections.
- Teachers can end the lesson using one or two of the exit ticket questions. Students can complete the exit ticket on paper or digitally.
- This lesson could be taught in science class to teach students about engineering and design.
- This lesson can be taught alongside a water cycle or ecosystems unit to reinforce how human systems interact with natural ones.
- For an ELA connection, this lesson can be paired with a persuasive writing assignment where students argue for a specific solid waste solution using evidence from this lesson.
Prerequisites
- Students should have a basic familiarity with recycling and everyday waste disposal.
- Teachers should preview videos and comprehension question timestamps to plan discussion pauses.
- Teachers can prepare the landfill liner materials in advance or provide time for students to measure and cut the material.
- If students record data by hand, teachers should print the data recording sheet in advance.
Differentiation
- Teachers can provide a partially labeled landfill diagram for students needing extra scaffolding during the Investigate section.
- Teachers can pair students who need language support with a peer for vocabulary definitions and the role-playing activity.
- Students can research local landfills, see how they are designed, and compare their design to the class model.
- Students can draft questions and contact local landfills about landfill design and groundwater leakage.
- Optional service-learning trip: Students can complete a community trash clean-up.
From the scientist review
In this lesson, students can learn about the effects of solid waste on the ecosystem and groundwater. Additionally, they will learn how to manage garbage more sustainably and with responsible consumption, including how geoengineering is an excellent technique for managing waste at landfills. After carefully fact-checking all the lesson materials, we determined that this lesson is accurate and has passed our science review.
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About the teacher writer
Clarissa Torres
8th Grade Science Teacher
Clarissa Torres holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a secondary education science focus from Chaminade University of Honolulu. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and holds a California Single Subject Teaching Credential with English Learner Authorization. Clarissa has been teaching since 2022 and currently serves as an online high school teacher and academic adviser, specializing in onboarding digital skills for grades 9–12.
