Mathematics and Society - OS X Lion Server

l=OUQRl;[YCLING~[TIVITI{;51. Find out how materials other than paper are recycled.You might assign small groups of students tofind out what steps are involved in the recycling ofglass, aluminum, steel, and rubber. Have the groupsmake bulletin board displays, using a pie-shapeddesign, showing the steps involved.2. Recycle your own paper. Recycling paper commerciallyrequires huge machines and elaborateproduction lines. You can, however, demonstrate thebasic steps of paper recycling in your classroomorstudents can perform the same project at home.The materials you will need are: an old newspaper,mixing bowl, egg beater, a wood block, a square ofwindow screen (about3-4 inches on each side), aplastic sandwich bag, wallpaper paste or cornstarch, water and a tablespoon.1. Fill the bowl about one-quarterfull of water. Tear a half page ofnewspaper into tiny pieces. Placethe pieces in a bowl and let themsoak for one hour.2. After the paper has becomethoroughly soaked, beat it withthe egg beater. The action willbreak up the paper into fibers.When the mixture has been thoroughlybeaten, it should have thecreamy texture of paper pulp.3. Dissolve two heaping tablespoonsof wallpaper paste orcorn starch in a pint of water.Pour into the pulp. Stir. (Thepaste or starch acts as a binderbetween the wood fibers suspendedin the mixture.)4. Hold the piece of windowscreen flat and lower it into thepulp. Do this repeatedly until youaccumulate a layer of pulp about1/16th inch thick.5. Set the pUlp-covered screenon a newspaper and place aplastic sandwich bag over it.Press down with the wood block-gently at first, then with morepressure. The water will filterthrough the screen onto thenewspaper.6. Allow the fibers to dry for about 24 hours. Peel thefibers-now paper-from the screen. CongratulationslYou have just completed the process of recyclingpaper.3. Demonstrate nature's way of recycling. Nature hasits own way of disposing of some trash. You candemonstrate this process in your classroom. Theprocess takes two or three weeks to complete, soyou should allow for this length of time.You will need a large clay flower pot, top soil, afew small stones, and a collection of typical litterpiecesof newspaper, plastic, a strip of tin can (or asmall piece of steel wool without soap), broken glass,a few potato peels or pieces of bread.1. Cover the hole in the bottom of the pot with thestones. Fill about one-third full with topsoil.2. Add a layer of the litter you have collected.3. Cover the litter with a layer of top soli until the potis two-thirds full. Sprinkle with water, but don't soak.4. Cover the pot with a piece of plastic. Set it in awarm, dark pi ace. Keep the soil moist.5. After two or three weeks, dump the contents of thepot on a newspaper and with a trowel spread it out.What trash has decomposed? What buried litterdidn't decompose? What does this tell about theproblem of litter and trash? You might want to returnthe material to the pot and examine again in threeweeks to see what further decomposition has takenplace.4. Collect recyclable materials. On their own-or asa school project-students may want to collect trashthat can be recycled, such as paper. cans, bottles, orscrap metal. Before beginning a project like this,however, be sure you have a buyer-or recyclingcenter-to take the materials. Depending on thearea, aluminum cans sell for about $200 per ton,paper for $13 per ton, and glass bottles $13 to $20per ton.SOU RCE:McDonald's Ecology Action PackPermission to use granted by McDonald's Corporation 237