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Elementary school programs (grades K-5)

Our elementary programs are available at no charge to schools in King County, outside of the City of Seattle. These programs teach students how to make choices that contribute to a more environmentally sustainable school, community, and planet. Learn about the assemblies and classroom workshops available for the 2023-2024 school year.

Assembly program

Curiosity Quest assembly

Our Curiosity Quest assembly is a free theatrical show for grades K-5. Presented by professional actors in a lively and interactive format, the show educates about waste reduction, recycling, composting and climate connections. It reminds students how to keep waste out of the landfill and make choices that protect the land, oceans and atmosphere.

  • The assembly is available in two versions – primary (K-2) and intermediate (grades 3-5).
  • Each assembly runs approximately 35-40 minutes.
  • Schools with more than 350 students may request two assemblies. We ask for a minimum of 75 students per show.
  • The assembly set requires space - ideally a multi-purpose room, gym or cafeteria.

Schedule an assembly by contacting Triangle Associates at Workshops@triangleassociates.com or call 206-583-0655 ext. 111.

Resources for teachers

  • Teacher discussion guide: Use the Teacher discussion guide to introduce concepts to your students before the assembly or review them after the assembly.
  • Classroom Workshops: Schedule one of our classroom workshops to expand on the assembly messages.
  • 4Rs Home Survey: As part of the workshops or on their own, students can conduct a survey of their households to determine how efficiently they are reducing waste and separating recyclables and compostable materials. The survey is available in English and Spanish.

Classroom workshops

Free classroom workshops are available for the 2023-2024 school year

Our classroom workshops are designed to be interactive, engaging and offer a unique way to support student learning. They’re a great way to introduce students to new ideas about waste reduction, recycling, climate change and conservation. For schools who participate in the Curiosity Quest assembly, classroom workshops will also connect and build on assembly messages.

Choose from a variety of elementary workshop topics that are tied to Washington State Education Standards.

Schedule a workshop

Workshops are 50-60 minutes in length and can often be adjusted to meet specific scheduling needs. Workshops and should be scheduled consecutively. Requests for an entire grade level to receive a particular workshop are accommodated when possible.

To schedule a workshop or for more information contact Triangle Associates at workshops@triangleassociates.com or call 206-583-0655 ext. 111.

Elementary workshops

  • Storytelling with Noodle the Gnome - Grades K-1
    The storytelling program combines arts enrichment, interactive fun, exploration of natural resources, and waste reduction and recycling topics in a workshop-like setting.
  • Healthy Habitat - Grades 1-2
    Students explore the basic components of habitat – food, water, shelter, and space – through discussion, visuals, and games that introduce them to native Northwest animals and their habitat needs. Students make the connection between their everyday actions, the 4Rs, and a healthy habitat.
  • Rethink and Reuse- Grades 1-3
    Students explore reusing and recycling and understand the different effects of each on the environment. Using common reusable items, students will do a short and fun art project to reinforce the importance of reusing everyday items and practice ways to reuse things.
  • Plastic Pollution in Our Oceans - Grades 2-3
    Students investigate the role of disposable plastics in the ocean. Through visuals that convey the importance and beauty of healthy oceans, students learn how their simple everyday actions can save natural resources and contribute to a healthy marine ecosystem and healthy planet.
  • Habitat Stewardship - Grades 3-5
    This advanced habitat workshop introduces the concept of stewardship, providing an in-depth look at the necessary components of habitat and our role in keeping it healthy. Students examine their personal choices and their impacts on the environment as they learn about several native Northwest animals and their habitats.
  • Dive into the Great Pacific Garbage Patch - Grades 4-5
    In this more advanced plastics and pollution workshop, students investigate the role of disposable plastics in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Through visuals that convey the importance and beauty of healthy oceans, students learn how their simple everyday actions can save natural resources and contribute to a healthy marine ecosystem and healthy planet.
  • Garbology - Grades 4-5
    Through visuals and hands on activities, students discover the simple science of decomposition and what happens to the things that we throw away. Students become "Garbologists" as they learn about how our local landfill works and why practicing the 4Rs is important for a healthy planet.
  • Our Climate, R Choices - Grades 4-5
    Students are introduced to the basics of climate change and ways to reduce their impact on the planet. Students investigate a product's life cycle and learn the connection between the manufacture, use, and disposal of everyday items and the creation of greenhouse gases. Through interactive activities, students learn how practicing the 4Rs can help reduce our impact on Earth's climate.

Spanish language workshops – Taught entirely in Spanish

  • Habitate Saludables – Spanish language - Grades 3-5
    Taught entirely in Spanish, this workshop helps students understand the connection between habitat and the four Rs and "Super C" (rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle and compost). Students participate in interactive small group games and activities to learn how their everyday actions can protect habitats.
  • Recicla Más, Spanish language - Grades 3-5
    In this workshop taught entirely in Spanish students participate in fun and engaging activities to learn about where their natural resources come from and how to correctly sort what can and can't be recycled. Students discover how recycling right and avoiding contamination can help reduce our waste and save natural resources.

Green Teams projects

Does your class or other school group need guidance to plan a class, school, or community project to conserve natural resources and protect the environment? The King County Green Schools Program provides project planning assistance and support.

Learn more about the program and see examples of past projects by elementary school Green Teams

FAQs

All King County elementary schools that are not within the City of Seattle and have at least 75 K-6 students are eligible for the assembly program. Scheduling is prioritized first for under resourced schools. Limitations may be placed on the number of schools registering from any one district, to allow for more equitable distribution of the program.

The assembly is 35-40 minutes long. However, if your school requires two assemblies, we request that you schedule them consecutively in one-hour blocks.

The live in-person assembly set is 25 feet across and 15 feet deep. It is best to hold the assembly in a gym, cafeteria, or multi-purpose room.

Yes, there should be a minimum of 75 students and a maximum of 350 students per assembly performance. Larger schools can request two assemblies, generally one primary and one intermediate. Exceptions can be made to accommodate more than 350 in one assembly, if needed.

The workshops are very hands-on and interactive, with supplies to accommodate one classroom with a maximum of 30 students at a time. Exceptions can be made in some situations, to allow for two classes at once.

Elementary schools may receive 2-5 workshops consecutively in one day.

Yes, though we can accommodate short breaks for school lunch, specialists, planning period, etc. Additionally, the elementary workshop presenters need approximately 10 minutes between each workshop, to transition between classrooms.

Yes, workshops and assemblies may be scheduled independently of one another. However, the classroom workshops are designed to reinforce the messages of the assembly, therefore the workshops are ideally scheduled for a date after the assembly when possible.

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