USA TODAY® Related Activities
Glencoe provides activities related to the concept of the lesson as well as USA TODAY Snapshot® data.
Internet Activity
Is Trash
Taking Over?
Materials:
calculator, graph paper, markers or colored pencils, ruler
Work alone
or in pairs.
Table 1
shows the percent of trash represented by each type of item in the year 2000.
Table 2 shows the amount of trash generated by one person in one day for
various years.
|
Table 1
|
|
Type of
Trash
|
Percent of
Total Trash
|
|
metal
|
8%
|
|
plastic
|
24%
|
|
food and
yard waste
|
11%
|
|
rubber
and leather
|
6%
|
|
other
trash
|
21%
|
|
paper
|
30%
|
|
Source: The World Almanac for Kids
|
|
|
|
Table 2
|
|
Year
|
Pound of Trash
Per Person Per Day
|
|
1960
|
2.68
|
|
1970
|
3.25
|
|
1980
|
3.66
|
|
1990
|
4.51
|
|
1994
|
4.51
|
|
1996
|
4.33
|
|
2000
|
4.42
|
|
Source: The Wall Street Journal Almanac
|
|
Procedure for the Activity
Step
1 Make a graph of your
choice to display the data in Table 1. Describe your graph. Explain why you
chose the type of graph that you made.
Step
2 Make a graph of your
choice to display the data in Table 2. Describe your graph. Explain why you
chose the type of graph that you made.
Step 3 Predict the number of pounds of trash you
think one person will produce per day in 2010. Explain how you made your
prediction.
Step 4 In 2000, about how many pounds of paper did
one person discard in one year? Explain how you found your answer.
Step 5 The data in Table 1 is from the year 2000. If
a similar table was made for the year 1960, how would you expect it to differ
from Table 1? Explain your reasoning.
Wrapping
Up the Activity
Make a brochure or Web page
to display the data in this activity. Include any tables, graphs, and/or pictures
that will help you to present the information in a unique and creative way.
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