This book is the first in a series of four books emphasizing student-oriented problem solving related to environmental matters. It is divided into three activity levels: awareness, transitional, and operational. The activity sequence is designed to motivate students toward a concern for environmental quality, take action related to particular problems or concerns, and provide background for in-depth, on-going problem investigations. Process-skills dealt with at the awareness level include observation of solid waste sources and components, categorizing of solid-waste problems, qualitative comparisons, measuring the magnitude of the problem, inferring, and questioning. Each activity identifies the situation and notes open-ended questions, equipment needed, procedure, past studies, limitations, and a bibliography. Transitional activities focus on real problems of the community and involve students in predicting, data collection, data processing, data evaluation, and formulation of hypotheses. Economic, political, social, scientific, technological, and legal factors are considered. Activity format is the same. Operational activities extend those of the first two levels. Four approaches to problem solving are presented: simulation, contract projects, debating, and modeling situations. A bibliography and glossary are appended.

Vol. 4 of a series of curriculum activity guides and environmental studies. Written and compiled during 1972-73 under a federal grant to the Documentation Task Force, Project KARE. Includes bibliographies.