Teacher guide

Hazards on the Homefront: A Teacher's Guide to Household Hazardous Waste contains hands-on lessons on how our health and the environment are affected by household hazardous products, and how proper disposal of these products and the use of safer alternatives can help protect us. The lessons encourage students to apply academic skills and subjects to real-life situations.

Two versions of the guide are available – one for teachers of grades 4-6 (last updated in 2010) and one for teachers of grades 6-12 (last updated in 2009). For a printed version in a binder or a CD version, contact José Ochoa.

Video demonstrations

Watch videos that demonstrate how to teach lessons from the Hazards on the Homefront teacher guide for grades 4-6.

• Lesson 1: Household Hazardous Products
• Lesson 2: Looking at Labels
• Lesson 4: Disposal of Our Household Hazardous Waste
• Lesson 5: Safer Substitutes

Lesson extensions and adaptations

An extension of Lesson 6 for secondary students helps them learn about integrated pest management and solve a common pest problem.

• Consumer Choice – Pest Investigation for Secondary StudentsDownload PDF 400

Use these presentations to guide or supplement your classroom lessons on household hazardous waste:

• Disposal of our hazardous wasteDownload PDF 1.3 M
• Introduction to Hazards on the HomefrontDownload PDF 780
  Note: If you would like the PowerPoint versions of the above presentations, contact Donna Miscolta.

The following lessons from the guide are adapted for English Language Learners:

• Lesson Two – Label ReadingDownload PDF 650
• Lesson Four – DisposalDownload PDF 550
• Lesson Five – Safer AlternativesDownload PDF 1.4 M
• Product PhotographsDownload PDF 1 M

Teaching aids

• Bioaccumulation CardsDownload PDF 1.2 M
  Use these cards to play the bioaccumulation game described in Lesson 3 of the Hazards on the Homefront guide for grades 6-12.
• Green Cleaning Project GuideDownload PDF 400
  This guide provides activities and projects that increase students’ awareness of safer alternatives to household hazardous cleaning products.
• Pesticide Alternatives WorksheetDownload PDF 35
  This worksheet helps your students identify important information on pesticide product labels and consider safer alternatives to pest and weed problems in the garden.
• Toxic-Free Bingo cardsDownload PDF 1.5 M and Bingo keyDownload PDF 100
  Use these Toxic-Free Bingo cards and Bingo key from Lesson 5 of the Hazards on the Homefront teacher guide to help your students learn safer alternatives to household hazardous products.

Teacher-generated materials

Carlie Jonas, McKnight Middle School, Renton, WA

• Green Cleaning Product Show FlyerDownload PDF 130
• Green Cleaning Products Show - Project OutlineDownload PDF 40
• Green Cleaning Cost - Analysis AssignmentDownload PDF 20
• Final Teacher Report on Green Cleaning UnitDownload PDF 35

Paula Konrady, St. Luke School, Shoreline, WA

• Teacher report on native garden projectDownload PDF 100

Jessica Levine, Eckstein Middle School, Seattle, WA

• Multilingual poster project descriptionDownload PDF 240
• Student assignment sheet and grading rubricDownload PDF 30

Barbara Shelton and Kim McHenry, Tahoma Junior High School, Ravensdale, WA

• Lesson planDownload PDF 30 on effects of household hazardous materials and urban activities on water quality
• Project scenariosDownload PDF 115

Fun fliers

• Could This Be Your Favorite Lake?Download PDF 6 M
  Find facts and actions about keeping waterways healthy.
• Do You Want the Best Makeover Ever?Download PDF 350
  Find facts and actions about personal care products.
• Love Your Mother?Download PDF 200
  Find facts and actions to keep Mother Earth safe.
• Make Sure You Protect Your PetDownload PDF 150
  Find facts and actions to keep your pet safe from toxins.