Students engage with the origins of materials found in everyday products, examine the stages of a product’s lifecycle to understand how they come into existence, and learn options for our “stuff” when we’re done using it. Tracing these stories from beginning to end, students gain valuable insights into the environmental impact of the products they use and how their choices can make a difference in reducing waste and conserving resources.

Ready to schedule? Email educator@bringrecycling.org to get started.

Students dive deep into the fascinating world of the food chain, uncover the harsh realities of food waste, and gain insight into the vast resources required for food production. By the end of this lesson, students will develop an understanding of the interconnectedness of our food system and the importance of responsible consumption.

Ready to schedule? Email educator@bringrecycling.org to get started.

Educators can schedule a classroom lesson with BRING (available in Lane County only) or download a lesson plan for self-guided instruction to help students examine our current “linear economy” to engage with sustainable design and “circular economy” concepts. Students develop an understanding of designing for circularity through real-world examples and explore the “green jobs” market in the growing sector of the “green economy.”

Ready to schedule? Email educator@bringrecycling.org to get started.

Educators can schedule a field trip with BRING (available in Lane County only) to visit Short Mountain Landfill, just five miles from Eugene. Worldwide, landfills are the most common form of waste disposal. For Lane County’s garbage, Short Mountain landfill is the final destination for much of our stuff when it doesn’t always have to be. Students learn about the importance of “reduce, reuse and recycle” as it relates to Short Mountain and how to make better choices about what we throw away. Note: Educators outside of Lane County or Lane County educators with scheduling challenges can download the accompanying field trip lesson plan, which includes a link to a “virtual field trip.”

Ready to schedule? Email educator@bringrecycling.org to get started.

Educators can schedule a field trip with BRING (available in Lane County only) to visit Glenwood Transfer Station in Eugene. Transfer stations are vital parts of the waste management system. These facilities help transfer waste from where we generate waste to landfills. Transfer stations provide opportunities to recycle electronics, dispose of hazardous waste, and throw away items that do not fit in curbside roll carts or dumpsters at home. Students on this tour see these scenes and more. Note: Educators outside of Lane County or Lane County educators with scheduling challenges can download the accompanying field trip lesson plan, which includes a link to a “virtual field trip.”

Ready to schedule? Email educator@bringrecycling.org to get started.

Educators can schedule a field trip with BRING (available in Lane County only) to tour BRING’s Planet Improvement Center, Oregon’s first combination reuse store and conservation learning center. Students learn about the lifecycle of stuff, see a wide selection of salvaged building materials on sale or made into upcycled artwork, and are inspired to think about materials differently. Virtual tours are available if needed. Note: Educators outside of Lane County or Lane County educators with scheduling challenges can download the accompanying field trip lesson plan, which includes a link to a “virtual field trip.”

Ready to schedule? Email educator@bringrecycling.org to get started.

Students design, build, and test small-sized vehicle prototypes that transfer various types of potential energy into motion. To complete the “Go-Public” phase of the legacy cycle, students demonstrate their understanding of how potential energy may be transferred into kinetic energy.

This activity focuses on getting students to think about bacteria, water quality, and water treatment processes. Students develop and test their hypotheses about the “cleanliness” of three water samples prepared by the teacher.

Students learn that access to clean water is a significant problem globally, especially in developing countries and during and after natural disasters.

In this hands-on activity, student groups design, build, test, and improve devices to pump water as if they were engineers helping a rural village meet its drinking water supply.