Somebody did not get the memo about cleaning up after themselves and now there’s a huge mess!

Students will gain and improve their skills in classifying and tallying data using these environmental data mats.

This resource contains six mats depicting different environments which have had mess left all over them. Students need to look at the items which are making up the collective mess and classify them according to which bin they go in; Waste, Recycling or Organic. Each time they determine which bin an item goes in they can cross off the item, or cover it with a counter, and place a tally mark next to the bin it can be placed in to. At the end of the task the students are able to see how much of each type of waste has made up the mess.

The distinguishing of waste, recyclables and organics is open to interpretation in this resource (is a sandwich in a plastic bag considered as general waste by your students or might they think to separate the sandwich from the bag and place it into the organics bin?) As a result of students interpreting waste differently, there is no answer sheet is provided with this activity.

These mats can be printed onto thick cardstock or placed in a write and wipe sleeve. For a bigger experience and larger to see items, you may want to print this on A3 paper.