Society as a whole faces a vast pollution problem. People produce great quantities of waste materials. Clean-up procedures need to be learned and practiced in the early years.

In a classroom children, teachers, visitors, plants, and animals create waste materials which need to be cleaned up. Animals, if provided with the appropriate environment, will groom and care for themselves. Waste products of plants are biodegradable. While plants cannot pick up after themselves, their refuse in the natural habitat returns to the earth and enhances it. In unnatural surroundings, such as a classroom, people must clean up.

People in a class can choose to take responsibility for care of themselves and their environment. Modeling of appropriate clean-up procedures is essential for effective working relationships. Attitudes of people vary. Taking advantage of others has an impact on the existing generations and their descendants. Owning problems and creatively solving them is crucial.

Work places free of distracting or hazardous materials encourage further production in those areas. Attention focuses on the product which others have left because of the following reasons.

Custodians are hired to clean, repair, and move items rather than serve immature people who:

a. focus on the product and leave the garbage to others.

b. refuse to "own" waste products.

c. refuse to claim excessive or distracting noise made in the production process.

d. refuse to claim foul smells related to the production process.

e. refuse to claim the effects of striving only for self while treading on the "rights" of others.

The job of the teacher is to help students mature.

1. It is important to develop a sense of responsibility.

2. People can see value in materials when they are displayed in an orderly fashion.

3. We are responsible for the health and safety of ourselves and others.

4. The cost of hiring people to clean up is high.

5. Limited resources cannot be wasted by people with unlimited wants.

6. A sense of self respect develops as a person prepares a pleasing environment which shows respect for others.

Life begins and ends with people being dependent on others. An infant is dependent on parents for cleanliness. The aged and dying also become dependent on others. Between these stages good citizens can be taught to use their skills, knowledge, and abilities to keep their work and recreational environment clean and safe for themselves and others.

Where in the cycle would students be if they exhibited these behaviors? How would a good social studies lesson plan help students to grow toward optimum behaviors?

1. Person is aware of disorder or mess but unable to clean up.

2. Person is aware and strives to draw attention to the problem but is unable to clean up.

3. Person is aware and begins to try to help.

4. Person is aware and begins to learn ways of preventing problems.

5. Person is aware and tries to clean up.

6. Person learns appropriate attitudes and skills and prioritizes time and resources necessary to clean up.

7. Person places responsibility for cleaning up personal messes and disorderly materials on others.

8. Person finds someone who is desperate for basic needs in life and leaves garbage for that person to sort or pays that person to keep it. The life of the rich is temporarily enhanced at the expense of the poor.

9. The person categorizes and sorts garbage and recycles.

10. Due to disabilities, the person is truly unable to clean up. The person is aware and embarrassed.

11. The person has been given more responsibility than appropriate and is unable to find time to clean up. The person is unable to pay someone else to do it or a hired person would not have the necessary skills or knowledge to sort and clean up.

12. The person is unaware of the mess and others must clean it up.

1. Chalkboards which will be used by others.

2. Soiled work areas and tools from art and construction processes.

3. Excessive noises.

4. Unpleasant smells or sprays which permeate the air.

Chaos caused by unkind actions or words or lack of understanding.

6. Furniture and other equipment.

Clean-up procedures are a continuous process. Work begins with planning lessons in which problems are prevented. Many problems can be avoided by trying a process prior to using it.

Identifying potential problems and preventing them is important. Painters use masking tape and drop cloths to save time and energy. Young children can wear smocks or aprons and place newspaper on a work area. Throughout a process it is important to deal with small problems. Paint that is spilled and immediately cleaned up will not be accidentally tracked into another area. Using containers of appropriate sizes for working with materials can prevent spills. It is important to allow enough time to do a project so that hurried actions do not cause accidents. When a lesson is almost completed, all can work together to clean an area. Enough time needs to be planned into a lesson so that this is possible.

A teacher can provide appropriate materials such as rags, paper towels, mops, brooms, solvents, or soap. It is important to model appropriate behavior. Showing students how to clean a paint brush or container at the beginning of a school year or a lesson can save time in the future. Picking up materials and thanking students for doing likewise creates a positive environment. Keeping your own voice quiet when you expect students to do so provides an example for them to follow. Recycling material will encourage others to do so, too. Cleaning up is a cooperative, continuous process.