Last updated: July 22, 2020

Math Skill: Interpreting line graphs (4-digit numbers)

Science Subject: Protection of Earth’s resources

Grade level: 4th / 5th grades

Environmental Area: Reduce Reuse Recycle

Area level: Community-scale

Purpose: Understand trends in the amount of recyclable materials collected in Vanderburgh County through the curbside program and develop awareness of waste reduction

BACKGROUND FOR THE TEACHER

The city of Evansville provides several recycling services, including a curbside recycling program, electronics recycling, tire recycling, yard-waste recycling, and drop-off recycling. Among them, the amount of recyclable materials collected through the curbside recycling program makes up a dominant portion (see the table below). Residents in the city of Evansville are provided a 96-gallon bin to place recyclable materials. Over 60,000 bines were distributed as of June 2020. The amount of recyclables collected through the services significantly increased in 2013, however it has not improved much since then (See the figure below). The residential recycling rate was about 13% in 2019.

In 2014, House Enrolled Act 1183 (HEA 1183) established a 50 percent recycling goal for Indiana. Educating the importance of recycling in Evansville becomes more critical than ever.

 

Environmental impacts from municipal solid waste (MSW) & What we candy

 

 

 

TEACHER GUIDE

The purpose of this activity is to enhance students’ skills in number and operations that include number arrangement and expanded notation (PROBLEM A), and place value and rounding (PROBLEM B). PROBLEM C provides questions on interpreting a line graph. This activity uses the information on the amount of recyclable materials collected in the city of Evansville through the curbside program between 2012 and 2019. The data was obtained from the Evansville Department of Solid Waste Management.

worksheet & answer key

Math Skill: Interpreting line graphs (4-digit numbers)

Using a line graph that shows the amount of recyclable materials collected in the city of Evansville through the curbside program between 2012 and 2019, students are asked to interpret the graph. Questions include “Between which two consecutive years did the amount increase the most?”