Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/the-story-of-a-field-trip-trash-and-its-place-within-childrens-learning-and-community/5013952/
Every Thursday morning, shortly after the children finish their morning snack, one, two or several children will come to me and ask, "Is it time to see the trash truck, Olga?" I glance at the clock and usually respond with "Yes, it's time, let's head for the blacktop." Immediately, paint brushes drop, blockbuilding ceases, and the counting and sorting of plastic teddy bears is interrupted, as my 18 kindergarteners leave their various morning activities to rush out to the school's blacktop. We are rushing to see the huge trash truck make its weekly round to our school. The children watch in excitement and complete awe as the trash truck's two-pronged lift raises the school dumpster off the blacktop, and pour the week's load of trash into its rear. With a wave, the two trash workers step back into the truck and roar down the street as my students wave and shout, "good bye" and "thank you" at the top of their five year old lungs.This weekly ritual of watching for the trash truck began as a result of our school job. At Children's Community School in Van Nuys, California, each class had, and still has, a school job, which they ...