About Our Educational Resources
If it is not possible to schedule a Westmoreland Cleanways speaker we can work with you to develop a lesson or activity. We also have educational material available at no charge. Printed material is available while supplies last; the interactive boards are available for loan on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact our Program Director or call 724-879-4020 for technical support or to order materials and supplies.
Print Publications
Booklets
Celebrate Earth Day Every Day!(a Westmoreland Cleanways creation)
- Grades: Preschool-2, Booklet contains age appropriate activities related to reducing, reusing, recycling, litter, composting, and saving energy. (Special Thanks to Greta Garsteck for her illustrations.)
- Grades 3-6: Booklet contains information and activities on the history of Earth Day, reusing, reducing, recycling, litter, composting, the water cycle and watersheds
Keep PA Beautiful Open Your Eyes to Litter booklet series consists of five educational activity books and teacher guides available for download or print.
Curriculum Guides (Loan Only)
Vermicomposting, K-8 Curriculum: developed by the Sustainable Living Center as an educational tool to educate students on a fun and simple method of recycling food waste. One lesson per grade, including age appropriate use of the scientific method as well as visual aids and resources.
Composting in the Classroom, Scientific Inquiry for High School Students: Using the inquiry method, students learn about the science of composting, monitor the composting process, and measure the attributes of finished compost. Although each chapter includes research possibilities, the last chapter is devoted to designing meaningful research projects focusing on compost.
Waste in Place: Developed by Keep America Beautiful, Inc. for Early Childhood-Elementary students, the activity guide provides lesson plans and resources for litter prevention, beautification, community greening, waste reduction and recycling. (Format similar to Project Wild)
Interactive Boards
Test Your Litter IQ Board: Interactive puzzle board that shows the true lifespan of litter. Participants choose how long litter takes to break down in the environment. A buzzer sounds with the correct answer.
Close The Loop Recycling Board: Interactive puzzle board that shows what becomes of commonly recycled items. Participants decide what items are made from what recyclable material. The recycling loop (mobius) flashes with the correct answer.
Suggested Reading
(the books within the carousels are part of the Westmoreland Library Network)
Picture Books
Other Suggested Picture Books Include:
- Compost by Gosh! by Michelle Eva Portman
- It’s Earth Day by Mercer Mayer
- The Tantrum that Saved the World by Megan Herbert and Michael E. Mann
- Not for me Please: I choose to Act Green by Maria Godsey
Beginner Reading Books
Other Suggested Beginner Reader Books Include:
- Magic School Bus Gets Recycled by Anne Capeci
- Pee Wee’s Great Adventure, A guide to vermicomposting by Larraine Roulston
Adult Books
Other Suggested Adult books include:
Vitamin N by Richard Louv
The Nature Principle by Richard Louv
If you come across a great book, please share it with us by emailing our Program Director.
Educational Resources
Great resources for planning lessons, activities or for developing awareness and understanding.
- EPA – Wastes- Educational Material: The EPA offers resources and kits to increase awareness of solid waste issues, encourage and increase waste-reducing behaviors, and inspire participation in environmental outreach activities.
- EPA Recycle City: “Explore Recycle City to see how its people reduce waste, use less energy, and save money by doing simple things at home, at work, and in their neighborhoods.”
- Recycling Resources for Kids: Waste Management developed a recycling K-5th grade curriculum aligned with STEM and next Generation Science Standards to engage students and help develop recycling habitats at a young age. (must scroll down to the “School” section to find the heading “Recycling Resources for Kids”)
- Keep PA Beautiful Education Programs:
- Litter Free School Zone: encourages students to keep their school grounds litter-free and to raise public awareness regarding litter via a Litter Free School Zone sign to be displayed outside the school.
- Young Ambassadors Program: engage students in 10th through 12th grades to build community stewards and civic leaders by inspiring, engaging, and empowering young Pennsylvanians to become ambassadors of our shared vision of a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania. (application process)
Contests
- Litter Hawk Youth Award: Each year, the program features a new theme and invites students to complete a grade-specific project that reflects their understanding of litter’s impact and their vision for change. Submissions are accepted from October 31 through January 31
- Lens on Litter Contest: An annual photo contest sponsored by the PA Resources Council in an effort to bring attention to the litter problem in communities across Pennsylvania. (Submissions accepted Jan. 1-Oct. 31)
- Million Cans Recycling Contest: Elementary schools, working with a local scrap yard, compete to collect aluminum cans.
- Campus Race to Zero Waste: A friendly competition for colleges and universities to help promote waste reduction activities on campus. During the competition, the schools compete by collecting and tracking the weight of recyclables.
Unique Recycling Opportunities
- The Crayon Initiative: The Crayon Initiative supports environmental efforts by diverting crayons from landfills. They collect unwanted crayons, recycle them into new crayons and then donate them to hospitals and other child focused organizations.
- Blue Jeans Go Green: Mail in worn denim to be recycled into insulation. UltraTouch TM Denim Insulation is then donated to Habitat for Humanity projects and civic building construction projects.
- TerraCycle: Provides free waste collection programs for hard to recycle materials, such as drink pouches and snack bags. They then turn the waste into affordable green products.
